EY to hike headcount by 2,000
PROFESSIONAL services giant EY is hiring another 3,700 staff at all levels over the coming nine months, a recruitment push that is expected to increase its overall headcount by around 2,000, the group said last night.
As the economic recovery takes hold the group, formerly called Ernst and Young, is expecting an increase in demand across all its service lines, led by advisory services.
EY is planning to hire 2,400 experienced staff and partners, as well as bringing on board around 700 graduates, 500 undergraduates and 150 sixth formers into its student programmes.
After accounting for attrition, that will result in a rise in headcount of almost 20 per cent, to around 13,000 staff by the summer of 2014.
“This is a signal that things in the economy are moving in the right direction,” said a source at the Big Four accounting group, noting that the industry had until now been cautious on economic growth and so keeping its headcount relatively steady.
But now the group believes the economy, and so demand for its services, is at last recovering sustainably.
And it is thought that EY’s lead could be followed by the other major professional services firms as they see similar increases in demand from their clients.
The new staff are expected to be taken on across the country in regional offices as well as EY’s corporate headquarters, and on overseas secondments.