The Role
As a Staff Accountant on the Americas Accounting team, you will support the preparation of accurate financial statements, maintenance of accounting records, account reconciliations, and compliance with internal control requirements across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil. You will work closely with accounting, tax, treasury, FP&A, and business teams to support the monthly close process and help ensure the integrity of Morningstar's financial information.
This role is ideal for an accounting professional who is eager to develop technical accounting knowledge, strengthen analytical skills, and contribute to a continuous improvement culture. You will use data, technology, automation, and emerging AI-enabled tools to improve the efficiency, quality, and consistency of accounting processes while building a strong foundation in corporate accounting and controllership.
This position reports to the Americas Accounting Manager. This is a full-time position based in our Chicago office. We operate in a hybrid environment with team members working in the office four days per week.
Responsibilities
Prepare and support monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reporting schedules.
Assist in the preparation of statutory financial statements, regulatory filings, and other legal-entity reporting requirements.
Maintain accurate accounting records and supporting documentation in accordance with U.S. GAAP, company policies, and internal control requirements.
Perform account analyses and investigate variances, unusual transactions, and other accounting issues to support accurate financial reporting.
Support Sarbanes-Oxley compliance activities through the preparation of control documentation and retention of supporting evidence.
Partner with team members and business stakeholders to gather information necessary to support accounting conclusions and reporting requirements.
Assist with quarterly and annual audits, including responding to auditor requests and preparing supporting schedules.
Prepare ad hoc reports and analyses to support finance leadership and business partners.
Use data analytics, automation platforms, and AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, documentation, reporting, and account analysis activities.
Contribute to the maintenance of accounting policies, procedures, and process documentation to support a well-controlled and scalable finance organization.
Participate in accounting and finance projects as assigned and support the implementation of new processes, systems, or reporting requirements.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
CPA eligibility or interest in pursuing the CPA designation preferred.
1-3 years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, or a combination of both.
Understanding of accounting principles and financial statement preparation.
Experience preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules preferred.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
Interest in leveraging technology, automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve accounting processes and reporting.
Experience with financial systems such as Oracle, ARCS, FCCS, Workiva, Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, or similar tools is a plus.
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 plans and coverages
Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
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 & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
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
$74,325.00-109,008.33Inclusive 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.
100_MstarResCanad Morningstar Research, Inc. (Canada) Legal EntitySkills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
- CPA eligibility or interest in pursuing the CPA designation
- 1-3 years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, or a combination
- Understanding of accounting principles and financial statement preparation
- Experience preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications
- Interest in leveraging technology, automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve accounting processes and reporting
- Experience with financial systems such as Oracle, ARCS, FCCS, Workiva, Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, or similar tools
What the Team is Saying
Morningstar Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Policies include a paid sabbatical every four years and flexible PTO covering vacation, sick, and personal days, alongside paid volunteer time. Feedback suggests these features create meaningful flexibility and rest opportunities beyond standard leave plans.
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Parental & Family Support — A global minimum of 16 weeks paid parental leave for primary caregivers (up to 8 weeks for secondary) and at least six weeks of paid caregiving leave are publicly stated, with adoption assistance also available. These provisions indicate robust support for families during key life events.
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Retirement Support — U.S. materials document a 401(k) match of $0.75 per $1 up to 7% of pay and no‑cost access to Morningstar retirement tools. This combination strengthens long‑term savings and planning for employees.
Morningstar Insights
What We Do
We are a global investment research and financial data company with 40-plus offices across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Our products and services are used daily by individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers, and institutional investors. We provide data, research, and analysis across managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. The financial system can have real barriers—hidden information, friction that can slow decisions, and forces that can limit transparency and access. We work to remove them, bringing independent research, connected data, and investor-first tools to a system that needs more clarity. The people doing this work span research, technology, design, product, sales, and functional areas. We build many of our products in-house, so the work can connect directly to the tools investors use to make real financial decisions.
Why Work With Us
Imagining big things is in our blood -- it's transformed us from a company with just a few employees in 1984 to a leading independent investment research company with a worldwide presence today. As of April 2020, we acquired Sustainalytics to drive long-term meaningful outcomes for investors in the ESG space. Join us on this exciting journey!
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
