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EY Empowers Locally and Connects Globally
EY Empowers Locally and Connects Globally “Saskatoon exemplifies the spirit of both entrepreneurship and community like no other.”
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by Elizabeth Ireland
BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2020 17 Image: Saskatoon Chamber
Jeff Pickett is Managing Partner of the professional services firm EY in Saskatoon (some might recognize the firm by its legal name Ernst & Young LLP). EY just recently moved its 115 employees into stunning new offices at River Landing, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River. Worldwide EY employs 280,000 people.
“EY continues to focus on shaking things up in the marketplace and finding new ways to meet our clients’ needs. We’ve come a long way from our accounting firm roots – we’re advisors to the ambitious and the entrepreneurial,” says Pickett.
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Pickett graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in Commerce and went on to earn his designation as a CPA, CA. He has since focused his career on providing core accounting, tax and advisory services to entrepreneurial and private companies. Pickett’s clients come from a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, automotive and real estate.
Entrepreneurial Risk and Reward “I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. There was always lots of shop talk around the dinner table. After 12 years in public practice, and time spent assisting business owners with strategic planning, I got the itch to get into business myself,” says Pickett.
At that point, Pickett left traditional accounting and joined a couple of his post-university friends in business. Experiencing success, within the next couple of years the friends started two other companies.
“Becoming an entrepreneur and starting your own businesses takes determination and hard work. In the beginning, I looked after everything from sales and administration to maintenance and janitorial. It was a crash course in being an entrepreneur. After seven years of owning and running successful businesses, I had the opportunity to come home and join EY, which had recently acquired my predecessor firm HDS,” explains Pickett. The accounting firm HDS was acquired by EY in 2013, with HDS employees then becoming EY employees.
With a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, Pickett describes EY as fitting with his own professional vision immediately. “We pride ourselves on our deep knowledge and experience in the private client space. From assurance services and corporate tax planning to transaction support and business advisory services, EY offers a full suite of services to help business owners and entrepreneurs with all facets of their business.”
While the Saskatoon office is EY’s only location in the province, Pickett describes strong relationships with clients in Regina and other Saskatchewan locales. “Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our local economy – individuals who have shown patience, perseverance and a vision toward building a better Saskatchewan. Entrepreneurs provide the network of products and services we all need and provide the jobs to allow us all to strengthen our communities.”
“ “ I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. There was always lots of shop talk around the dinner table. After 12 years in public practice, and time spent assisting business owners with strategic planning, I got the itch to get into business myself Jeff Pickett, Managing Partner, EY
local private business, supporting other local businesses, providing opportunities for local students coming out of university, and doing everything we can to be socially responsible in our community. I’m so proud to call Saskatoon home and to be part of the fabric of this great city.”
Pickett is keen on the calibre of students he sees graduating from the University of Saskatchewan and entering the profession. It is easy to see how EY’s corporate culture, and now its gleaming downtown offices, would be appealing to students. The sparkling new offices boast a training centre, a sizable social area and open concept workspaces. While the design and layout are consistent with other EY offices, the Saskatoon workplace has incorporated local flourishes reflecting the city’s bridges and its reputation as a hub.
Image: Saskatoon Chamber
Flagship Programs Prioritize Entrepreneurs EY has two flagship programs dedicated to celebrating and supporting entrepreneurs. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® program recognizes entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the courage to take risks, the resilience to chase their dreams and to overcome adversity along the way. The selection process is extremely thorough, with entrepreneurs and former program participants making up an independent selection committee. The program categories represent different industries in five regions across Canada. Nominations for the 2020 program open March 1.
Regina-based Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients, was named Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 and subsequently EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 in Monaco. Pickett expresses the excitement of “riding shotgun” on Al-Katib’s global awards journey.
As part of EY’s diversity and inclusion focus, its second flagship program is dedicated to women. The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program identifies high-potential female entrepreneurs and celebrates their accomplishments by helping them scale to the next level and connecting them with the advisors, resources and insights for sustainable business growth.
A City That Gives Back Saskatoon is well known for the generosity and community mindedness of its residents. Pickett is especially proud of this aspect of his hometown. His wife is a local health and wellness coach and they have raised their three children in the city. The Picketts’ oldest son is currently a student at the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.
“In my opinion, no city believes in giving back as much as Saskatoon does. This community spirit is a perfect match for our culture at EY. We believe that by focusing on building strong and thriving communities, future generations of leaders will continue to build on that momentum. We’re extremely proud of our community involvement and believe it’s critical to the future success and growth of our city.”
Some of the local community initiatives that EY supports include the Royal University Hospital Foundation, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, the Saskatoon Community Foundation, the Friendship Inn, HelpOne, Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon, YWCA Saskatoon, the United Way and the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. More grassroots education-related programs include the Westmount Community School’s Start2Finish program and Bishop Klein School’s Care & Share program.
Along with its ongoing corporate community support, EY employees also dedicate themselves to their community one day each year. In 2019, Connect Day was held on October 4. EY shut down its office for the whole day and split its employees into teams to go out and lend a hand. Connect Day activities included preparing and serving meals at the Friendship Inn, painting at Saskatoon Interval House (a temporary shelter for women and their children) and planting at local community gardens.
Finally, what are Pickett’s thoughts on Saskatchewan’s economic outlook? He looks towards increasing stabilization in the resource sector. “We are survivors. While we had some boom times, I think our business mindset remains tight and efficient. Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan, are poised for greatness.”