Senior Consultant - Financial Reportong at Equity Methods

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Company: Equity Methods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch




Job Title: Senior Consultant - Financial Reporting




Company Description:


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



We provide valuation and accounting solutions in the equity
compensation space 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. Our practice is constantly
performing research to expand our offerings into new areas valued by
our 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. Including both junior associates and seasoned individuals
with decades of research and practitioner experience, the team is a
diverse group of bright, thoughtful, and collaborative professionals.




Pay Description: Competitive


Job Description:

The Financial Reporting area of our practice specializes in
developing controlled processes to handle expense computation and
deferred tax accounting for large, complex equity compensation plans of
Fortune 1000 clients. As a key member of an emerging practice area, you
will have an immediate opportunity to begin adding value and supporting
growth by helping clients with complex plans migrate from
spreadsheet-based procedures involving significant manual intervention
to well-designed, thoroughly documented algorithmic solutions that you
help design and implement.



If you have a strong grounding in accounting theory, enjoy
problem-solving, and have a collaborative client-focused mindset, then
we would like to meet you and give you the opportunity to learn more
about our practice. Our specialty is the accounting, finance, and
economics surrounding equity compensation. While not all our
professionals came to us with a background in equity compensation or
consulting, all share our cultural values: solving complex problems
thoughtfully and working with project stakeholders to create value for
clients.




Roles for the Financial Reporting Senior Consultant:



1) Lead in custom financial reporting (CFR) engagements, providing
client-specific solutions that meet specialized reporting needs and
communicating complex ideas to clients and their external auditors
orally and in writing.



2) Design, implement, and document the underlying data handling
processes of financial reporting engagements, ensuring that solutions
are consistent with the terms of the client’s compensation plans and
adhere to the accounting regulations and standards.



3) Participate in contract development and scope assessments,
supporting leaders of the practice in developing air-tight contracts
that are priced correctly.



4) Foster a healthy and respectful work environment by encouraging
collaboration, supporting contributions of team members and
giving/receiving constructive feedback as necessary.



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. The
Senior Consultant will be supported by leaders of the practice in an
effort to train and develop the consultant to assume managerial
responsibilities (to the extent required), including oversight of
client engagements and personnel.




Specific proficiencies and background should include:




1) Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in accounting or finance.

2) Expertise and experience in theoretical accounting subjects;
candidate must be capable of interpreting complex accounting theory and
developing accurate, applied solutions.


3) Ability and willingness to think critically and solve “out-of-the-box” problems independently.


4) Creativity in engineering processes from both a controls and efficiency perspective.


5) Maturity in internal/external communication and time management.

6) Three to seven years experience in a financial reporting,
advisory, or audit role. Candidates at the manager level will be
considered for an alternative manager role within the practice.


7) Desirable: Exposure to database design principles.


8) Desirable: Exposure to SAS or another programming language for high-volume data handling.


9) Desirable: CPA license or CPA candidacy.