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Advisory Consultant Programme – Technology

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Our Technology programme gives you the opportunity to work with the world’s leading organisations throughout the UK and internationally. Our work isn’t about providing ‘off-the shelf’ solutions; our consultants focus on helping our clients identify and solve their most complex business problems.

What will I be doing?

You will be working within our Information Technology Advisory (IT Advisory) business helping our clients to deliver technology-enabled business transformation programmes to realise sustainable benefits.

We do this by combining our technology knowledge with extensive experience in helping organisations improve their performance. This may be across the entire enterprise or may focus on specific parts of an organisation such as the finance function, supply chain/operations or sales and marketing. There is no limit as to what you can get involved in – from working as part of a bid team to redesigning processes and procedures or advising clients on the development and implementation of technology solutions.

Our people provide independent technology and business advice to help our clients to:

  • transform the way that technology supports their organisation to make a ‘step change’ in business performance and return on investment
  • design and implement technology solutions (e.g. SAP) as part of the delivery of major business change programmes
  • maximise the benefit from new technologies and concepts (for example Smart Metering, Mobile Payments)
  • strengthen the internal IT organisation by delivering improvements with respect to the organisation’s data, digital assets, technology and people
  • define the target operating model and proposing initiatives to reduce technology acquisition, implementation and operating costs
  • recover existing technology enabled projects and programmes that have lost their way

What training and development will I receive within the first few years?

The breadth and challenge of our fast-track rotational scheme offers you the chance to be promoted to Senior Consultant after just 2 to 3 years or potentially earlier for the highest performers.

You’ll start with an intensive induction course to develop your core consulting skills. This will be followed by advanced training courses every 3 months to hone these skills through our structured training programme. You’ll also have the opportunity to get a solid grounding in finance and business law through the CIMA foundation qualification (The ACP programme has been awarded “Gold” Quality Training Partner status by CIMA).

You'll undertake Technology specific training courses to help you develop specialist technology skills to help you achieve your career goals. You will also be assigned a personal counsellor and receive the encouragement of, and exposure to, senior members of our organisation. This will allow you to shape your career and achieve your potential.

What clients will I work with?

Your client base will largely depend on whether you elect to join our Financial Services or our UK & Ireland practice.

Our Financial Services practice serves the leading investment banks, retail banks, insurers and asset managers. Our UK&I practice serves Public Sector, Utilities, Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Technology clients.

What do we look for and where can I find out more?

We are looking for graduates who are inquisitive, analytical, ambitious, great at working with people and have an interest in technology. You’ll need to be a good team player and demonstrate the potential to become a future business leader. You’ll need to be prepared to challenge us, to act on your own initiative and to make an impact on our teams and clients from day one.

Our academic requirements are:

  • Grade B or above for GCSE Mathematics and English Language (or equivalent)
  • 320 (26) UCAS points (excluding General Studies)
  • 2.1 degree

Please note: in exceptional circumstances we will accept applications from candidates who do not meet our academic requirements. If this is your case, you will need to provide strong justification for why we should consider your application. You will also need to provide documentary evidence of any mitigating circumstances.

The above entry requirements are not applicable for our Schools Programmes.

Our Advisory positions are based in London but may involve travel in the UK or abroad.

Although not mandatory, we would like to know if you have met any of the following criteria:

  • Your undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification is in a business systems, IT, systems engineering or technology related subject
  • You have completed an industrial placement with a technology, software or IT consulting organisation
  • You have relevant post-graduate experience with a technology, software or IT consulting organisation or the IT function of a blue chip organisation or government department
  • On the application form please ensure you complete the five free-text questions for us to start to find out more about your strengths.
For further information on the ACP – Technology Programme, click below.

ACP - Technology FAQs

How is the ACP – Technology programme different to the ACP programme?
The ACP- Technology (ITA) Programme is part of the wider ACP programme, in that successful applicants join Ernst & Young at the same time and go through the same joining process as their colleagues. However, ITA joiners begin their careers with Ernst & Young immediately in the IT Advisory practice area. They will receive an ITA aligned career councillor, receive ITA practice and methodology specific training and have the chance to join the ITA capability groups.

Do I need different skills for the ITA ACP?
Although we accept applicants from any degree background, (2:1) we look for those applicants with IT/business degrees. However, an interest in IT or Computing is essential.

Will I receive IT training?
There are a number of IT training courses on offer within EY, both classroom and web based. Year 1 of the ACP will include foundation consultant skills, with year 2 including lifecycle training, specific capability group aligned training and PRINCE2.

In addition to the core ACP training, ACP – Technology also offers a number of courses designed to hone your core ITA skills. This will include business skills and knowledge in IT projects as well as more technical abilities.

Is there specific ITA career guidance?
From day one of your career in ITA, you will receive an ITA-aligned career counsellor who will guide you throughout your career at EY. They will be on hand to offer advice as you move through the ACP.

What will my first few months be like within ITA?
Although there is no standard day at EY, we can give you a general feel of what you may be doing in your first few months. Depending on your engagement, you could be creating and delivering presentations, data analysis, working with clients to deliver solutions, bid work, financial modelling, IT design and more

The variety from day one is huge and allows you a variety of experiences within the ACP – Technology programme.

Are ITA clients strictly IT based?
No. Although a project may have an IT focus (for example, an IT transformation) there will likely to be other aspects of the project that are not directly IT focused. Organisations may choose to change other elements of their business as they work through a transformation and we may be on hand to help deliver this change alongside any IT work we do.

Do all ITA graduates have Computing based degrees?
No – our joiners have a wide range of degrees, from Computer Science to Business, from History of Art to Politics. They come from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and their degrees and experiences vary.

What are some ITA clients?
The clients you may be working with on a day to day basis vary. We have clients in the government and public sector as well as utilities and the private sector clients. Every client is different and will expose you to a wide range of sectors, roles and experiences.

How does the rotation system work during the graduate programme (and how they are allocated to their first role)?
Although our ITA joiners are immediately placed within the ITA practice area there will be times where you will not be on an ITA specific project. This allows us to give ACP members a chance to experience a variety of roles and sectors. We typically aim for a role rotation every 3-6 months with ITA roles being given preference, although you will experience roles across other capability groups.

What international opportunities exist?
Many of our clients have international offices. ITA ACP members have been on projects across the UK, as well as South America and the United States.

What would be their opportunities for career progression (and speed of progression)?
A joiner on the ACP can expect to be promoted within 2-3 years, with this time varying dependent on experience and performance.

 

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