JHVEPhoto Ernst & Young has delayed the start dates of new graduates at its strategy adviser Parthenon unit, as big accounting and consulting firms continue weathering the effects of a slowdown in business, the Financial Times reported Sunday. According to the report, around 200 recruits who were slated to start next month in the US in November or January have been told they won’t be needed until the middle of 2025, an internal message seen said. Managers at EY-Parthenon told staff on a call that the slowing merger and private-equity activity since the start of the firm’s fiscal year in July was to blame, people familiar with the discussion were quoted as saying. EY-Parthenon delayed the start date of recruits twice last year. Affected recruits will be provided with stipends of between $12K and $35K, depending on their original start date and whether they have an undergraduate degree or MBA, FT reported, citing a person familiar with the amounts. The firm has also cut the number of internships next summer, a person familiar with the matter reportedly said. Ernst & Young reportedly told the FT the latest decision to delay the start dates of recruits as made “after careful consideration of the current M&A environment and our business needs” to “ensure that our new joiners have the quality and breadth of assignments to ensure a successful start and strong professional trajectory.” The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Seeking Alpha.