EY's biggest competitors are the other "Big Four" accounting and consulting firms, with Deloitte generally considered the largest rival in terms of revenue and market share. PwC and KPMG are also primary competitors, alongside major consulting firms like Accenture and McKinsey & Company.
Ernst & Young (EY) competitors include McKinsey & Company, PwC, Deloitte (US), Accenture and KPMG.
PwC and Deloitte are the most prestigious
If you ask most people about prestige, they'll probably rank PwC/Deloitte > EY > KPMG. This is reflected in pricing, for example.
McKinsey is the biggest among the three Big 3s. Founded by former professor of accounting at the University of Chicago James O. McKinsey in 1926, it is headquartered in New York. It has over 130 offices around the world and 38,000 employees, over 10,000 of them consultants.
Another story of mega-mergers, KPMG was founded in 1987 after Peat Marwick International and Klynveld, Peat Marwick, Goerdeler announced they would be joining forces. Of the Big 4, KPMG is the smallest and also the only one operating outside of London—the firm's headquarters is in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Professional certifications: Obtaining certifications like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is often a prerequisite to work at a Big 4 firm.
The four are often grouped because they are comparable in size relative to the rest of the market, both in terms of revenue and workforce; they are considered equal in their ability to provide a wide scope of professional services to their clients; and, among those looking to start a career in professional services, ...
The highest paying role at EY is the EY partner salary, ranging from $264,000 to $483,000 annually. Over half of partner income comes from bonuses, equity, or profit-sharing, making this level the most lucrative in consulting.
While "Big 5" isn't a fixed term, it often refers to the leading strategy firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) plus the consulting arms of the Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), with some sources grouping McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture as the top 5 diverse major players in consulting. The most prestigious strategy-focused firms are McKinsey, BCG, and Bain (MBB), while the large accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) offer extensive consulting services, and Accenture provides broad technology and management consulting.
Yes, getting a job at EY (Ernst & Young) is generally considered hard due to intense competition as a "Big Four" firm, requiring strong academics (high GPA), relevant experience, alignment with EY's values, and navigating a multi-stage interview process with behavioral and technical assessments. The acceptance rates are low (potentially 1-4%) because millions apply for limited spots, so standing out with excellent grades, networking, and early internships is crucial.
Compared to other Big 4 consulting firms, EY stands out for its innovation, technology integration, and focus on sustainability and social impact. Entry into EY is competitive, but strong analytical skills, adaptability, and alignment with its purpose-driven values help candidates succeed.
McKinsey Consulting
The Rule of 3 is a rule of thumb for executive communication. Whenever you're trying to persuade a senior person to do something, always present 3 reasons. Not 2, not 4, but exactly 3.
The Pareto principle states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect.
McKinsey & Company's PTO and Vacation policy typically gives 20-30 days off a year with 71% of employees expected to be work free while out of office. Paid Time Off is McKinsey & Company's most important benefit besides Healthcare when ranked by employees, with 56% of employees saying it is the most important benefit.