In honor of recruiting season, IUCG hosted information session with Ernst & Young and Grant Thornton to learn the ins and outs of Business Advisory Services (BAS). Both companies recruit at UMass and offer an array of internships and entry-level opportunities ranging from risk advisory services to business consulting ventures. The resounding theme in both presentations was that at whichever firm you choose to join, the work will be relatively the same; what separates them is their culture and the way that impacts their processes.

EY Advisory is a 6.5 billion dollar global practice with 34,000 professionals worldwide. With a large international network already, EY has an initiative to double the size of its advisory practice by 2020. Throughout the talk, the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) practice at EY was highly emphasized, touching on their Financial Services Risk Management practice as well. Senior Manager John Wilbur reiterated EY’s passion for homegrown talent and their dedication to work-life balance. He highlighted a low utilization rate, their flexible work week, and frequent social outings. A major proponent of EY’s business advisory services is their accelerated management track, with advisors becoming managers after just 8 years with the firm. Wilbur remarked, “EY pushes you to hit the ground running. At the end of your first year, they want you to be able run client meetings, and at the end of your second year they want you to be able to go to client meetings on your own.” Another benefit of choosing an international firm like EY is an expansive network of alumni, many of whom maintain their ties to the firm and offer exit opportunities to EY employees.

Similar to EY, Grant Thornton emphasized the importance of their culture, which helps to determine the way they do business. Kaila Kennedy and Anna Kamenetsky, Senior Associates at Grant Thornton, shared their experiences in the business advisory practice during their visit with IUCG. Like EY, Grant Thornton’s talk highlighted their GRC practice, but the differentiating factor at GT is the cross-disciplinary work brought by their merging of GRC and business consulting. GT also primarily focuses on mid-sized businesses, which present completely different challenges than large corporations. Kaila and Anna spoke a lot about their opportunities to see the world while on the job—traveling to places like India, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, and Prague, as well as the hands-on learning their projects offered. Perhaps the most important take-away from their talk was a broader understanding of the culture of mentorship and the tight knit community that exists at GT.

After meeting with GT and EY’s Business Advisory Services representatives, IUCG held an intragroup case competition to foster team and community development within the organization. It was a great way to acclimate the new members to what IUCG is all about, and give them hands-on experience related to BAS. After getting an inside look at business advisory services and practicing their problem solving skills, IUCG student analysts are ready to begin their projects next week!