The roots of Ernst and Young Global Limited go back to the 19th century and to the founders, A.C. Ernst and Arthur Young. Alwin Charles Ernst was born in Cleveland, Ohio and worked as a bookkeeper after he finished school. In 1903, he and his brother Theodore started a small public accounting firm, Ernst and Ernst. Ernst pioneered the idea that accounting information could be used to make business decisions and make a difference to clients’ organizations. Arthur Young was born in Glasgow, Scotland and moved to the United States in 1890 in order to pursue a career in accounting. He had graduated in law, but became interested in banking and investment. In 1906, he formed and accounting firm, Arthur Young and Company, with his brother Stanley. He positioned himself as much as a business advisor as an accountant.

The first of many alliances for both firms took place in 1924. Ernst and Ernst allying with Whinney, Smith and Whinney and Arthur Young and Company allying with Broads, Paterson and Company. Each alliance brought the individual firms to the global market place; their new partners were prominent British firms. In 1944, Arthur Young and Company allied with Clarkson, Gordon and Company, a firm specializing in trustee and receiverships as well as management consulting. Ernst and Whinney would form in 1979 to become the fourth largest accountancy firm in the world.

In 1989, Arthur Young and Company merged with Ernst and Whinney to create Ernst and Young Global Limited becoming the current (2018) global organization.