Business Operations & Technology Academy with EY

Overview

Business Operations & Technology Academy with EY

Overview

At EY, our purpose is building a better working world. The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients, people and society, and to build trust in the capital markets.  We play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. 

In our Strategy and Transactions business, our dedicated Operations and Technology team partners with leading companies to uncover and implement business improvement opportunities that create significant value. We collaborate with both corporate and private equity clients, addressing a diverse range of operational and technology challenges throughout the lifecycle of business transactions. Our work encompasses various activities, assessing business operations and technology processes and using data and our experience to bring insights to clients that deliver value.

Working in our Strategy and Transactions team, you would be involved in pre-deal analysis of potential acquisition targets, creating plans to ensure transactions are executed smoothly and working directly with clients to develop and implement improvements across their business.

This course is designed to equip you with essential tools and resources to enhance your business acumen and technical expertise. You will gain proficiency in the core practical skills our teams use every day such as Advanced Microsoft Excel and LEAN Six Sigma methodologies and insight into data visualisation techniques, project management and accounting fundamentals. Additionally, you will develop knowledge and skills that enable you to make a tangible impact in the realms of business, mergers and acquisitions and private equity.

If you have an interest in STEM subjects, are curious about how businesses work and are passionate about improving processes, this is your chance to make a difference. We welcome applicants with a Foundation Degree or above in any discipline. Join us in a dynamic, collaborative environment where your ideas matter.

The Business Operations & Technology Academy with EY is a six-week intensive training course.

Training for successful applicants will take place onsite at Belfast Metropolitan College Campuses with some online tuition.

If you are selected for the academy, you will receive practical skills, training and industry recognised qualifications in areas such as:

• Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel Associate
• Data visualisation techniques
• LEAN Six Sigma methodologies
• Project management techniques
• Accounting fundamentals

If you successfully complete the academy, you will be guaranteed an interview for a strategy and transactions role within EY.

Please note that successful completion of the academy is not a guarantee of gaining employment.

Applications for the Business Operations & Technology Academy with EY are now open, with 20 training places available.

Those taking part in the Academy will receive a weekly training allowance of £180 for the duration of the academy.  You may also qualify for financial assistance with travel and  childcare costs.

Essential Criteria 

Applicants must:

• be at least 18 years old. 
• have been awarded at least a foundation degree in any subject at the point of application.
• have a right to work and to undertake Assured Skills Training in the UK at the point of application and not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status. **Proof of this will be required to progress to interview.
• Evidence of these criteria will be required not later than 12.00 pm on Friday 17 October 2025 if selected for interview.
• have appropriate IT access to link to online tuition.

**Applicants should be aware that the company may apply additional right to work criteria at point of employment and a job offer is not guaranteed.

Desirable Criteria

• A Foundation Degree or above in engineering or STEM discipline
• As EY work with global clients, some of the roles will require candidates to hold a valid right to work in both the UK and EU.
• Be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance.  For more information visit www.gov.uk/National security vetting: clearance levels  

Shortlisting Criteria

In the event of a large number of applications being received EY reserve the right to enhance the minimum criteria, by taking into consideration some or all of the desirable criteria.

If in full-time employment or living outside Northern Ireland – by accepting an offer of a place on this pre-employment training Academy, you are committing to attending training and pursuing a job opportunity with EY based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Applicants will be asked to provide proof of qualification before attending an interview.

Applications must be submitted by 10.00 am on Monday 13 October 2025.

The selection process will entail completion of an online assessment and an interview.  Interviews will be conducted between Wednesday 22  and Friday 24 October  2025.  

An information session for those invited to interview will be held on Monday 20 October 2025, with the opportunity to meet representatives from the Department for the Economy, EY and Belfast Metropolitan College.  At the information session you will hear more about the available job roles within EY.

If you are offered a place on the Academy, you will also be required to complete other personal checks on your identification, academic qualifications, previous employment amongst others and it is expected that you will provide the required information within the specified timeframe.

The Academy training commences on Monday 10 November 2025 and finishes on Thursday 18 December 2025.

Applicants should be available to attend full-time, in person for the entire duration of the training period and any pre-scheduled commitments should be listed in your application.  Training is 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday for the duration of the Academy.  Applicants need to be able to commit to the full-time training as outlined above and be available for any on-site training that is required.

You will be entitled to claim travel expenses in relation to travel to and from BMC Campuses. Successful applicants will require appropriate IT access in order to link to the online tuition. 

All trainees who are offered a job with EY will have to go through intense screening and checks as part of the onboarding process. This includes Fit and Proper, Independence and Medical and pre-employment checks. 

If successful, and checks have been completed, you will commence employment with EY on Monday 19 January 2026 in Belfast and will receive a starting salary in the range of of £24,000 to £26,000, in addition to generous company benefits and extensive learning and development opportunities.  

You need to complete all the following questions.  If you have any problems, please contact assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk and put Business Operations & Technology with EY in the subject line.

 Applications Open

Applications are welcome from everyone who meets the essential criteria and are particularly welcome from persons returning to work from a period of caring for their children or other family members.

If you have a disability and require assistance in completing this form please email Assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk or by telephoning 028 9041 6972.

Correspondence Regarding Your Application

All correspondence relating to your application will be via email from assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk. It is your responsibility as applicant to act as required within the given time frame.

Email whitelisting helps ensure that important messages from known senders won’t end up in the spam folder.

To whitelist the assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk email address, you may wish to:

• Open your email client and navigate to the settings.
• Find the option to create a new filter or add a new contact.
• Add the email address assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk as a known contact/safe sender
• Save the changes.

The exact steps may vary depending on the email client you are using.

If you do not receive an email about your application by Wednesday 15 October 2025 please contact assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk and put Business Operations & Technology Academy with EY in the subject line.

To find out how we manage your information please see privacy notice below:

https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/assured-skills-academies-privacy-notice

If you wish to make a complaint about the Assured Skills programme, please email assured.skills@economy-ni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9041 6941.