Company Profile
Ernst & Young
Company Overview
A global approach to global problems
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, advisory services and strategic growth markets. We aim to have a positive impact on businesses and markets, as well as on society as a whole.
Fast access to our global network
Our 141,000 people are the foundation of our success. We assemble the right multi-disciplinary team for your business, drawing on our global talent pool, to help you achieve your potential. We work closely with you, gaining a clear understanding of your organization and striving to identify issues before they become problems. We make sure you get fast access to the people you need, wherever in the world you need them. And with our global focus on 14 Global Industry Sectors you benefit from a market-leading global response to your specific needs.
Developing our people, to the benefit of your business
As business challenges become more complex, it’s important for us to have people with a wide spectrum of views and opinions to address those challenges. That’s why our emphasis on inclusiveness matters more than ever today. Ernst & Young’s open culture fosters continuous personal and professional development and attracts talented professionals from diverse backgrounds. We know that when our people grow and succeed, your company benefits.
Great place to work
We can’t be a great organization without great people. We work in a culture that puts our people first. We strive to help everyone achieve both their professional and personal goals in an environment that fosters growth and provides continuous opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge. And our efforts have been recognized through a number of prestigious awards.
Making a difference in a changing world
Increasingly, businesses, governments and nongovernmental organizations are pulling together to address challenges that have no borders, such as environmental sustainability and other aspects of corporate responsibility. At Ernst & Young, we want your business and ours to thrive long into the future, but that is only possible if the communities around us also thrive. As a result, corporate responsibility is an essential part of our business strategy. In our community engagement efforts, we focus on three issues that take advantage of our skills and that are crucial to a healthy society:
Company History
Two people. One vision.
It has taken the bold leadership and countless contributions of people around the world to form the leading global organization Ernst & Young is today. Our roots go back to the 19th century and our founders Arthur Young and Alwin C Ernst.
Arthur Young was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated in law, but became interested in banking and investment. In 1890, he moved to the US to pursue his career in accounting. In 1906, he formed an accounting firm, Arthur Young & Company, with his brother Stanley.
Alwin C Ernst was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After leaving school he worked as a bookkeeper. Then, in 1903, he and his brother Theodore started Ernst & Ernst, a small public accounting firm.
Both Arthur Young and AC Ernst were innovators and appreciated the importance of quality in their work. Ernst pioneered the idea that accounting information could be used to make business decisions and make a difference to clients’ organizations. He inspired his people to deliver better service to clients. Young also positioned himself as a business advisor as much as an accountant.
Both men understood the importance of their people. In 1920, Ernst & Ernst’s operating philosophy stated: “The success of Ernst & Ernst depends wholly upon the character, ability and industry of the men and women who make up the organization.” Young supported the development of professionals. In the 1920s he originated a staff school and, in the 1930s, the firm was the first to recruit from university campuses.
Both firms were also quick to enter the global marketplace. As early as 1924, they allied with prominent British firms: Young with Broads Paterson & Co and Ernst with Whinney Smith & Whinney. These alliances were the first of many for both firms, which opened offices around the world to service their international clients.
AC Ernst and Arthur Young never met in life, but died within days of each other in 1948. However their philosophies lived on and, in 1989, were brought together when the firms they started combined to create Ernst & Young. The new organization quickly positioned itself on the leading edge of rapid globalization, new business technologies and continuous business change.
AC Ernst and Arthur Young would surely be proud of the result — a global organization of 141,000 people sharing their ideals and passion to help clients improve their businesses around the globe.