Morningstar UK | Controller, EMEA West | Finance Manager, Financial Controller

Responsibilities

• We are looking for a Controller to join our EMEA West region and become a key member of our global Finance team, which partners closely with the business to drive innovation, automation, and operational excellence.
• As the Controller EMEA West, you will lead financial reporting and accounting activities across Morningstar’s UK, Middle East, and Africa operations, ensuring compliance with the standards and controls expected of a publicly traded U.S. company.
• We expect the compensation and target bonus for this role to fall within the stated range.
• The specific compensation offered will depend on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and other job-related factors.
• Reporting to the Regional Controller EMEA, you will play a key role in planning, forecasting, and analysing regional financial performance.
• Partnering closely with senior business leaders and cross-functional Finance teams, you will provide meaningful financial insights, support strategic decision-making, and help drive operational excellence across the region.
• Oversee general accounting functions, including monthly close process, financial audits, and tax/statutory reporting with support from U.S. and shared services accounting and finance teams.
• Maintain and champion internal controls and processes appropriate for a U.S. publicly traded company to achieve global harmonization.
• Lead an efficient financial reporting process and month-end close to produce timely and accurate financial reports reflecting Morningstar's global accounting policies.
• Partner with the EMEA West (UK, Middle East, and Africa) regional business leaders and other areas of Finance to ensure accuracy of forecasts and budgets, identifying gaps and solutions.
• Identify and lead system and process improvement initiatives in support of global standardization, including the use of shared service capabilities within Finance.
• Oversee all statutory reporting requirements in the region, including regulatory submissions to the FCA, to ensure timely submission and compliance with local regulations.
• Lead and oversee various country projects and participate in global transformation projects, including system implementations, M&A activities, and process improvements.
• Coordinate with local external advisers for various activities, including audit, tax, payroll, insurance, and other compliance activities.
• Serve as director for local legal entities, as needed.
• Assist with transfer pricing and other tax planning strategies in conjunction with the corporate team.
• Perform other duties as assigned including the preparation of accounting memorandums and local policy documentation. ​.
• Optimize the organizational structure of the local finance team to best support the unique needs of the countries and the team, ensuring training, mentoring, and career development.

Who you are

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a complex multinational organization operating across multiple legal entities.
• Extensive experience in financial close, consolidation, and reporting across multiple legal entities with knowledge of SOX/internal controls.
• Proven people leader with a track record of building, developing, and leading high-performing teams, while effectively influencing stakeholders across global Finance functions.
• Strong commercial and strategic acumen, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business decisions.
• Deep understanding of financial structures, business value drivers, and performance management.
• Able to manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of UK GAAP and/or US GAAP preferred.

Morningstar

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research and data, headquartered in Chicago and operating through subsidiaries in more than 30 countries with over 40 offices worldwide. It serves individual investors, financial advisers and wealth managers, asset managers, retirement plan providers and institutional investors with data, analytics and research (Morningstar Direct, Morningstar Investor, PitchBook for private markets, Sustainalytics for ESG research), credit ratings through Morningstar DBRS, Morningstar Indexes, and investment management and retirement services.

• Industry: Financial services — independent investment research, data, indexes and credit ratings
• Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA