Staff Accountant

Job Description

Accountant | Morningstar

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Morningstar, located in Chicago, operating in a hybrid environment with team members working in the office four days per week. Morningstar is an organization focused on supporting financial professionals through accurate financial statements and compliance across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil. This role is crucial for maintaining the integrity of Morningstar’s financial information, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement, and developing technical accounting and analytical skills within a corporate accounting and controllership framework.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Chicago, IL
• Pay: $74325–$109008 yearly
• Team: Reports to Americas Accounting Manager
• Mission: Supports the preparation of accurate financial statements, maintenance of accounting records, account reconciliations, and compliance across multiple countries to ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Tech Stack: Oracle, ARCS, FCCS, Workiva, Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office applications

What You’ll Actually Do
• Prepare Financial Statements: Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reporting schedules, and assist in preparing statutory financial statements and regulatory filings.
• Maintain Records and Compliance: Maintain accurate accounting records and supporting documentation in accordance with U.S. GAAP, company policies, and internal control requirements, and support Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
• Analyze Accounts: Perform account analyses, investigate variances, and resolve unusual transactions or accounting issues to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Support Audits: Assist with quarterly and annual audits by responding to auditor requests and preparing necessary supporting schedules.
• Drive Process Improvement: Utilize data analytics, automation platforms, and AI-enabled tools to enhance the efficiency, documentation, reporting, and account analysis activities, and contribute to the maintenance of accounting policies and procedures.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, with an understanding of accounting principles and financial statement preparation.
• Experience: 1-3 years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, or a combination, including preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and accuracy; ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines; strong written and verbal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Bonus: CPA eligibility or interest in pursuing the CPA designation; interest in leveraging technology, automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools; experience with financial systems such as Oracle, ARCS, FCCS, Workiva, Power BI, Tableau, or Alteryx.