Senior Data Research Analyst – Quality Control – Quality & Transformation

About Morningstar:

Morningstar is a global leader in independent investment research, delivering products and solutions that empower investors worldwide. With a presence across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, we serve individual and institutional investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers, and issuers.

About Sustainalytics:

A division of Morningstar, Sustainalytics provides high-quality ESG research, ratings, and data to help institutional investors and companies understand and manage ESG-related risks and opportunities. We are committed to supporting a more just and sustainable global economy by enabling more informed and impactful investment decisions.

Team Overview – Quality Control (QC), Quality & Transformation:

The Quality Control team plays a vital role within the Quality & Transformation function by ensuring the reliability, accuracy, and consistency of ESG data collected by the Data Operations team. This data directly feeds into Sustainalytics’ flagship ESG products including ESG Risk Ratings, Climate Solutions, and Impact Metrics.

Role Summary:

As a Senior Research Associate (Quality Control Analyst), you will be responsible for conducting quality audits on ESG data collected from public company disclosures. You will validate ESG indicators and metrics by reviewing annual reports, sustainability disclosures, and financial documents. In addition to core quality checks, you will lead process improvement initiatives, support tool automation, and act as a key contributor in driving data integrity and operational excellence within the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Quality & Auditing

• Conduct detailed audits of ESG disclosures from company filings, CSR reports, and investor presentations to verify data accuracy and completeness.

• Evaluate data points related to sustainability initiatives, green financing, and ESG-related financial impacts.

• Identify errors or inconsistencies and provide constructive feedback to analysts to minimize recurring issues and enhance data reliability.

• Process Improvement & Governance

• Participate calibration sessions to ensure team-wide alignment in data interpretation and audit standards.

• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for frequent data issues, maintaining logs for continuous improvement.

• Brainstorm to produce ideas to showcase improvements in quality

Qualifications:

Educational & Professional:

• Master’s degree in disciplines such as Finance, Commerce, Economics, Management, or Engineering with 1+ year of relevant experience.

• ESG-related certifications are advantageous and will be considered a plus, such as the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) by SASB, Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) by GARP, or the Certificate in ESG Investing by the CFA Institute.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong command of English (reading, interpretation, and professional writing)

• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, macros)

• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) is a plus

• Excellent analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail

• Proactive mindset with strong ownership and collaboration skills

What We Offer:

• A purpose-driven role at the intersection of sustainability and data quality.

• Opportunities to grow within ESG research, audit, and process transformation.

• A collaborative and inclusive culture focused on innovation and continuous learning.

Morningstar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Morningstar’s hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to work remotely and collaborate in-person each week. We’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis, at least three days each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you’ll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.