EY NYC: Firm Overview and Recent History
EY (Ernst & Young) is the product of a 1989 merger between Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young — two of the largest accounting firms of their era. Today, EY Global operates as a network of member firms across 150+ countries, with EY US organized around four service lines: Assurance, Tax, Consulting, and Strategy and Transactions (which houses EY-Parthenon).
EY made international business headlines in 2022 when it announced Project Everest — an audacious plan to split the firm into two separate, publicly listed companies: one focused on audit and assurance, and one focused on consulting and advisory. The rationale was to eliminate the inherent conflict of interest between auditing a company and selling that same company additional consulting services.
After more than a year of internal negotiations, due diligence, and partner votes, EY officially abandoned the split — which had been nicknamed "Project Biscuit" internally — in April 2023. The collapse was driven primarily by disagreements among US partners over how compensation, ownership stakes, and liabilities would be divided. As of 2026, EY operates as a unified firm with the same structure it had before the announcement. The split attempt had minimal impact on staff compensation or career paths, though it created uncertainty that contributed to some partner and senior departures in 2022–2023.
Firm Stability: EY's abandoned split is ancient history for most current staff purposes. The firm remains financially strong, continues to win major audit and advisory mandates, and is actively investing in its consulting and technology practices. The 2026 EY NYC you are joining or working at is stable and competitive.
2026 EY NYC Salary Ranges by Level
| Level | Base Salary Range | Est. Annual Take-Home | Typical Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff 1 (1st year) | $76,000 – $87,000 | ~$54,800 – $61,700 | 4–7% |
| Staff 2–3 | $87,000 – $107,000 | ~$61,700 – $73,700 | 6–10% |
| Senior | $107,000 – $145,000 | ~$73,700 – $97,000 | 8–14% |
| Manager | $145,000 – $195,000 | ~$97,000 – $126,000 | 14–22% |
| Senior Manager | $185,000 – $250,000 | ~$120,000 – $158,000 | 20–30% |
| Partner / Principal | $500,000 – $2,000,000+ | Varies (profit share) | Profit share structure |
EY-Parthenon salaries at the Associate and Manager levels run 15–25% above the standard EY Advisory ranges shown above. See the EY-Parthenon section below for details.
Detailed Take-Home Calculation: $120,000 Senior
Here is a full breakdown for an EY NYC Senior earning $120,000 base salary, filing as a single NYC resident in 2026:
| Tax / Deduction | Rate / Basis | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | — | $120,000 |
| Federal Income Tax | 22% marginal (effective ~18.0%) | –$21,580 |
| NY State Income Tax | 6.85% marginal (effective ~5.65%) | –$6,780 |
| NYC Local Income Tax | 3.876% marginal (effective ~3.75%) | –$4,500 |
| Social Security (OASDI) | 6.2% on full $120,000 | –$7,440 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | –$1,740 |
| Estimated Annual Take-Home | — | ~$77,960 |
| Monthly Take-Home | — | ~$6,497/month |
With a 10% performance bonus ($12,000), after-tax bonus proceeds add approximately $7,700–$8,100, bringing total after-tax annual compensation to roughly $85,700–$86,100 for a well-rated Senior. EY also matches 401(k) contributions and provides access to the full benefits package; factoring in a $3,000 employer 401(k) match pushes total annual value well above $90,000.
EY-Parthenon: Strategy Consulting at a Premium
EY-Parthenon is not a typical Big 4 advisory practice. Formed from EY's 2014 acquisition of The Parthenon Group (a boutique strategy consulting firm that had itself spun out of Bain & Company), EY-Parthenon operates as a separate brand within the EY umbrella, competing directly with McKinsey, BCG, Oliver Wyman, and LEK Consulting for strategy and transaction advisory work.
EY-Parthenon NYC Compensation (2026)
| EY-Parthenon Level | Base Salary Range | Est. Take-Home | Total Comp (incl. bonus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate (post-undergrad) | $95,000 – $110,000 | ~$66,000 – $75,000 | ~$100,000 – $125,000 |
| Senior Associate (post-MBA) | $175,000 – $210,000 | ~$113,000 – $135,000 | ~$200,000 – $260,000 |
| Manager | $200,000 – $260,000 | ~$129,000 – $162,000 | ~$240,000 – $340,000 |
| Senior Manager / Director | $250,000 – $350,000 | ~$155,000 – $213,000 | $300,000 – $450,000+ |
EY-Parthenon post-MBA compensation in NYC is competitive with Tier 2 strategy consulting firms and meaningfully above standard EY Advisory pay. Candidates considering EY-Parthenon offers should treat them as comparable to Oliver Wyman, Kearney, or LEK rather than to standard Big 4 advisory roles.
EY NYC Practice Areas
Assurance (Financial Services Focus)
EY's NYC Assurance practice is one of the largest in the country. The financial services audit group — auditing major banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies, and asset managers — is a dominant part of the NYC office's revenue. EY audits several of the largest US financial institutions and many global banks with significant US operations.
Staff in the financial services audit group in NYC gain exposure to complex financial products, regulatory capital reporting, and internal control frameworks that are among the most sophisticated in corporate America. Exit opportunities to internal audit, finance, and regulatory roles at major financial firms are a well-worn path from EY Assurance NYC.
Tax: Private Client and International
EY's NYC Tax practice has two particularly notable specialties: private client services for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices, and international tax services for multinational corporations. Both are high-complexity, high-margin service lines that command premium compensation at the Manager and above levels.
EY's private client tax group in NYC handles income tax, estate tax, gift tax, and international tax planning for individuals with substantial wealth — many of them executives, entrepreneurs, and family office principals who need sophisticated multi-jurisdictional tax strategies.
Consulting: Technology and Performance Improvement
EY Consulting (distinct from EY-Parthenon) covers technology transformation, digital, supply chain, and finance transformation. Following the collapse of the split, EY has continued to invest in its consulting practice to compete with Deloitte, Accenture, and IBM. The NYC consulting group works heavily with financial services, media, and healthcare clients on large-scale technology programs.
EY NYC Bonus Structure
EY uses an annual performance rating cycle with ratings from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Bonuses are linked to ratings, with a 3 (meets expectations) delivering the target bonus percentage, 4 (exceeds) delivering above target, and 5 (outstanding) delivering the maximum. EY's fiscal year ends June 30, and bonuses are typically paid in October following a July–September performance review period.
Bonus Amounts by Level
- Staff 1–3: 4–10% of base; most staff receive the lower end
- Senior: 8–14%; high performers 15%+
- Manager: 14–22%; tied increasingly to client revenue
- Senior Manager: 20–30%; significant variation based on business development contributions
EY NYC Office Locations: 1 Manhattan West and 5 Times Square
EY's primary NYC location is 1 Manhattan West — a modern Hudson Yards office tower that EY moved into as one of the anchor tenants when the building opened. The Hudson Yards location is EY's flagship US office and houses the firm's Americas leadership, major practice group leadership, and the largest concentration of NYC staff.
5 Times Square (also known as the EY Building) remains EY's secondary NYC location, hosting additional practice groups and client-facing staff. Times Square's central Midtown location makes it convenient for clients based in Midtown, while Hudson Yards serves the growing West Side corridor.
Both offices operate on a hybrid schedule, with most staff expected in-office 3 days per week outside of busy season. During audit busy season (January–April), much of the Assurance staff works at client sites.
EY vs. Big 4 Peers: NYC Salary Comparison
| Level | EY NYC | Deloitte NYC | PwC NYC | KPMG NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (Staff 1 / Associate) | $76k–$87k | $75k–$90k | $78k–$88k | $75k–$85k |
| Senior / Sr. Associate | $107k–$145k | $130k–$165k | $105k–$140k | $100k–$132k |
| Manager | $145k–$195k | $165k–$210k | $140k–$185k | $135k–$180k |
| Senior Manager | $185k–$250k | $200k–$270k | $185k–$240k | $175k–$225k |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary at EY NYC in 2026?
First-year Staff (Staff 1) at EY NYC earn $76,000–$87,000 base, depending on service line. After all NYC taxes, an $81,500 midpoint yields approximately $58,500 in annual take-home. Performance bonuses for first-year staff are typically 4–7% after the first full year.
How much does an EY Senior earn in NYC after taxes?
EY Seniors in NYC earn $107,000–$145,000 base. At a $120,000 midpoint, estimated annual take-home is approximately $77,960. With a 10% bonus, total after-tax annual compensation for a well-rated Senior is approximately $85,700.
What happened to EY's plan to split into two firms?
EY announced the split (Project Everest/Biscuit) in 2022 with the goal of separating audit from consulting. After more than a year of negotiations, EY abandoned the plan in April 2023 due to disagreements among US partners over compensation and structure. EY remains a unified firm in 2026 with no material impact on staff careers or pay.
What is EY-Parthenon and does it pay more than standard EY roles?
EY-Parthenon is EY's strategy consulting arm, competing with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. It pays 15–25% above standard EY Advisory at comparable levels. Post-MBA EY-Parthenon Associates in NYC earn $175,000–$210,000 base with total compensation reaching $200,000–$260,000 including bonus.
Data Sources: Salary data compiled from H-1B Labor Condition Applications (Department of Labor), Glassdoor verified employer data, Levels.fyi Big 4 data, and anonymized offer letter submissions. Take-home calculations use 2026 IRS and NY tax rates. See full methodology →
Calculate Your EY NYC Take-Home Pay
Enter your EY offer or current salary to see your exact take-home after all five NYC tax lines.
Use the Free Calculator →