Antoine Moittié (SKEMA 1995), an EY man through and through

This Skeman from the Class of '95 is part of the top management team at EY France, one of the Big Four accounting firms providing financial audit and consulting services to companies. His success lends credibility to his vision of the professional world and of the employer-employee relationship. This makes his testimonial all the more valuable for anyone seeking a career.

The grass always seems greener ‘over there’. In this age when it is customary for careers to shoot off in different directions faster than an NBA ball, this old saying reminds us that, very often, we already have right in front of us what we are so deeply looking for elsewhere. Not convinced? Antoine Moittié’s career trajectory should persuade you. Because this SKEMA Business School alumnus — although in his day it was still ESC Lille — has only ever had a single employer. And this stability did not hinder his career evolution — far from it! Antoine Moittié is now one of the top managers in his company. This ascent is all the more impressive because it is not just any old firm we are talking about, it is EY. With its 300,000 employees and a presence in 150 countries, it is one of the most respected auditing and consulting firms in the world and the third in terms of turnover.

“I started at what used to be called Ernst & Young in the summer of 1996, right after graduating” he remembered. “At the time, I was a junior financial auditor. A little over a quarter of a century later, I am Private Leader France, leading the Entrepreneurs market nationwide. It is a wonderful challenge: this market alone represents two-thirds of EY France’s business. But above all it is a really stimulating role, since I lead a network of around a dozen offices that assist a great many companies in Paris and around the country with their development. What makes the work all the more interesting is the wide variety of profiles in our client portfolio: MMC/SMEs, startups, mid caps, private equity shareholders, and subsidiaries of major multinationals,” he added.

The model employer

Official since the summer of 2021, this appointment is the reward for a flawless career path that enabled him work his way up in the company, from senior auditor to manager, senior manager, partner and regional director. “With each new position, I developed new skills and gained more experience. I honed my technical knowledge in the field of finance, discovered management and sales, deepened my expertise in talent management.”

And yet, while he is the very picture of loyalty, he does not consider staying true to one’s employer a cardinal virtue. “There are no rules. It really all depends on the company that employs you. If it offers you real opportunities for advancement, if it constantly gives you new challenges, if it regularly opens up new career possibilities for you, then it might be in your interest to forge your path there. Your progression may be smoother and your quality of life better. But if the opposite is true, if you are not offered opportunities, it is worth putting your skills to good use elsewhere,” said Antoine pragmatically.

While he sees nothing wrong with professional mobility, the Private Leader at EY France does have strong views on the typical profile of the model employer. “In my opinion, there are four fundamental criteria to look for when you are trying to find your path. Whether your future employer has an international outlook is one. Quality of training is another. It is important to work for a “learning organisation” (one that fosters a learning culture), capable of reinforcing the basic skills of its management-level employees, particularly if the latter are freshly graduated. It is also important to assess the company’s capacity to enrich your expertise with new experiences, to stimulate you with motivating challenges. So instead of looking for the one that offers the most, always choose the one that offers the best, because that is where you will inevitably find satisfaction one day. Lastly, I think that today professional commitment has to be meaningful. For that, you have to be aligned with your company’s values as regards essential issues such as the environment, human relations, social responsibility, etc.”

The ideal candidate

Antoine Moittié’s advantage is his dual experience: as a manager who has played his cards right, and as a decision maker. This means that while he knows what a young professional can rightfully expect from their employer, he also knows what the expectations are on the other side of the fence. “When it comes to recruitment, all companies have more or less the same requirements,” he said. “To start with, they pay particular attention to the quality of education, especially when the candidate is young. And in this respect I am thrilled at the evolution of my alma mater, at its development both in France and abroad that makes a degree from SKEMA Business School an excellent calling card. But it is not enough! As brilliant as a young professional’s education might be, they still have a lot to learn. So we assess their level of dedication, their willingness to progress, give, learn. To do this, we look for humility and curiosity in a candidate; these are two qualities necessary for learning. Finally, a sense of “solidarity” is also important: the ability to work as a team, to share information effectively, to maintain networks and get involved in community life, is a definite asset.”

Does this sound like you? That is a good sign for the rest of your career. And perhaps the latter will one day bring you to EY France. “Why not!” said Antoine with enthusiasm. “We are always looking for new talent. The performance and modernity of our company requires it.” And who knows? In twenty years’ time you might be delivering this precious message to other young wolves hungry for success: the grass is not always greener over there…

Contact: Antoine Moittié, EY Partner - Leader Entrepreneurs Market France

Portrait piece by Jerome Dumur