ICAEW awaits Big Four firm's student verdict

Ernst & Young will begin discussions in the next few weeks over how many students it will send through the ICAEW's qualification programme next year, after a batch began training with the institute for the first time since 2000.

The institute will hope that the first batch of 50 students stood up to the strain of the economic crisis, after Ernst & Young decided that the ICAEW's revamped qualification met its quality criteria.

"We brought in a lot of technical knowledge much earlier [into the qualification] than before," said Hazel Garvey, ICAEW head of UK practice, "I would imagine that's proved more useful in the workplace".

"We're hoping to speak to [E&Y] over the next couple of week about next Autumn."

The Big Four firm switched to ICAS in 2000 over concerns about the rigour of the ICAEW's qualification.

The ICAEW updated its qualification in 2007 and since then the firm has kept a close eye on developments.

"When we felt its delivery had proved effective, we said we'd put some [students through]," said Kristin Watson, associate director, national exam training at E&Y.

"It's still early days so we'll see how it goes."

Watson said the firm was still "very happy with ICAS", and had sent around 250 students through its qualification.

"There are no concerns, we're delighted to be with them."

An ICAS spokesman said: "ICAS continues to enjoy a very strong relationship with Ernst & Young. We are delighted to continue to train high quality students across the UK for the firm. We train across the UK for all Big Four firms, and there has been no change to the mix of firms that support CA training."

Further reading:

Ernst & Young reunited with ICAEW