26 Jan 2024
Assurance graduate programme

Assurance Graduate Programme

Applications for the EY Graduate Programme 2024 are now closed.

The very best of luck to all applicants.

What is Assurance at EY?

Assurance includes understanding the key business and financial risks facing our clients and the markets they operate in, reviewing processes, designing tests and verifying accounting treatments and numbers, all whilst complying with accounting and auditing standards. If you’re information-hungry and data-driven, apply for our Graduate Programme in Assurance today.

Choosing your career

When submitting your application form, you may submit a preference for the types of clients you would like to work with during your graduate programme, if you wish. We have two areas of our business which focus on different clients and industries. 

Financial Services (FS). Clients: Asset Management, Banking and Insurance, Investment Services, Financial Services Industry, Foreign Exchange.

Industry Audit & Financial Services. Clients: Industrial, Commercial & Technology (ICT) Clients including Automotive & Transportation, Government & Public Sector, Health & Life Sciences, Mining & Metals, Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction, Technology, Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment.

No preference: If you are open to any client group or industry, then that is no problem! Please select "no preference" when submitting your graduate application. 

Selecting a preferred team: If you have an interest in a specific sub-team within Tax, please read on below to discover the areas you can join. If you spot a team that peaks your interest, please submit your preference via your graduate application. This is not mandatory, and you are more than welcome to submit your application without a team preference if you wish. 

Wishing you the very best of luck. 

 Our Assurance Graduate Programmes: 

Assurance

Work with multiple companies across different industries to gain a unique insight into how businesses operate. Collaborate with decision-makers to make more informed decisions. Understand the factors driving business performance and become a more connected, responsive and insightful professional.

Assurance is not just for Accountants. 

Although Assurance services has its roots in accountancy, that is just the beginning of the story. You’ll be right there on-site with EY clients, reviewing strategy, assessing risk, forecasting growth. And, while technology does the routine work, you’ll have time to really get to know and understand your clients and their businesses. You may be surprised to learn that across all parts of Assurance teams, we offer bespoke roles in data analytics or emerging technologies where you can create innovative approaches to support EY clients.

Bring your analytical and innovation mindsets. Bring your thirst for knowledge and learning. Bring a healthy scepticism and an eye for detail. We’ll give you access to every kind of business there is, so you can help to make it work better.

What can you do in Assurance?

The work we do is restoring confidence in the global economy and the investment we’re making in Assurance means that as well as joining one of the largest, most stable employers, you’ll be empowered to develop and be an expert in your field.

Audit 

Today, change is coming faster than ever before – and there is more of it. The sheer velocity of change has upended the business environment and rearranged the landscape.

Organisations must identify, assess and address emerging risks without losing sight of their existing business and control environment. They are not only working to get ahead of the curve - often they are struggling to keep up – and not always succeeding. Management, audit committees and boards of directors rely on internal audit to provide assessments and assurance around the effectiveness of controls and company processes, while also providing support in a diverse array of risk and business process improvement areas.

Our services can help clients strategically assess, re-mediate and improve control issues identified, while also elevating the profile of internal audit in identifying and addressing complex emerging risk areas. We help organisations achieve cost efficiencies in their internal audit functions through the variable cost model we offer, combined with our offshore capabilities. Additionally, our ability to bring innovative ideas and advisory support, greater technology enablement and broad subject matter experience in complex areas globally allows us to help clients gain significantly enhanced value from internal audit and across other important priority areas of the organisation.

Financial Services Assurance

Our Financial Services Assurance practice is built around our core audit delivery, but also encompasses a wide range of assurance services across our different sectors. You will gain a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses and their financial accounts, drawing on your experience to provide options and recommendations to management and the board. 

Centre of Excellence

The Global Reporting Centre of Excellence (COE) engages with EY’s largest global audit clients, providing innovative solutions to global statutory reporting.

The COE is based in our Dublin office and operates at a truly global level. Through ground-breaking technology tools, the COE drives disruption in the management of global statutory audits, provides business insights into our clients’ performance, and partners with our clients, as they move to world class statutory reporting structures.

Data Analytics

EY teams help the world’s most sophisticated organisations with their complex business challenges. Today, integrity demands a particular focus. The largest and most technologically advanced Forensics services in the world, we combine deep technical, legal, accounting and financial knowledge with investigative and technology-related skills to protect and restore reputation. 

We support clients when they are faced with damaging allegations of, for example, bribery, fraud or corruption. We bring the right people together quickly, armed with the right technology, to help deliver a high-quality, seamless service no matter where EY clients are based. We help to establish the facts, and then share them with the appropriate stakeholders. 

The work also includes helping clients improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their compliance programmes, anti-fraud efforts, dispute resolution mechanisms and transaction-related activities. 

The team forms part of the wider Forensic & Integrity Services (FIS) business unit and specialises in forensic technology services encompassing eDiscovery, Forensic Data Analytics and IT Forensic investigations.

Professional qualification routes:

Choosing your entry route

By joining the EY Assurance Graduate programme, you will have access to world-class learning and development opporunities, including the chance to pursue a professional accountancy qualification.

Find out more about our entry routes, pathways to qualification and benefits here.  

  • Direct Entry Route

    If you are interested in pursuing an internationally recognised accounting qualification in a global firm like EY, then apply today to the EY Assurance Graduate programme. 

    Who can apply?

    Students from all degrees and disciplines are eligible to apply, and remember, this route is not only for those who have studied accounting or finance!

    What professional training routes are available to graduates?

    By joining our Assurance team, you will have the opportunity to pursue either the ACA or ACCA qualification along with world-class exam support, paid study leave and benefits. 

    ACA Direct Entry Route:

    By choosing the ACA direct entry route, you will be enrolled with Chartered Accountants Ireland and sit 3 sets of exams over a 3.5 training year period with EY:

    • CAP1 
    • CAP2 
    • FAE 

    There are no prior exemptions required for this route, however if your Bachelors degree has provided you with CAP1 or CAP2 exemptions, your training contract will be reduced from 3.5 years to 3 years in total. 

    ACCA Direct Entry Route:

    To be eligible for the ACCA direct entry route, students must have achieved a minimum of 9 ACCA exemptions prior to joining the firm. 

    From here, you will be enrolled with ACCA Ireland and complete your remaining exams during your time on the EY Assurance graduate programme. 

    Both ACA and ACCA training benefits include:

    • EY provides graduates with market-leading paid study leave in excess of the recommended study leave by the Professional Institutes in Ireland. 
    • EY will pay for all associated costs in relation to tuition and exam entry fees for first attempt exams, admission to membership and subscription fees. 
    • You will be eligible for exam bonuses for your 1st attempt of exam passes/placings.
    • EY provides graduates with a range of exam support sessions, through our dedicated learning teams to help you succeed:
      • Non-technical exam support sessions: These sessions focus on study leave preparation tips, study plans and exam preparation techniques to ensure you are ready for your next exam.
      • EY Ed Team: A dedicated internal team who are there to support you through your professional qualifications.
      • Faculty EY: Extra exam support sessions hosted by experienced and recommended lecturers, to assist all EY ACA and CTA students with their upcoming exams.

    You will also have access to other EY supports such as peer channels and Exam Champions to help you along the way.

    • EY Badges: All EY employees have access to additional learning programmes, allowing our people to earn digital credentials in future focused skills.
    • Udemy access: An online learning platform with a vast offering of engaging open online courses.

     

  • Sponsored Masters in Accounting Route
    • Masters - Full Sponsorship

      Students who are successful in their application to the EY Graduate Programme in Assurance, are eligible to recieve sponsorship to complete an accredited Masters in Accounting before joining the firm. 

      If you are a final year undergraduate student and thinking of pursuing a Masters in Accounting before moving on to a graduate programme, then this route is for you. Apply to EY today and if successful, we will support you in returning to university for an additional year, where you can achieve your CAP1 and CAP2 exemptions. 

      To avail of this entry route, your chosen Masters in Accounting must be recognised and accredited by Chartered Accountants Ireland, and you must achieve full CAP1 and CAP2 exemptions before you join the firm. 

      EY Masters Sponsorship includes:

      • €7,600 towards your course fees
      • a bursary of €2,500
      • book allowance of up to €500
    • Masters - Part Sponsorship

      Like our full-sponsorship route, students who are actively completing an accredited Masters in Accounting at the time of their Graduate interview are eligible to apply for part-sponsorship towards their Masters course. 

      If you are a final year Masters in Accounting student and are on track to achieve your full CAP1 and CAP2 exemptions, then this route is for you.

      To avail of this entry route, your Masters in Accounting must be recognised and accredited by Chartered Accountants Ireland, and you must have achieved full CAP1 and CAP2 exemptions before you join the firm. 

      EY Part-Sponsorship includes:

      • €3,500 towards your course fees
      • a bursary of €2,500
      • book allowance of up to €500

       

  • Sponsored Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (PDA) Route
    • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting - Full Sponsorship

      Students who are successful in their application to the EY Graduate Programme in Assurance are eligible to receive sponsorship to complete an accredited Masters in Accounting before joining the firm. 

      If you are a final year undergraduate student and are thinking of pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting before moving on to a graduate programme, then this route is for you. Apply to EY today, and if successful, we will support you in returning to university for an additional year, where you will achieve your CAP1 exemptions. 

      To avail of this entry route, your chosen Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting must be recognised and accredited by Chartered Accountants Ireland, and you must achieve full CAP1 exemptions before you join the firm. 

      EY Postgraduate Diploma Sponsorship includes:

      • €7,600 towards your course fees
      • a bursary of €2,500
      • book allowance of up to €500

       

    • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting - Part Sponsorship

      Like our full-sponsorship route, students who are actively completing an accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting at the time of their Graduate interview are eligible to apply for part-sponsorship towards their postgraduate course. 

      ·       If you are currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and are on track to achieve your full CAP1 exemptions, then this route is for you.

      ·       To avail of this entry route, your Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting must be recognised and accredited by Chartered Accountants Ireland, and you must have achieved full CAP1 exemptions before you join the firm. 

      EY Postgraduate Diploma Part-Sponsorship includes:

      • €3,500 towards the course fees
      • a bursary of €2,500 (taxable)
      • book allowance of up to €500

       

Your assurance training & development

Our Assurance Graduate Programme offers you the opportunity to enhance your skill set through real-world experiences.

 

Find out more about what you can expect 

Professional Qualifications & Study Leave


As part of our Assurance Graduate Programme you will have the opportunity to pursue further professional qualifications.

 

Find out more about the support you will receive