Updated: Friday, September 18th, 2009

Ernst and Young (EY) has been ranked one of the best companies to begin a business career by Businessweek.

This is the third consecutive year the accounting firm has found itself among the magazine's top three career-starting companies.

EY was given the ranking based on its benefits package, opportunities for growth and development, diversity among entry-level new hires and status as students' preferred accounting firm.

The company intends to hire 4200 students for internship and entry-level positions during the 2009-2010 recruitment year. Many of these positions will give young employees worldwide duties right away to offer "opportunities to gain international experience starting as soon as the student's first internship," said Dan Black, director of campus recruiting for the Americas at EY.

Black added that positions will be available primarily in the audit and tax as well as advisory departments.

EY aims to launch new campaigns to appeal to students in an attempt to maintain its top ranking. These include a new Facebook application called Connect2U, a Pandora station designed by EY employees and an on-campus branding initiative called "Hello, Yellow."

Demand for those who have completed bachelors programs in accounting is expected to rise by 18 percent over the next seven years.

Related Articles

Entrepreneurial business careers show promise, despite uncertain economy
Seedco, Goldman Sachs partner to boost small business careers
Survey: Marketing professionals can boost business careers through social n
Top business school survey reveals signs of expansion in the accounting sec
New technology could unite international business community