Director, Accounting Specialist - Financial Institutions

Standard & Poors, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the worlds foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research, data and valuations. An essential part of the worlds financial infrastructure, Standard & Poors has played a leading role for 150 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. And we do it with the utmost integrity. If our values speak to you, then speak to us.
 
Standard & Poors (S&P) is seeking a Director- Accounting Specialist (Financial Institutions) to work closely with S&P financial institutions ratings analysts in identifying and evaluating accounting and financial reporting matters and their implications on issuers business and financial risk profiles, including their balance sheet, income statement, capital, and liquidity. To successfully fulfill this role, the Director will need a strong knowledge of the financial institutions industry. 
 
The Director will:
 

• Discern matters of financial-analytical significance that are disclosed in issuers public or private company financial statements and notes (e.g., off-balance sheet risks, derivatives, fair-value accounting, capital, and adequacy of disclosures). 


• Develop and publish accounting-related commentaries, perform research, advise and train analysts in new and emerging accounting issues that are analytically relevant (e.g., international financial reporting standards and financial instrument accounting);


• Contribute to the development of analytical criteria and S&P analytical models;


• Participate in rating quality-related analysis. 


• Closely follow the activities of the accounting standard-setters and regulators to keep analysts informed of emerging financial reporting matters


• Participate in various capital markets outreach efforts such as S&P- sponsored conferences and industry symposiums.


• Focus on accounting and financial reporting matters related to financial institution issuers who are based in Canada and Latin America.

 
*This position will reside in New York City; however, it will require 10-15% of travel per ideal candidate will be a CPA or Chartered Accountant who has broad familiarity with key accounting and financial reporting issues and their relevance to financial institutions. 

• Bachelors degree required


• CPA or Chartered Accountant required


• MBA or CFA desirable


• Minimum 8 - 10 years professional accounting experience, preferably in a financial reporting function at a large corporate entity and/or a large ("Big 4") accounting firm


• Strong accounting/financial reporting background with the ability to effectively bridge accounting/financial reporting issues with the related economic, financial and credit risk attributes


• Ability to efficiently review financial statements and regulatory filings and make meaningful accounting, financial risk-related, and financial reporting observations


• A strong knowledge of the financial institutions industry is required


• Affluent in financial statement analysis and professional accounting standards (e.g., U.S. GAAP and IFRS and accounting/analytical interpretation)


• General knowledge of credit analysis, or the application of accounting analysis in the context of credit or equity analysis


• Ability to effectively lead and contribute to commentary on accounting issues and accounting training curriculum


• Strong verbal and presentation skills

The McGraw-Hill Companies is an equal opportunity employer. Only electronic job submissions will be considered for employment. For special accommodation due to disability, please see instructions in the last paragraph found here.