Senior Associate - Business Unit Controllership - Private Assets

Responsibilities 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. Your Key Ressponsibilities R evenue 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 Your skills and experience that will help you excel 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