Your Opportunity as a Junior Associate in the Research Division

As a Junior Research Associate (RA) you will play an essential role in assisting the Morgan Stanley Research team in maintaining and enhancing our global research reputation. Your work will be both qualitative and quantitative, and your findings will greatly affect reports that will be disseminated throughout the business. You will be analyzing companies and industry trends to help formulate assumptions on how well, or how poorly, a stock will do. You will be responsible for conducting analysis on companies you cover in industries that peak your interest. All of your work will be guided by your Lead Analyst, who is considered to be the firm’s industry expert.

The Junior Associate Program in Research
How the program works and the day-to-day experience you can expect

The Junior Associate Program typically runs for two years. During the two-year program, you will be placed on a team, under the guidance of a Lead Analyst. You can learn about a specific industry, as well as how to analyze the companies within the industry. You will be trained on the analytical skills required to analyze companies, as well as on how to write to a specific audience.

Some of your typical roles and responsibilities include:

• Gathering and analyzing industry data to develop an industry vision
• Analyzing emerging trends in an industry or macro-economy
• Preparing comprehensive company reports
• Assessing relative stock valuations and reviewing findings with senior team members and, ultimately, with internal and external clients

Launching Your Career
The initial training that you receive on starting the program

The Junior Associate Program begins with a 4-6 week training and development curriculum to equip you with the fundamental skills and professional awareness you will need to be successful. The curriculum includes course work in financial statement analysis, corporate finance and financial modeling in Excel, and a customized series of seminars presented by senior members of the department.

Training will focus on in-depth accounting, financial modeling (including case studies) and overviews on Morgan Stanley as a business. Additionally, you may be trained on ModelWare, which is our proprietary model-building system.

You will get to participate in training and study sessions to prepare you for the Series 7 and Series 63 exams. Studying for the CFA is strongly encouraged and is supported by the firm.

Along with formal training, you may be assigned a mentor upon arrival at the firm. The mentor is a senior-level person in the division, but not someone with whom you will be working directly. This person can help guide your career, prepare you for what’s ahead and assist you with career planning. Traditionally, mentoring relationships last years and may make a difference in your career.

Developing Your Career
What you can anticipate as you make progress and after completing the program

In the Junior Associate Program there is ongoing training, enabling you to strengthen or gain skills throughout your professional career. Senior management takes a keen interest in your progress as an RA and will look to you for fresh perspectives and new ideas. You are encouraged to take on responsibility quickly with a view towards developing your career within the firm. To help in this process, you will typically be assigned a mentor to act as your confidante and provide you with day-to-day advice. You will receive extensive training opportunities to help you prepare and pass various financial exams, including Series 7 and the CFA.

After the Junior Research Associate program, participants may take a variety of paths. You may want to stay on as Research Associate, apply to other business units at Morgan Stanley, attend business school, or pursue different career ventures. The choice is yours.

Is Research Right for You?
A checklist to help you decide if you have the skills and temperament for this area

• You have strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• You are an excellent communicator and are comfortable dealing with clients.
• You have intellectual curiosity, focus and creativity.
• You have a keen research instinct and creative problem-solving abilities.
• You have a strong interest in the financial markets.
• You have an entrepreneurial spirit.
• You are a team player.

Requirements

You must have a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.

Selection Process

Initial interviews will happen on campus and later rounds allow you the opportunity to experience a visit to our New York office. The interviews are generally hosted by both senior-level Lead Analysts as well as Associates and Junior Associates. Our culture is collaborative and we want you to meet those who will guide your career, as well as those who will be working with you on a day-to-day basis.

How to Apply