Building a more equitable working world
EY US Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report
2022 release
A message from leadership
At EY, we are a force for making positive, impactful change, and understand we have a powerful platform to take bold action. For decades we have worked to strengthen the foundation laid by our firm’s co-founder, Arthur Young, who as a young man with disabilities in the 1800s used his talent against the odds to become an entrepreneur and founder of the modern accounting profession.
Being a leader and driving actionable change — among our people and for our clients and communities — requires regular self-examination and a desire to learn and improve. Charting our progress is critical for accountability. We’ve seen progress over the last year on several metrics including representation of women and racially and ethnically diverse partners/principals, but we’ve also lost ground on other metrics. With the release of this year’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report, Building a more equitable working world, we continue to hold a mirror up to ourselves and, by extension, to our industry.
In our second annual report, you will find stories and data that demonstrate how we take action for equity within our firm and our communities. As the challenges and realities of the pandemic continue to impact us every day, we’re also focused on our own people. Helping them to thrive both personally and professionally is an essential part of fulfilling our long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness, and it’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly.
In the face of increased social and political polarization, the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and seismic shifts in the labor market and the ways we work, we are dedicated to living our values. We will continue to be transparent in sharing our journey, including the challenges and the victories.
Candid collaboration within the professional services community will serve to accelerate change for our people, clients and communities as we build a more equitable working world together.
Julie Boland
US Chair and Managing Partner and Americas Managing Partner
(she/her/hers)
Leslie Patterson
EY Americas and US Diversity Equity & Inclusiveness Leader
(she/her/hers)
Highlights of our journey
We’ve been on a journey to build a more equitable working world for more than 30 years. Diversity, equity and inclusiveness are essential elements of our firm’s history, and our commitment to these ideals remains constant.
A strategic approach to pursuing our DEI goals
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) remains steadfast in our commitment to creating long-term value for our clients and living our purpose of building a better working world. With diversity, equity and inclusiveness (DEI) among our core values, we believe that a better working world is one that is fair to all people. From recruiting to internal talent practices, community investments and exceptional client service, diversity, equity and inclusiveness are critical in helping us to fulfill our purpose and spark positive change.
Our strategy
DEI is an integral part of both our business strategy and our working culture. This focus is reinforced by the EY US Board Diversity Statement signed by our US Executive Committee, which is the highest EY leadership body in the US. With this foundation of leadership accountability, we’ve set key DEI priorities for our firm that align our focus and drive strategic execution.
EY US key DEI priorities
Continue to build a workforce that reflects diversity across a broad range of differences at all levels
Cultivate an inclusive culture committed to anti-racism where all differences are valued, practices are equitable and everyone experiences a sense of belonging
Foster an environment where our people are inspired and equipped to team and lead inclusively in their interactions every day
Our commitments
While the list below is not exhaustive, these EY US commitments demonstrate critical elements of our ongoing DEI focus:
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