Day one newsletter for students - September 2009 - Ernst & Young - New Zealand

Welcome to Day one - your Ernst & Young network

We wish you all good luck with your upcoming exams and hope that you are rewarded for all your hard work!

No doubt you will be starting to think about your future career and how you are going to prepare for intern and graduate applications next year.  We have recently run some successful and popular information and career advice sessions at various universities – thank you to those of you who attended and networked with our staff.

For those of you who were unable to attend we still have two sessions left at Otago and Canterbury University:

University of Otago

Preparing yourself for careers in Big 4 professional services firms - 28 September 2009 

Stuart Mutch and Naomi Aporo

Time: 2:00pm – 2:50pm

Com 2.03

University of Canterbury

Interview skills - 30 September 2009 

David White and Katie Woodhouse

Time: 11:10am – 12:00pm

Commerce Room 002

We will also announce more information and career advice sessions on campus for March 2010 next year.

 See you on campus.

Seen the latest tweet?

In today's fast-moving world, we need to keep clients and other external audiences up to date with our news via the channels they use everyday. That's why we've just launched new EY channels on Twitter and YouTube. Our new Twitter channel will promote our latest thought leadership and client programs via short updates called "tweets" – each linking to in-depth information on ey.com.

Similarly, we've revamped our presence on the YouTube video sharing site, with an EY Channel.  This showcases key videos/webcasts and it also includes videos aimed at future EY professionals.

 The risks that matters

Massive government interventions in the financial sector may have prevented even more calamity, but great uncertainty still lies ahead. So it’s imperative that businesses form a strategic view of all the risks they now face. This means defining what key risks are, weighting their probability and impact on business drivers – and developing their thinking on actions to take.

Read about The top 10 business risks for 2009 and Managing risk in the current climate.  

Working in chartered accountancy: more than just book-keeping

EMEIA UK & Ireland Ernst & Young Managing Partner Scott Halliday spoke to the Financial Times about his EY career. "Once you can read business statements you can really do anything with your business career," he said. "I feel as though I have had multiple careers within one organization."  Read about Scott’s views on a career in accounting.

Sixteen finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year programme have now become 5 category winners!

Five New Zealand entrepreneurs took top position as category winners in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards for 2009. Only one entrepreneur will go on to represent New Zealand at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo next year.

Our congratulations to the following outstanding businesspeople:

Products: Diane Foreman - Emerald Group Limited, Auckland

Services: Ross Hyland – Seales Limited, Morrinsville

Technology, health sciences and emerging industries: Graeme Clegg – New Image Group, Auckland

Master Entrepreneur (for leaders of well established businesses who have demonstrated a  significant commitment to entrepreneurship): Peter Marshall – Tallon Systems, Wanaka

Young Entrepreneur (age 35 or under at close of applications): Derek Handley – The Hyperfactory, Auckland

In addition, Jack Henderson of leading vibration analysis technology company, Commtest, Christchurch is honoured with a Commendation for his commitment to entrepreneurship and exceptional achievements in business.

New Zealand’s 2009 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year will be announced at an award banquet on Thursday 22 October, 2009.

You can find out more about each of these category winners here.

Speaking of our work with entrepreneurs….an Ernst & Young report is a major talking point at the World Economic Forum summit

Innovation and entrepreneurship will underpin growth as the world recovers from recession. That was a key message from our leaders as they played a high-profile role at the World Economic Forum (WEF) global summit in Dalian, China last week.

Many of the business leaders in Dalian represented rapid-growth companies we define as Strategic Growth Markets accounts. This made our new report – The phoenix effect: Why innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will ignite recovery – a big talking point among delegates, including many from emerging markets and past or present EY Entrepreneur Of The Year participants.

   60 seconds with our campus ambassadors

Sonal Ben has completed internships with us in our Audit and Tax service lines and plans to return to Ernst & Young in 2011 as a graduate:

Q: Which university do you attend and what are you studying?

I am doing a Bachelor of Management Studies and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Waikato in Hamilton.

Q: What top three interview tips would you give to a candidate going to a recruitment day?

1.  Do some research/be prepared – make sure you understand who, where, what we are as a firm.  Understand what we are looking for and what we expect by going through material that the team provide for candidates at information sessions and career fairs.

2. Ask questions – remember, the interview is also a forum in which you can ask questions which you may have regarding Ernst and Young, the interview is the time to ask.

3. Know what you want - most importantly, know what YOU want and whether Ernst and Young can help fulfill your future career aspirations.  Be confident in yourself and know exactly what you want.

Q: What type of work were you doing?

I was privileged enough to work at Ernst and Young over two summers. 

My first summer internship was in Audit and my second summer internship was in Tax.  I thoroughly enjoyed both my internships and with hands on work and ample learning opportunities it really was a great experience!

Q: Was it worth giving up your summer holiday to become an intern?

Yes!   

The experience one gains over an internship with Ernst and Young outweighs a summer holiday.  As an Intern, you will gain experience, along with meeting new people and having fun!

In my view - Liz Young, HR Manager, Ernst & Young

Q. Which university did you attend and what did you study?

My most recent degree I completed was a Masters in Management which I did extramurally through Massey University while living and working in Japan and London.

Q. What attracted you to work at Ernst & Young initially?

I didn't know a great deal about Ernst & Young initially as my previous experiences had been working in the Investment Banking sector. However when researching the Firm I felt there was a lot about the company that I could relate to in terms of attitude and what's important. This was then validated during the interview process and in the people I met. I remember actually enjoying my interview & felt right at home from the very beginning. I was also very attracted to the role itself which was diverse in terms of responsiblility and challenge which is right up my alley.

Q. What makes Ernst & Young different to other firms in your view?

Easy - how approachable people are here. Everyone sits on the floor regardless of level, (including our Country Managing Partner), and there's a sense you can go to anyone anytime for help.

Q. How would you describe Ernst & Young as a place to work?

It's definitely a place that breaks the stereotypical mode of what you'd expect from a professional services firm. There's a wide range of different personalities, cultures and energy. People aren't afraid to make change happen and it amazes me what we've been through in the short time I've been here.

Q. On campus during recruitment what were your impressions of quality and engagement of the students?

It always amazes me the number of people who flood through the career fairs on campus and it's not hard to hide the fact they're interested and engaged. Some students stand out more than others and those are usually the ones who know about your Firm and what you do.

We're on campus

The Ernst & Young Commerce Cougars!

This coming Saturday is a huge game for the unbeaten Ernst & Young Commerce Cougars as they face pre-tournament favourites Engineering.

Matchday 4 -  Saturday September 26th - Colin Maiden Park, Tamaki Campus, Merton Rd, Glen Innes

1:00 pm Commerce vs Engineering

3:00 pm Property vs Law

STANDINGS

                            P            W   L          PF        PA        PD       TOURNAMENT POINTS

Commerce            2             2    0          45         6          +39       6

Medicine               3             2    1          50         38         +12       6

Engineering           2             1    1          29         25         +4        3

Law                       3             1    2          17         44         -27        3

Property 2            0             2    22         50         -28        0 

 EY no-brainer quiz

Q. What's the name of our new Twitter channel?

Be the first to email us at gradhelp@nz.ey.com with the correct answer and we'll send you out a student gastronomic pack!

Last month's winner was Navni Bhasin , from the University of Auckland, for correctly answering "Ernst & Young Commerce Cougars" to the question "What is the name of the Auckland University Business School Rugby Team that Ernst & Young is sponsoring? "

 Thinking about applying for an internship or graduate role in 2010?

 Why should I work for Ernst & Young Tax Services?

Modern tax regulations are highly complex and dynamic.  As a tax professional at Ernst & Young, you’ll gain the technical knowledge and industry experience you need to help clients manage their tax obligations effectively and enhance their financial performance.  In turn, we’ll help you achieve your potential by giving you broad business experience and professional development opportunities.  Our senior tax professionals will support you throughout your career, helping you to grow and become a leader in the tax profession.  You’ll gain wide-ranging experience across industries and geographies in an organisation that has an unwavering commitment to quality.  At Ernst & Young, we know it is your point of view, energy and enthusiasm that make the difference.

You can find out more about Tax Services at Ernst & Young here.

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 Kind regards
Suzanna Pomeroy

Ernst & Young People Team

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