Morningstar

Senior Accountant

Morningstar$95K — $139K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • CPA certification or progress toward certification preferred.
  • 3-5 years of experience in public and/or corporate accounting.
  • Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial close processes.
  • Experience supporting audits and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Responsibilities

  • Research and resolve accounting issues to ensure compliance with regulations and accounting policies.
  • Prepare financial reports and maintain supporting documentation.
  • Manage complex accounting processes, including software and commission accounting.
  • Prepare statutory reports and ensure timely submission for legal entities.
  • Enhance internal controls related to Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders for audits and regulatory exams.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives in accounting operations.

Benefits

  • 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary.
  • Comprehensive health benefits including potential HSA contributions.
  • Trust-Based Time Off and a 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program.
  • Competitive Paid Parental Leave and adoption assistance.
  • Annual Flex Stipend for personal education & well-being expenses.
Full Job Description

The Role

As a Senior Accountant on the Americas Accounting team, you will play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and scalability of Morningstar's financial reporting processes across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil, while supporting select global controllership initiatives. You will partner with accounting, tax, treasury, FP&A, legal, and business stakeholders to address complex accounting matters, strengthen internal controls, and continuously enhance processes that support a high-quality and efficient close environment.

This role combines technical accountingexpertisewith a continuous improvement mindset. You willleveragedata, technology, automation, and emerging AI capabilities to improve financial reporting, compliance, controls, and operational effectiveness while helping build a more scalable, proactive, and insight-driven Controllership organization. This position reports to the Americas Accounting Manager.

This is a full-time position based in our Chicago office. Weoperatein a hybrid environment with team members working in the officefourdays per week.

Responsibilities

  • Research, analyze, and resolve day-to-day accounting matters and complex transactions to ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, regulatory requirements, and Morningstar accounting policies.

  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, balance sheet reviews, flux analyses, and supporting schedules.

  • Support managementandpreparejournalsand supportingschedules formore complex accounting processes, including internal-use software, commissions,M&A, etc.

  • Prepare and review statutory financial statements, regulatory filings, and other legal-entity reporting requirements to ensure accuracy andtimelysubmission.

  • Manage a portfolio of regulatory and statutory compliance requirements across multiple legal entities andjurisdictionswhilemaintainingadherence to reporting deadlines.

  • Maintain and enhance internal controls in support of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements byidentifyingopportunities to strengthen control effectiveness, improve documentation quality, and modernize control execution.

  • Partner with business leaders, auditors, tax advisors, and cross-functional teams to support audits, regulatory examinations, financial reporting initiatives, and strategic finance projects.

  • Develop insightful analyses and reporting for management that explain business drivers, accounting impacts, trends, risks, and opportunities.

  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance the efficiency, quality, and scalability of accounting operations through process redesign, standardization, data analytics, workflow optimization, and intelligent technology solutions.

  • Leverage AI-enabled tools, automation platforms, and advanced analytics to improve close activities, reconciliations, financial reporting, compliance monitoring, control documentation, and management reporting while reducing manual effort and operational risk.

  • Collaborate with global controllership teams toidentifyopportunities to transform accounting processes through data-driven insights, predictive analytics, and emerging technologies that support a more efficient and proactive finance organization.

  • Contribute to the development of accounting policies, procedures, and knowledge-management resources,utilizingtechnology and AI capabilities to improve documentation, consistency, training, and organizational learning.

  • Lead orparticipatein cross-functional projects and finance transformation initiatives, ensuring accounting, reporting, control, and operational considerations are effectively incorporated into solution design and implementation.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, ora relatedfield.

  • CPA certification or progress toward certification preferred.

  • 3-5 years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, or a combination of both.

  • Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, financial statement preparation, account reconciliation, and financial close processes.

  • Experience supporting audits, internal controls, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements.

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze complex accounting transactions, assess risks, and develop practical accounting solutions.

  • Experience with regulatory, statutory, or legal-entity reporting is preferred.

  • Proven ability toidentifyprocess improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions that improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and control effectiveness.

  • Demonstrated curiosity and willingness toleverageemerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to improve accounting processes, reporting quality, controls, and business insights.

  • Experience using data analytics, visualization, workflow, or automation tools to solve business problems and drive process improvements is preferred.

  • Ability to translate accounting and operational requirements into scalable, technology-enabled solutions that improve efficiency, control effectiveness, and decision-making.

  • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively partner with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment whilemaintaininga high standard of quality and accountability.

  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills andproficiencywith Microsoft Office applications.

  • Experience with enterprise finance and reporting systems such as Oracle, FCCS, Workiva,ARCS, Tableau, Alteryx, Power BI, Microsoft Copilot, or similar platforms is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:

  • Financial Health

    • 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary

    • Stock Ownership Potential

    • Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission

  • Physical Health

    • Comprehensive health benefits(medical/dental/vision)including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plansand coverages

    • Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual

    • Company-provided long- and short-termdisabilityinsurance

  • Emotional Health

    • Trust-Based Time Off

    • 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program

    • 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave

    • Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave

    • Adoption Assistance

    • Leadership Coaching & FormalMentorshipOpportunities

    • Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses

    • Tuition Reimbursement

  • Social Health

    • Charitable Matching Gifts program

    • Dollars for Doers volunteer program

    • Paid volunteering days

    • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Total Cash Compensation Range

$95,275.00-139,741.66

Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.

About Morningstar

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors. Morningstar provides data on approximately 530,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 18 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with more than $200 billion in assets under advisement and management as of December 31, 2020. The company has operations in 29 countries.
Learn more about Morningstar
Size
10,038 employees
Market Cap
$9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$223.6 million
Founded
1984
5 Year Trend
+16.3%
Revenue
$1.3 billion
NASDAQ

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