I have been working in IBM BCS Financial Management area for the past two years, as a Senior Consultant (PRG 8), and I am considering applying to EY BAS, as I’m fed up with being used as a route in for selling big outsourcing and IT projects, and lots of ex-collegues have moved over in recent times.My question is, what level would I join BAS at, and what should my salary expections be.I am currently CIMA 8 yrs PQE, and on mid sixties (plus car, pension, and a small bonus)Could I get £10k more by joining EY? What is their bonus structure like?

That sounds like a 'manager' at EY, and salary will be roughly similar. EY don't pay bonuses at manager level, but other benefits should be comparable. I would think that low 70s would be achievable depending on where you are in the manager band (e.g. unrealistic if you're considered a new manager, but achievable if you're considered close to senior manager).

Apply for an increase in base but not for a bonus. They don't pay them.

Thanks for all this everyone.To the ex-IBM staff there, how was the experience so far? Has Richard Sandwell made an impression?

I'm in the F&PM Team at EY. I'm working for a major Telco at the moment helping improve the MI reporting.There are 6 Partners in F&PM Consulting across the industries. We had a two day off site with the rest of the consulting business (300 people) in Brighton. We all stayed at the Grand Hotel - a great laugh and reminded me of the sort of do's my current employer use to have before they floated !Culture is great; Richard and co are building a world class team; and we actually all get on really well !I'm a lot happier than when I was a consultant added on to an SI business. And clients actually like me and respect what I say.

"Culture is great; Richard and co are building a world class team; and we actually all get on really well ! "I hear he's hiring a lot from his old stomping ground, IBM, and also those being made redundant from ACN. Sounds like a fun bunch ..."I'm a lot happier than when I was a consultant added on to an SI business. And clients actually like me and respect what I say. "So now you're a consultant (not even that - an advisor, as EY are loathe to use the word "Consultant") added on to an accounting firm instead of an unnamed systems integrator ?? How is that any better?

Counterpoint, do you have anything beyond pure hearsay and speculation upon which to base your opinion? Or is this yet another uninformed opinion offered by those who simply like to jump onto the anti-EY bandwagon?Speaking from experience, I echo hetty's views of life at BAS. We've got a good team with a good, friendly, helpful culture, and we're working on interesting projects with good clients. While I'm sure we don't have a monopoly on these sorts of characteristics, BAS is a good place to work.

Sounds like a pretty relaxed culture over there at EY: many of them seem to spend all day on here arguing that BAS not really a new IBM... no really... its not ... its nothing like it ...PMSL

Sounds like a pretty relaxed culture over there at EY: many of them seem to spend all day on here arguing that BAS not really a new IBM... no really... its not ... its nothing like it ...PMSL