Building a better working world - legal and regulatory requirements
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The “ey.com” website
The “ey.com” Web site (this “Site”) is comprised of global content, which relates to the international business and operations of EY, and individual country content, which relates to the local business and operations of a member firm.
The global content on the Site is owned and operated by EYGM Limited ("EYGM"). EYGM Limited is a limited liability company registered in the Bahamas and is a member firm of EYG. EYGM is a central coordinating entity and does not provide services to clients.
The relevant local member firm(s) owns and operates the local content on the individual country pages.
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Regulatory statements
The UK firm Ernst & Young LLP is a multi-disciplinary practice. Its services are subject to oversight by a number of regulators. In particular:
The firm is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). The ICAEW Code of Ethics can be found at www.icaew.com/en/technical/ethics/icaew-code-of-ethics/icaew-code-of-ethics. The firm is registered to carry on audit work in the UK and Ireland by the ICAEW. Details of our audit registration can be viewed at www.auditregister.org.uk for the UK, and www.cro.ie/auditors for Ireland, under reference number C009126168 and AI222237 respectively.
The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Details of our licence can be found here; further details concerning the SRA and the SRA Code of Conduct can be found at https://www.sra.org.uk. The SRA policy concerning the regulation of multi-disciplinary practices can be found here. The SRA only regulate certain services provided by the firm. Where we provide services which are regulated by the SRA, we will inform clients in writing, identifying the specific services which are subject to SRA regulation. In accordance with Rule 2.1 of the SRA Transparency Rules, complaints information in relation to SRA-regulated services can be found here.
The firm is authorised to perform certain regulated activities in the UK which are subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Further details can be found on the Financial Services Register at www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do under registration number 196203.
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Audit Firm Governance Code
The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s) Audit Firm Governance Code (AFGC) provides a benchmark of good governance practice against which firms that audit listed companies, such as EY, can report. The 2016 revised AFGC, which was published in July 2016 and is applicable to EY from financial period 2018, focusses on the promotion of good governance of audit and better alignment with the UK Corporate Governance Code, enhancement of transparency over and above the requirements in the EU Audit Regulation, and improvement of engagement between firms, investors and Independent Non-Executives.
The EY UK 2017 Transparency Report (available here) is present in two volumes: Volume 1 focuses on EY UK, whereas Volume 2, as well as providing additional information on EY UK, explains in further detail the Global EY network and global policies and procedures. Appendix III of Volume 1 of the Transparency Report confirms how EY has applied the principles and provisions of the 2010 AFGC and Appendix IV of Volume 1 of the Transparency Report explains where to find further information on our work to implement the 2016 AFGC this year.
In addition to an annual Transparency Report, the AFGC requires certain information to be available on a firm’s website. For EY this additional information includes:
- The EY Global Code of Conduct (available here)
- The EY whistleblowing policy (available here)
Details concerning how EY supports its commitment to the professionalism, openness and risk management principles of the AFGC through recruitment, development activities, objective setting, performance evaluation, remuneration, progression, other forms of recognition, representation and involvement can be found in the EY UK Additional information document (also available here), the EY UK 2017 Transparency Report and the EY website.
Details concerning the EY UK governance and management bodies, including a description of the work of the UK Audit Committee, can be found in Volume 1, section 4, of the EY UK 2017 Transparency Report; meeting attendance and the biographies of members of the governance and management bodies are included in Appendices I and II of Volume 1 of the Transparency Report and the Terms of Reference are set out in the EY UK Additional information document.
Details of EY’s Independent Non-Executives (INEs) can be found here. Information about the appointment, retirement and resignation of EY’s INEs and their remuneration, duties, arrangements by which they discharge these duties and the support provided by EY is set out in Volume 1, section 4, of EY UK 2017 Transparency Report. The Terms of Reference for the Independent Non-Executive (INE) Oversight Committee are available from the EY UK Additional information document.
In the event that there is a fundamental disagreement between an INE and members of the Board of EY UK and/or governance structures, the INE shall set out the nature and status of the disagreement, in writing, to the Chair of the EY UK LLP Board (copied to the members, including the other party in disagreement), together with any other details such as a need for further information, the respective positions of the parties and any preferred criteria for resolving the disagreement. The Chair shall respond to the INE in writing by setting out any proposed timescale and method for resolving the disagreement. At the conclusion of the proposed time, the INE and the other party in disagreement shall indicate to the Chair whether or not the disagreement has been resolved. In the event that the disagreement has not been resolved, both the INE and the other party in disagreement must indicate whether a further intercession by the Chair is desired. In the event that no such indication is made and the disagreement persists or, if the nature of the disagreement relates directly to the Chair, the INE or the firm may terminate the INE appointment.
Details concerning the firm’s engagement with shareholders of listed companies and listed companies are available from our website and Volume 1 of the EY UK 2017 UK Transparency Report. The contact details for dialogue with listed company shareholders and listed companies about matters covered by the AFGC are:
- Eamonn McGrath, Partner, Audit & UK Head of Regulatory & Public Policy: emcgrath@uk.ey.com
- David Thorburn, Independent Non-Executive and Chair of the INE Oversight Committee: david.thorburn@uk.ey.com
- Loree M Gourley, Director, Regulatory & Public Policy: lgourley@uk.ey.com
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The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 - Pay Gap Reporting
Based on the Government’s methodology set out in The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017, we published our gender pay gap in October 2017, over five months ahead of the government’s April 2018 deadline. Because pay gap legislation is more than a compliance issue for us as a firm, we have also published our pay gap data for ethnicity and incorporated data for our UK Partners. We encourage others to also go beyond the current Pay Gap legislation, to help accelerate diversity in the profession and across business.
Our 2017 Pay gap report
Our 2018 Pay gap report
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EY UK: Modern slavery and human trafficking statement
Read our latest Modern slavery and human trafficking statement
Read previous statements:
December 2017
March 2017 -
EY UK 2018 Transparency Report
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EY UK Tax Strategy
EY's values and our commitment to building a better working world drive our tax strategy.
Read our UK Tax Strategy April 2019