Big Four firm EY recently announced that it will boost its hiring in the new year, with approximately 15,700 candidates expected to be brought on board in the U.S.
In its 2019 fiscal year (which began on July 1, 2018), the firm looks to add 6,300 "experienced and executive-level positions" in full-time capacities, as well as 9,400 students for jobs and internships.
"With growing demand for our services comes an ambitious recruiting plan," Larry Nash, U.S. recruiting leader at EY, told Accounting Today. "We need candidates who can work effectively in teams, analyze, innovate and think with a global mindset, regardless of their domain expertise or background."
EY reports that 20 percent of the firm's U.S. executive hires in FY18 were women, along with 47 percent of its entry-level hires and 50 percent of its intern campus hires. EY also reports that 39 percent of its campus hires were ethnic minorities.
"As our workforce continues to become more diverse, we also look to hire individuals who lead inclusively," added Nash. "To better equip our employees to do so, we provide all new managers with unconscious bias training, and conduct regular research on biases to help inform our employees’ decisions and ensure they are giving their colleagues a voice – no matter what their background."
Hiring more tech-minded candidates – in such areas as cybersecurity, data analytics, blockchain and tax technology – is also on the radar. EY is preparing for the new business landscape not only through hiring but also internal initiatives, such as "EY ARC," which presents staff with "cutting-edge content ... and case studies" on emerging areas of business.
"Technology’s role in and impact on accounting is only growing," said Nash. "This is apparent when we think about the skills we’re looking for in our new hires. For example, while we will always need dynamic leaders with traditional business backgrounds and skills in accounting and supply chain, upskilling employees with skills in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, blockchain and robotics has become increasingly important. That said, soft skills such as critical thinking and leadership still remain incredibly vital. ... At EY, we want to work alongside people who are good at building relationships and have integrity, respect and can work well on a team."
EY is also embracing the gig economy through Gig Now, a network of its own contractor talent. Contract workers currently comprises 13 percent of EY’s global staff, the firm says, with some 16,000 contractors registered for GigNow short-term work.
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