Senior Associate - Business Unit Controllership - Private Assets

About the job

• MSCI's All Other - Private Assets operating segment is one of the firm's fastest-growing areas, and we are looking for a hands-on, detail-oriented Business Unit Controller to join the team at the Senior Associate level.
• This role reports to the Executive Director, Business Unit Controller for the All Other - Private Assets segment and works closely with a broad set of cross-functional partners including FP&A, Sales Operations, Legal, Corporate Strategy, Sales and Client Coverage organizations, and Business Technology. The ideal candidate brings strong technical accounting skills under ASC 606, a working knowledge of revenue systems, and a genuine interest in leveraging AI tools to work smarter and drive process improvement for a business unit generating $200M–$500M in revenue across subscription and transactional product streams.
• Revenue Accounting & Advisory
• Own revenue recognition accounting for the business unit across subscription/recurring and transactional product revenue streams in accordance with ASC 606
• Review and assess new and amended contracts in partnership with Legal and Sales Operations to determine appropriate revenue recognition treatment
• Work directly in RevStream to manage configurations, system interfaces, and data integrity; ensure accurate revenue schedules and deferred/contract liability balances
• Prepare and post revenue-related journal entries in SAP, including deferred revenue, contract assets, and adjustments
• Perform Diligence procedures for potential acquisition targets and lead subsequent integration
• Partner with the Sales and Client Coverage organizations to understand deal structures, modifications, and contract renewals and ensure they are accounted for correctly
• Collaborate with Business Technology on system enhancements, data feeds, and automation initiatives that touch the revenue accounting workflow
• Period-End Reporting
• Prepare and deliver period-end management reporting packages in conjunction with the monthly close, including revenue variance analysis, commentary, and key metrics
• Partner with FP&A to ensure actuals reporting is accurate, timely, and consistent with forecast and budget assumptions
• Develop clear, concise narratives that explain revenue performance drivers to finance leadership and business partners
• Maintain and continuously improve reporting templates, schedules, and supporting workpapers
• SOX Compliance & Internal Controls
• Execute SOX controls related to revenue recognition; prepare documentation and evidence in support of quarterly and annual testing cycles
• Coordinate with internal audit and the external auditors on revenue-related walkthroughs, PBC deliverables, and audit inquiries
• Identify control gaps or process inefficiencies and propose improvements to strengthen the overall control environment
• AI & Process Innovation
• Actively seek out and apply AI tools to automate manual processes, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance analytical output
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to modernize accounting workflows within the business unit
• Engage with Business Technology partners to evaluate and implement AI-enabled solutions relevant to the revenue accounting and reporting cycle
• Required
• CPA required (or international equivalent)
• 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience with a focus on revenue recognition
• Solid working knowledge of ASC 606, including application to subscription and transactional revenue models
• Experience in a public company environment with SOX compliance exposure
• Strong Excel skills and proficiency with financial reporting; comfortable working with large data sets
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deliverables including recurring periodic deliverables and ad-hoc project-based deliverables
• Strong communicator — able to work effectively with cross-functional partners including Sales, Legal, FP&A, and Technology
• Preferred
• Big 4 or national firm public accounting background
• Experience in financial services, data/analytics, or technology industries
• Familiarity with AI tools applied to accounting or finance workflows (e.g., automation, anomaly detection, reporting)
• Hands-on experience with SAP (GL, AR, or revenue modules) and RevStream or a comparable revenue subledger
• Experience with Salesforce as it relates to contract and order data supporting revenue processes
• Experience supporting external audits as a primary preparer