Pros

EY does a great job of recruiting on campus, and the people I worked with were competent and hard working but like to have fun. I had some great opportunities during my tenure, and I grew professional and developed some great technical skills.

Cons

After working 400 hours of overtime my first year (which was also the 1st year of SOX), we received no bonuses at all. EY continues to be the only Big 4 accounting firm that does not reward its employees with bonuses. On top of which, one night out with college buddies, I discovered my base salary was $5k-$15k less than my peers. I brought this up to partners, and it was laughed off. I took it up to HR, and was told they were going to look into it. I waited a year to see if things would change, then I left. Now I am working for a competitor, loving what I am doing, making $10k more and taking clients away from EY. My friends still there are working harder than ever, received no raises or bonuses this year, and are very miserable. But hey, partners still kept their million dollar salaries and country club memberships!

Advice to Senior Management

Do a better job at rewarding your people, or when the economy turns around, you are going to be left with no seniors or managers.