Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services firms in the world and one of the big four auditors, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte) and KPMG.

According to Forbes magazine, as of year 2007 it emerged as the 7th largest private company in the US.

Ernst & Young is based in London, UK and the US firm is headquartered at Times Square, New York.

The company (partnership) is the result of a series of mergers of ancestor organisations. The oldest originating partnership was founded in 1849 in England as Harding & Pullein.

The company's revenue in 2007 stood at $21.1 billion.

Image: Ernst & Young national headquarters in London.