JOB BOARD: Financial Reporting Position - Equity Methods - Scottsdale, AZ

Company Description:

A wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch, Equity Methods serves a diverse clientele primarily consisting of Fortune 1000 companies. The firm strategically partners with some of the largest financial institutions and works closely with Big 4 and other large public accounting firms. The firm’s academic affiliates have provided key guidance to the FASB and SEC as they formulate policy regarding FAS 123R and equity accounting.

Equity Methods provides valuation and accounting solutions in equity compensation, with a particular focus on the various compliance challenges created by Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 123 Revised (SFAS 123R), SFAS 128, and SFAS 109. The practice is constantly performing research to expand the firm’s offerings into new areas valued by its client base.

Equity Methods’ consulting practice and academic affiliate team include some of the nation’s foremost experts in valuation and accounting. Members of the practice are given stimulating engagements that involve analysis and presentation to senior-level finance and accounting executives at client firms and managers/partners from Big 4 audit firms. The team is a diverse group of bright, thoughtful, and collaborative professionals, including both junior associates and seasoned individuals with decades of research and practitioner experience.

The Financial Reporting area of the firm’s practice specializes in developing controlled processes to handle the requisite accounting (including compensation expense, diluted EPS, and deferred tax computations) for large, complex equity compensation plans of Fortune 1000 clients.  As a key member of an emerging practice area, the successful candidate will have an immediate opportunity to add value by helping clients with complex plans migrated from spreadsheet-based procedures involving significant manual intervention to well-designed, thoroughly documented algorithmic solutions that you help design and implement. 

Job Responsibilities:
•    Lead custom financial reporting (CFR) engagements, providing client-specific solutions that meet specialized reporting needs, and communicate complex ideas to clients and their external auditors orally and in writing. Spearhead successful implementation, including the development, documentation, and testing of a process that correctly handles the various components of an equity plan -- from the receipt of data to the delivery of financial reports.
•    Manage relationships with existing clients and “own” the process of receiving client data, generating and auditing reports, and presenting/explaining them to clients post delivery. 
•    Apply documented processes and conduct frequent testing to ensure these processes remain robust to the client situation.  Where possible, enhance and improve processes by establishing additional controls to improve the reliability and efficiency of the overall report delivery process.  Client experiences should continuously improve as a result of Equity Methods’ ongoing testing and client management.
•    Ensure clients perceive high value from Equity Methods’ services and that additional areas for improvement do not exist.  Where service improvement opportunities exist, champion the implementation of these changes with other project team members.
•    Foster a healthy and respectful work environment by encouraging collaboration, support contributions of team members and give/receive constructive feedback, as necessary.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a strong grounding in accounting theory, enjoy problem-solving, and have a collaborative client-focused mindset. Other qualifications include:
•    Two to five years of experience in a financial reporting, advisory, or audit role. Candidates at a more senior level may be considered for a different position within the practice.
•    Expertise and experience in theoretical accounting subjects. The successful candidate must be capable of interpreting complex accounting theory and developing accurate, applied solutions.
•    Specific SFAS 123R experience is not required; however, successful candidates will have experience in designing processes, developing and/or reviewing working papers, and interacting with clients.
•    strong grounding in accounting theory, enjoy problem-solving, and have a collaborative client-focused mindset
•    Ability and willingness to think critically and solve complex problems independently.
•    Creativity in engineering and then following processes from a controls and efficiency perspective.
•    Demonstrated maturity in internal/external communication and time management.
•    Exposure to database design principles is desirable.
•    Exposure to SAS, or another programming language for high-volume data handling, is desirable.
•    Bachelors or Masters degree in accounting or finance.
•    CPA license or CPA candidacy a plus.


Contact Information:

Tricia Clifford
(212) 236-2856
Patricia_clifford@ml.com