Four mystery hours emerge as EY, police investigate death

The 33-year-old employee returned to the firm’s Sydney head office only 20 minutes before the incident. Her husband was on a flight from Singapore to Sydney.

EY and its rival professional services firms are in the midst of an annual auditing season, one of the busiest times of the year. Picture: Gabriel Boys/AFP

An initial investigation conducted into the death of a 33-year-old EY employee has found she returned to the professional services firm’s head office only 20 minutes before she died on Saturday morning.

The new information – part of EY’s initial inquiries into the death – changes a timeline which had earlier placed the woman at the office immediately after leaving a workplace social function at the nearby Ivy around 7.30pm.

The professional services firm on Monday said it had begun a comprehensive review into the death and workplace social activities following the incident.

The NSW Police are also investigating, and will prepare a report for the coroner’s office.

The woman had begun work at EY only six months earlier; police have already determined that she accessed a secure patio on the upper level of the company’s head office using her security key shortly before her death.

The Australian’s Margin Call column revealed on Tuesday that the woman’s husband was on a flight from Singapore to Sydney at the time of the incident.

In an email to staff on Monday, EY said police had told the company that “there were no suspicious circumstances”.

“It is with great sadness I am sharing the news that one of our team members died at the EY building in Sydney over the weekend,” the email continued.

EY’s social committee is a workplace networking group that promotes bonding and rapport-building among employees.

It was previously thought that the woman had returned from the social function at 7.30pm, spending the following four and a half hours working at the office.

EY and its rival professional services firms are in the midst of an annual auditing season, one of the busiest times of the year.

The investigation has not determined any obvious motivating factors. Interviews with staff at The Ivy and employees from EY’s offices are said to be continuing.

She was allegedly escorted from the venue by staff owing to her alcohol consumption. However security footage viewed by police of her return to the EY office did not suggest a noticeable level of intoxication.

The role alcohol played in her death remains an ongoing line of inquiry in the ­investigation, given that several hours elapsed after the staff member’s last drink and the time when police were notified of her death. Officers suspect the death was a result of self harm.

David ­Larocca, EY’s chief executive, on Monday told The Australian that he had been greatly saddened and shocked by the death. “We are assisting the police with their ongoing investigation, which has confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances,” he said, adding that contact had been made with the woman’s family.

“Our chief mental health ­officer will be part of an ongoing review and has been instrumental over the weekend in providing ­ongoing advice and guidance,” Mr Larocca said in a statement.

The global consulting and ­accounting giant has previously been scrutinised for the long hours forced on staff. Internal emails last year from senior managers at EY’s Hong Kong office show employees were urged to work until 11.30pm on weekdays and through the weekend during busy periods.

An internal review last year found significant problems within the firm’s marketing team including concerns about a “nice” workplace culture that was felt to be “conflict avoidant”. Leaders were overworking their staff, it found.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)