Is it possible to work in audit and invest?

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Hello! I'd like to apply for the assurance programme and I'd also like to start investing. However, I've been made aware that if you work in audit it is not possible to buy/hold any shares in any company audited by the firm you work for and therefore you'd have to sell them in order to be eligible for an audit position at EY. I'd like to start investing, but I don't want to buy into something which I'll have to sell later on in order to work in assurance. My question is: is there any way around this? Are there any passive investments we can still make or is it not possible to invest at all if you work in audit? For example, is it still possible to work in audit for EY and invest in ETF's or Index funds such as the UK FTSE 100? or would those funds have to be free of any companies audited by EY? If that's the case, if your work for EY UK can you for instance buy in to the American S&P 500 or does the rule apply for the entire EY firm worldwide?

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Anxo H. asked a question to EY

Category: Team Info

Date asked: Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Last reviewed: Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Ben M.

Quite an interesting question. The stock market is an incredible vehicle for wealth, I hope there’s some way around it!

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Verity P.

Employer Brand Advisor

Hi Anxo - we have to make sure there are no conflicts so if you're working on specific audits of clients you're not able to invest in them.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Anxo H.

Thank you for your answer. So can you invest in companies that the firm audits but that you are not working on yourself? and is it possible to invest in index funds at all as those positions change constantly and you might not know exactly which companies are included in them?

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Verity P.

Employer Brand Advisor

Hi Anxo - yes you can invest in companies that you're not working on but if you're part of the audit of a client, you cannot invest in them.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

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