EY Cuts Hundreds of U.S. Executive Assistants in Shift Offshore

Ernst & Young (EY) has cut hundreds of U.S.-based executive assistant jobs this week in a move insiders are calling a “ruthless” shift to cheaper labor markets. The Big Four accounting firm confirmed it is replacing the vast majority of its American administrative support staff with workers based in the Caribbean and South America. This decision marks one of the largest single-day reductions of support staff in the firm’s recent history, as it pushes to cut costs across its back-office operations.

Key Facts

• Scope: Hundreds of U.S. executive assistants were let go, wiping out nearly all domestic roles in this function.
• Method: Staff were notified via mass Teams meetings described by employees as “cold.”
• Severance: Departed employees received severance packages and access to mental health services.
• Source: Going Concern, Reddit / Verified Employees

Offshoring to “Nearshore” Hubs

The firm is moving these roles to what it calls “low-cost” jurisdictions. While EY has long used Global Delivery Services (GDS) in India for back-office work, this specific wave targets “nearshore” hubs in the Caribbean and South America. The goal is to keep support staff in time zones similar to the U.S. partners they support, but at a fraction of the cost.

According to reports from the Going Concern tipline, the layoffs were executed efficiently but impersonally. Employees who had supported partners for years were informed in large groups via video calls that their roles were being eliminated immediately. One source noted that very few American administrative assistants remain, with only a handful of specific hubs spared from the cuts.

Broader 2025 Cuts

This move is part of a larger pattern for EY in 2025. The firm is also trimming headcount across its audit, tax, and consulting divisions as it deals with flat demand and higher interest rates. Work from these divisions is also being consolidated into global hubs. Management has stated these changes are necessary to fix the firm’s cost structure, but for the hundreds of staff let go this week, it is a harsh end to their tenure.