| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Mar. 31, 2023 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which the Company is deemed to have a direct or indirect controlling financial interest based on either a variable interest model or voting interest model. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain of the StepStone Funds are investment companies that follow specialized accounting under GAAP and reflect their investments at estimated fair value. Accordingly, the carrying value of the Company’s equity method investments in such entities retains the specialized accounting. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management’s estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors, and these estimates and assumptions require management to exercise judgment in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. Factors that may affect or influence management’s estimates and assumptions could include expectations related to future events that management has deemed reasonable under the circumstances. Assumptions and estimates related to the valuation of investments, which directly affect carried interest allocations, carried interest related compensation, and the carrying amount of the Company’s equity in affiliated companies, involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity, and these assumptions and estimates may significantly affect the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates and those differences may be material. |
| Reclassifications | Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Amounts relating to unpaid realized carried interest-related compensation that were previously reported within accrued carried interest-related compensation have been presented within accrued compensation and benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, payments to related parties under Tax Receivable Agreements has been presented separately within cash flows from financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, and was previously included within due to affiliates within cash flows from operating activities. |
| Consolidation | Consolidation The Company consolidates all entities that it controls through a majority voting interest or as the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Under the VIE model, management first assesses whether the Company has a variable interest in an entity. In evaluating whether the Company holds a variable interest, fees received as a decision maker or in exchange for services (including management fees, incentive fees and carried interest allocations) that are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and where the Company does not hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the entity, are not considered variable interests. If the Company has a variable interest in an entity, management further assesses whether that entity is a VIE, and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary under the VIE model. Entities that do not qualify as VIEs are assessed for consolidation under the voting interest model. The consolidation analysis can generally be performed qualitatively; however, in certain situations a quantitative analysis may also be performed. Investments and redemptions (either by the Company, affiliates of the Company or third parties) or amendments to the governing documents of the respective StepStone Funds that are VIEs could affect the entity’s status as a VIE or the determination of the primary beneficiary. Under the VIE model, an entity is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it holds a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest is defined as (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Management determines whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a VIE and reconsiders that conclusion at each reporting date. When assessing whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, management evaluates whether the Company’s involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in an entity or contractually through other variable interests, would give the Company a controlling financial interest. This analysis includes an evaluation of the Company’s control rights, as well as the economic interests that the Company holds in the VIE, including indirectly through related parties. The Company provides investment advisory services to the StepStone Funds, which have third-party clients. These funds are investment companies and are typically organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies for which the Company, through its operating subsidiaries, acts as the general partner or managing member. A limited partnership or similar entity is a VIE if the unaffiliated limited partners or members do not have substantive rights to terminate or liquidate the fund or remove the general partner or substantive rights to participate. Certain StepStone Funds are VIEs because they have not granted unaffiliated limited partners or members substantive rights to terminate the fund or remove the general partner or substantive rights to participate. The Company does not consolidate these StepStone Funds because it is not the primary beneficiary of those funds, primarily because it does not hold an interest in those funds that is considered more than insignificant and its fee arrangements are considered customary and commensurate. The Company has determined that certain of its operating subsidiaries, StepStone Group Real Assets LP (“SRA”), StepStone Group Real Estate LP (“SRE”), Swiss Capital Alternative Investments AG (“Swiss Capital”), and StepStone Group Private Wealth LLC (“SPW”) and certain StepStone Funds are VIEs, and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of each entity because it has a controlling financial interest in each entity; accordingly, the Company consolidates these entities. The assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIEs are presented gross in the consolidated balance sheets. The assets of the consolidated VIEs may only be used to settle obligations of the consolidated VIEs. See note 4 for more information on both consolidated and unconsolidated VIEs. In connection with the Greenspring acquisition, the Company, indirectly through its subsidiaries, became the sole and/or managing member of certain entities, each of which is the general partner of an investment fund (“legacy Greenspring general partner entities”). The Company did not acquire any direct economic interests attributable to the legacy Greenspring general partner entities, including legacy Greenspring investments in funds and carried interest allocations. However, certain arrangements negotiated as part of the acquisition represent variable interests that could be significant. The Company determined that the legacy Greenspring general partner entities are VIEs and it is the primary beneficiary of each such entity because it has a controlling financial interest in each entity. As a result, the Company consolidates these entities. The Company and its subsidiaries manages or controls certain entities that constitute client investment funds that have been consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements (“Consolidated Funds”). Including the results of the Consolidated Funds increases the reported amounts of the assets, liabilities, expenses and cash flows in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, and amounts related to economic interests held by third-party investors are reflected as redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds. The revenues earned by the Company as investment manager of the Consolidated Funds are eliminated in consolidation and generally have no direct effect on the net income attributable to SSG or to Stockholders' Equity. |
| Non-Controlling Interests | Non-Controlling Interests Non-controlling interests (“NCI”) reflect the portion of income or loss and the corresponding equity attributable to third-party equity holders and employees in certain consolidated subsidiaries that are not 100% owned by the Company. Non-controlling interests are presented as separate components of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets to clearly distinguish between the Company’s interests and the economic interests of third parties and employees in those entities. Net income (loss) attributable to SSG, as reported in the consolidated statements of income, is presented net of the portion of net income (loss) attributable to holders of non-controlling interests. See note 14 for more information on ownership interests in the Company. Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries represent the economic interests in SRA, SRE, and Swiss Capital (the variable interest entities included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements) held by third parties and employees in those entities. Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are allocated a share of income or loss in the respective consolidated subsidiary in proportion to their relative ownership interests, after consideration of contractual arrangements that govern allocations of income or loss. Non-controlling interests in legacy Greenspring entities represent the economic interests in the legacy Greenspring general partner entities. The Company did not acquire any direct economic interests in the legacy Greenspring general partner entities. As a result, all of the net income or loss related to the legacy Greenspring general partner entities is allocated to non-controlling interests in legacy Greenspring entities. Non-controlling interests in the Partnership represent the economic interests related to the Class B and Class C units of the Partnership which are not owned by SSG. Non-controlling interests in the Partnership are allocated a share of income or loss in the Partnership in proportion to their relative ownership interests, after consideration of contractual arrangements that govern allocations of income or loss. Redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds represent the economic interests in the Consolidated Funds which are not held by SSG, but are held by the client investors in the funds. These interests are presented as redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds within the consolidated balance sheets, outside of permanent capital as the investors in these funds generally have the right to withdraw their capital, subject to the terms of the respective contractual agreements. Redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds are allocated a share of income or loss in the respective fund in proportion to their relative ownership interests, after consideration of contractual arrangements that govern allocations of income or loss. |
| Accounting for Differing Fiscal Periods | Accounting for Differing Fiscal Periods The StepStone Funds primarily have a fiscal year end as of December 31. The Company accounts for its investments in the StepStone Funds on a three-month lag due to the timing of receipt of financial information from the investments held by the StepStone Funds. The StepStone Funds primarily invest in private markets funds that generally require at least 90 days following the calendar year end to provide audited financial statements. As a result, the Company uses the December 31 audited financial statements of the StepStone Funds, which reflect the underlying private markets funds as of December 31 to record its investments (including any carried interest allocated by those investments) for its fiscal year-end consolidated financial statements as of March 31. The Company further adjusts the reported carrying values of its investments in the StepStone Funds for its share of capital contributions to and distributions from the StepStone Funds during the three-month lag period. The Company does not account for management and advisory fees or incentive fees on a three-month lag. To the extent that management becomes aware of any material events that affect the StepStone Funds during the three-month lag period, the effect of the events would be disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. |
| Current Events | Current Events In 2022, financial markets experienced increased volatility amid rising interest rates, slowing economic growth, persistently high inflation and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Central banks around the world pursued monetary policy tightening in an effort to bring down inflation to target rates, stoking recession fears. In the first quarter of 2023, signs of slowing inflation coupled with a strong labor market contributed to a rebound in financial markets despite the banking system volatility as recession fears receded in anticipation that interest rates may not rise as much as previously expected. The Company is continuing to closely monitor developments related to COVID-19, inflation, rising interest rates, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the banking crisis, and assess the impact on financial markets and the Company’s business. The Company’s results and the overall industry results have been and may continue to be adversely affected by slowdowns in fundraising activity and the pace of capital deployment, which have resulted in, and may continue to result in, delayed or decreased management fees. Further, fund managers have been unable or less able to profitably exit existing investments, such conditions have resulted in, and may continue to result in, delayed or decreased performance fee revenues. It is currently not possible to predict the ultimate effects of these events on the financial markets, overall economy and the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in banks, money market funds and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. Restricted cash consists of cash that the Company is contractually obligated to maintain to secure its letters of credit used primarily related to its office facilities and other obligations. |
| Fees and Accounts Receivable | Fees and Accounts Receivable Fees and accounts receivable represent contractual amounts due to the Company for management, advisory and incentive fees, net of allowances as applicable. The Company considers fees and accounts receivable to be fully collectible. Accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts has been established as of March 31, 2023 and 2022. If any accounts or portion thereof are deemed uncollectible, such amounts are expensed when that determination is made. |
| Due from Affiliates | Due from AffiliatesDue from affiliates primarily relates to fees and accounts receivable from the StepStone Funds, advances made on behalf of the StepStone Funds for the payment of certain organization and operating costs and expenses for which the Company is subsequently reimbursed, amounts due from employees and loans due from affiliated entities. |
| Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework, which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument and the state of the marketplace – including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and therefore a lesser degree of judgment is used in measuring their fair value. Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of their fair values, as follows: • Level I – Pricing inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. • Level II – Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. The types of financial instruments classified in this category include less liquid securities traded in active markets and securities traded in other than active markets. • Level III – Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and consideration of factors specific to the financial instrument. The availability of observable inputs can vary depending on the financial asset or liability and is affected by a wide variety of factors including, for example, the type of instrument, whether the instrument has recently been issued, whether the instrument is traded on an active exchange or in the secondary market, and current market conditions. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for financial instruments categorized in Level III. The variability and availability of the observable inputs affected by the factors described above may result in transfers between Levels I, II, and III. |
| Investments | Investments Investments primarily include the Company’s ownership interests in the StepStone Funds, as general partner or managing member of such funds. The Company accounts for all investments in which it has or is otherwise presumed to have significant influence, but not control, including the StepStone Funds, using the equity method of accounting. The carrying value of these equity method investments is determined based on amounts invested by the Company, adjusted for the Company’s share in the earnings or losses of each investee, after consideration of contractual arrangements that govern allocations of income or loss (including carried interest allocations), less distributions received. Investments include the Company’s cumulative accrued carried interest allocations from the StepStone Funds, which primarily represent performance-based capital allocations, assuming the StepStone Funds were liquidated as of each reporting date in accordance with the funds’ governing documents. Legacy Greenspring investments in funds and accrued carried interest allocations represent the economic interests held by the legacy Greenspring general partner entities in certain funds for which the Company does not have any direct economic interests. All of the economics in respect of such interests are payable to employees and are therefore reflected as non-controlling interests in legacy Greenspring entities and legacy Greenspring performance fee-related compensation. The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. Management's determination of fair value for investments in the underlying funds includes various valuation techniques. These techniques may include a market approach, recent transaction price, net asset value approach, or discounted cash flows, and may use one or more significant unobservable inputs such as EBITDA, revenue multiples, discount rates, weighted average cost of capital, exit multiples, or terminal growth rates. Investments of Consolidated Funds The Company’s Consolidated Funds are investment companies under GAAP and reflect their investments at estimated fair value. The Company has retained the specialized investment company accounting for the Consolidated Funds under GAAP. Investments of the Consolidated Funds are recorded at fair value and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of income. In addition, the Consolidated Funds do not consolidate their majority-owned and controlled investments in underlying portfolio companies. |
| Leases | Leases The Company determines whether an arrangement contains a lease at inception of the arrangement. A lease is a contract that provides the right to control an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. For identified leases, the Company determines the classification as either an operating or finance lease. The Company’s identified leases primarily consist of operating lease agreements for office space and certain equipment, as the lessee. Operating leases are included in lease right-of-use-assets, net and lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Certain leases include lease and non-lease components, which the Company accounts for as a single lease component. Lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are measured based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Lease ROU assets include initial direct costs incurred by the Company and are presented net of deferred rent and lease incentives. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of future minimum lease payments. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, which are included in the measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise those options. Operating lease expense associated with minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Minimum lease payments for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded in the consolidated balance sheets. See note 16 for more information. |
| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment Property and equipment primarily consist of leasehold improvements, furniture, equipment, computer hardware and software and are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, with the net carrying amount included in other assets and receivables in the consolidated balance sheets. Property and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method, and the corresponding depreciation expense is included in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Property and equipment are depreciated over a period of five Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges related to property and equipment during each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. |
| Foreign Currency | Foreign CurrencyThe Company consolidates certain entities that have a non-U.S. dollar functional currency. Non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the end of each reporting period and income and expenses are translated using the weighted-average exchange rate for each reporting period. Cumulative translation adjustments arising from the translation of non-U.S. dollar denominated entities are included in other comprehensive income (loss) within the consolidated financial statements until realized. Gains and losses resulting from foreign-currency transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency are reported in other income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income. |
| Business Combinations | Business Combinations The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values, as determined by management at the acquisition date. Contingent consideration obligations that are elements of consideration transferred are recognized at the acquisition date as part of the fair value transferred in exchange for the acquired business. Contingent consideration arrangements are revalued to fair value each reporting period. Examples of critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets acquired include, but are not limited to, future expected cash inflows and outflows, future fundraising assumptions, expected useful life, discount rates and income tax rates. Acquisition-related costs incurred in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred and are included in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income. |
| Intangibles and Goodwill | Intangibles and Goodwill The Company’s finite-lived intangible assets consist of acquired contractual rights to earn future management and advisory fee income and client relationships. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from 8 to 10 years. The Company did not have any intangible assets that were deemed to have an indefinite life as of March 31, 2023. Finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. There were no impairment charges related to the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets during the years ended March 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. Goodwill represents the excess amount of consideration transferred in a business combination above the fair value of the identifiable net assets. Goodwill is assessed for impairment at least annually using a qualitative and, if necessary, a quantitative approach. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test as of January 1, or more frequently, if events and circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. The initial assessment for impairment under the qualitative approach is to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, a quantitative assessment is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The quantitative assessment includes comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the lesser of (a) the difference between the carrying amount of the reporting unit and its fair value and (b) the total carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company performed annual goodwill impairment assessments as of January 1, 2023 and 2022 and determined that there was no impairment of goodwill as of either date. |
| Revenues | Revenues The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (“ASC 606”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Revenue is recognized in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and for an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The application of ASC 606 requires an entity to identify its contract(s) with a customer, identify the performance obligations in a contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, variable consideration is included only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The Company has elected to apply the variable consideration allocation exception for its fee arrangements with its customers. Management and Advisory Fees, Net The Company earns management fees for services provided to its SMAs and focused commingled funds. The Company earns advisory fees for services provided to advisory clients where the Company does not have discretion over investment decisions. The Company considers its performance obligations in its customer contracts from which it earns management and advisory fees to be one or more of the following, based on the services promised: asset management services, advisory services and/or the arrangement of administrative services. The Company recognizes revenues from asset management services and advisory services when control of the promised services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services. SMAs are generally contractual arrangements involving an investment management agreement between the Company and a single client, and are typically structured as a partnership or limited liability company for which a subsidiary of SSG serves as the general partner or managing member. Focused commingled funds are structured as limited partnerships or limited liability companies with multiple clients, for which a subsidiary of the Company serves as the general partner or managing member. The Company determined that the individual client or single limited partner or member is the customer with respect to SMAs and advisory clients, while the investment fund is generally considered to be the customer for arrangements with focused commingled funds. When asset management services and the arrangement of administrative services are the performance obligations promised in a contract, the Company satisfies these performance obligations over time because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed. The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised services to the customer. Management fees earned from these contracts where the Company has discretion over investment decisions are generally calculated based on a percentage of unaffiliated committed capital or net invested capital, and these amounts are typically billed quarterly. For certain investment funds, management fees are initially based on committed capital during the investment period and on net invested capital through the remainder of the fund’s term. In addition, the management fee rate charged may also be reduced for certain investment funds depending on the contractual arrangement. The management fee basis is subject to factors outside of the Company’s control. Therefore, estimates of future period management fees are not included in the transaction price because those estimates would be considered constrained. Advisory fees from contracts where the Company does not have discretion over investment decisions are generally based on fixed amounts and typically billed quarterly. Management fees generally exclude reimbursements for expenses paid by the Company on behalf of its customers, including amounts related to certain professional fees and other fund administrative expenses pursuant to the fund’s governing documents. For professional and administrative services that the Company arranges to be performed by third parties on behalf of investment funds, management has concluded that the nature of its promise is to arrange for the services to be provided and, accordingly, the Company does not control the services provided by the third parties before they are transferred to the customer. Therefore, the Company is acting as an agent, and the reimbursements for these professional fees paid on behalf of the investment funds are generally presented on a net basis. The Company and certain investment funds that it manages have distribution and service agreements with third-party financial institutions, whereby the Company pays a portion of the fees it receives to such institutions for ongoing distribution and servicing of customer accounts. Management has concluded that the Company does not act as principal for the third-party services, as the Company does not control the services provided by the third parties before they are transferred to the customer. Therefore, the Company is acting as an agent, and the management fees are recorded net of these service fees. The Company may incur certain costs in connection with satisfying its performance obligations for investment management services – primarily employee travel costs and certain professional fees – for which it receives reimbursements from its customers. For reimbursable employee travel costs and certain professional fees, the Company concluded it controls the services provided by its employees and other parties and, therefore, is acting as principal. Accordingly, the Company records the reimbursement for these costs incurred on a gross basis – that is, as revenue in management and advisory fees, net and expense in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income. For reimbursable costs incurred in connection with satisfying its performance obligations for administration services, the Company concluded it does not control the services provided by its employees and other parties and, therefore, is acting as agent. Accordingly, the Company records the reimbursement for these costs incurred on a net basis. Performance Fees The Company earns two types of performance fee revenues: incentive fees and carried interest allocations, as described below. Incentive fees are generally calculated as a percentage of the profits (up to 15%) earned in respect of certain accounts, including certain permanent capital vehicles, for which the Company is the investment adviser, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels or performance benchmarks. Incentive fees are a form of variable consideration and represent contractual fee arrangements in the Company’s contracts with its customers. Incentive fees are typically subject to reversal until the end of a defined performance period, as these fees are affected by changes in the fair value of the assets under management or advisement over such performance period. Moreover, incentive fees that are received prior to the end of the defined performance period are typically subject to clawback, net of tax. The Company recognizes incentive fee revenue only when these amounts are realized and no longer subject to significant risk of reversal, which is typically at the end of a defined performance period and/or upon expiration of the associated clawback period (i.e., crystallization). However, clawback terms for incentive fees received prior to crystallization only require the return of amounts on a net of tax basis. Accordingly, the tax-related portion of incentive fees received in advance of crystallization is not subject to clawback and is therefore recognized as revenue immediately upon receipt. Incentive fees received in advance of crystallization that remain subject to clawback are recorded as deferred incentive fee revenue and included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Carried interest allocations include the allocation of performance-based fees, commonly referred to as carried interest, to the Company from unaffiliated limited partners in the StepStone Funds in which the Company holds an equity interest. The Company is entitled to a carried interest allocation (typically 5% to 15%) based on cumulative fund or account performance to date, irrespective of whether such amounts have been realized. These carried interest allocations are subject to the achievement of minimum return levels (typically 5% to 10%) in accordance with the terms set forth in each respective fund’s governing documents. The Company accounts for its investment balances in the StepStone Funds, including carried interest allocations, under the equity method of accounting because it is presumed to have significant influence as the general partner or managing member. Accordingly, carried interest allocations are not deemed to be within the scope of ASC 606. Legacy Greenspring carried interest allocations reflect the allocation of carried interest to legacy Greenspring general partner entities from limited partners in certain legacy Greenspring funds in which the legacy Greenspring general partner entities hold an equity interest. The legacy Greenspring general partner entities are entitled to a carried interest allocation (typically 5% to 20%) based on cumulative fund or account performance to date, irrespective of whether such amounts have been realized. The Company accounts for the investment balances in the legacy Greenspring funds, including carried interest allocations, under the equity method of accounting because it is presumed to have significant influence as the general partner or managing member. Accordingly, legacy Greenspring carried interest allocations are not deemed to be within the scope of ASC 606. The Company does not hold any direct economic interests in the legacy Greenspring general partner entities and thus is not entitled to any carried interest allocation from the legacy funds. All of the carried interest allocations in respect of the legacy Greenspring funds are payable to employees who are considered affiliates of the Company and are therefore reflected as legacy Greenspring performance fee-related compensation in the consolidated statements of income. The Company recognizes revenue attributable to carried interest allocations from a fund based on the amount that would be due to the Company pursuant to the fund’s governing documents, assuming the fund was liquidated based on the current fair value of its underlying investments as of that date. Accordingly, the amount recognized as carried interest allocation revenue reflects the Company’s share of the gains and losses of the associated fund’s underlying investments measured at their then-fair values, relative to the fair values as of the end of the prior period. The Company records the amount of carried interest allocated to the Company as of each period end as accrued carried interest allocations receivable, which is included as a component of investments in the consolidated balance sheets. Management's determination of fair value for investments in the underlying funds includes various valuation techniques. These techniques may include a market approach, recent transaction price, net asset value approach, or discounted cash flows, and may use one or more significant unobservable inputs such as EBITDA, revenue multiples, discount rates, weighted average cost of capital, exit multiples, or terminal growth rates. |
| Compensation and Benefits | Compensation and Benefits Cash-based compensation expense primarily includes salaries, bonuses, employee benefits and employer-related payroll taxes. Bonuses are accrued over the service period in which they are earned. Equity-based compensation represents grants of equity-based awards or arrangements to certain employees and directors. The Company accounts for grants of equity-based awards, including restricted stock units (“RSUs”), to certain employees and directors at fair value as of the grant date. The Company recognizes non-cash compensation expense attributable to these grants on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Expense related to grants of equity-based awards is recognized as equity-based compensation expense in the consolidated statements of income. The fair value of RSUs is determined by the closing stock price on the grant date. Forfeitures of equity-based awards are recognized as they occur. Awards classified as liabilities are remeasured at the end of each reporting period until settlement. See note 10 for additional information regarding the Company’s accounting for equity-based awards. Performance fee-related compensation represents the portion of carried interest allocation revenue and incentive fees that have been awarded to employees as a form of long-term incentive compensation. Performance fee-related compensation is generally tied to the investment performance of the StepStone Funds. Approximately 50% of carried interest allocation revenue is awarded to employees as part of the Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan. Carried interest-related compensation is accounted for as compensation expense in conjunction with the related carried interest allocation revenue and, until paid, is recorded as a component of accrued carried interest-related compensation in the consolidated balance sheets. Carried interest-related compensation expense also includes the portion of net carried interest allocation revenue attributable to equity holders of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries that are not 100% owned. Amounts presented as realized indicate the amounts paid or payable to employees based on the receipt of carried interest allocation revenue from realized investment activity. Carried interest-related compensation expense may be subject to reversal to the extent that the related carried interest allocation revenue is reversed. Carried interest-related compensation paid to employees may be subject to clawback on an after-tax basis under certain scenarios. To date, no material amounts of realized carried interest-related compensation have been reversed. Incentive fee-related compensation is accrued as compensation expense when it is probable and estimable that payment will be made in accordance with the applicable governing agreement. Legacy Greenspring performance fee-related compensation represents the legacy Greenspring carried interest allocations, which is entirely payable to certain employees. Legacy Greenspring carried interest-related compensation is accounted for as compensation expense in conjunction with the related legacy Greenspring carried interest allocation revenue and, until paid, is recorded as a component of legacy Greenspring accrued carried interest-related compensation in the consolidated balance sheets. Legacy Greenspring carried interest-related compensation expense may be subject to reversal to the extent that the related legacy Greenspring carried interest allocation revenue is reversed. However, none of the legacy Greenspring carried interest allocation revenue is attributable to the Company. |
| General, Administrative and Other | General, Administrative and Other General, administrative and other includes occupancy, travel and related costs, insurance, legal and other professional fees, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, system-related costs, and other general costs associated with operating the Company’s business. |
| Other Income (Expense) | Other Income (Expense) Investment income (loss) primarily represents the share of earnings (losses) from the investments the Company makes in its SMAs and focused commingled funds. The Company, either directly or through its subsidiaries, generally has a general partner interest in the StepStone Funds, which invest in primary funds, secondary funds and co-investment funds, or a combination thereof. Investment income will increase or decrease based on the earnings of the StepStone Funds, which are primarily driven by net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on the underlying investments held by the funds. The Company’s co-investment funds invest in underlying portfolio companies and therefore their valuation changes from period to period are more influenced by individual companies than the Company’s primary and secondary funds, which have exposures across multiple portfolio companies in underlying private markets funds. The Company’s SMAs and focused commingled funds invest across various industries, strategies and geographies. Consequently, the Company’s general partner investments do not include any significant concentrations in a specific sector or geography outside the United States. Investment income excludes carried interest allocations, which are presented as revenues as described above. Legacy Greenspring investment income (loss) represents the share of earnings (losses) from the investments the Company makes in certain legacy Greenspring funds through the legacy Greenspring general partner entities. The Company has no direct economic interests in the legacy Greenspring general partner entities. As a result, all such income is reflected as non-controlling interests in legacy Greenspring entities. Legacy Greenspring investment income will increase or decrease based on the earnings of such legacy Greenspring funds, which are primarily driven by net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on the underlying investments held by the funds. Interest income consists of income earned on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and certificates of deposit. Beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2022, interest income includes amounts associated with the Consolidated Funds. Interest expense primarily consists of the interest expense on the Revolver and the Company’s previously outstanding term loan, as well as the related amortization of deferred financing costs and amortization of original issue discount. The year ended March 31, 2021 includes a $3.5 million charge related to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and discount in connection with the full repayment of the Company’s outstanding term loan in connection with the IPO in September 2020. Other income (loss) includes foreign currency transaction gains and losses and non-operating activities. Beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2022, other income (loss) includes amounts associated with the Consolidated Funds. |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes SSG is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes on its share of taxable income generated by the Partnership. The Partnership is treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. As such, income generated by the Partnership flows through to its limited partners, including SSG, and is generally not subject to U.S. federal or state income tax at the Partnership level. The Partnership’s non-U.S. subsidiaries generally operate as corporate entities in non-U.S. jurisdictions, with certain of these entities subject to non-U.S. income taxes. Additionally, certain subsidiaries are subject to local jurisdiction taxes at the entity level, which are reflected within income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. As a result, the Partnership does not record U.S. federal and state income taxes on income in the Partnership or its subsidiaries, except for certain local and foreign income taxes discussed above. Taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, using tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. Deferred tax liabilities are included within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The principal items giving rise to temporary differences are certain basis differences resulting from exchanges of Partnership units. See Tax Receivable Agreements below. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the amount, timing and character of the Company’s future taxable income. When evaluating the realizability of deferred tax assets, all evidence – both positive and negative – is considered. This evidence includes, but is not limited to, expectations regarding future earnings, future reversals of existing temporary tax differences and tax planning strategies. The Company is subject to the provisions of ASC Subtopic 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes . This standard establishes consistent thresholds as it relates to accounting for income taxes. It defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements as more-likely-than-not to be sustained by the relevant taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized. If upon performance of an assessment pursuant to this subtopic, management determines that uncertainties in tax positions exist that do not meet the minimum threshold for recognition of the related tax benefit, a liability is recorded in the consolidated financial statements. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as interest expense and general, administrative and other expenses, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income. See note 11 for more information. The Company has elected to account for global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by foreign subsidiaries in the period the tax is incurred. |
| Tax Receivable Agreements | Tax Receivable AgreementsSSG has entered into an Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement (the “Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement”) with the partners of the Partnership as of the date of the IPO and a Reorganization Tax Receivable Agreement with certain pre-IPO institutional investors (together, with the Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement, the “Tax Receivable Agreements”). The Tax Receivable Agreements provide for payment by SSG to such partners and pre-IPO institutional investors of the Partnership of 85% of the amount of the net cash tax savings, if any, that SSG realizes (or, under certain circumstances, is deemed to realize) as a result of increases in tax basis (and utilization of certain other tax benefits) resulting from (i) SSG’s acquisition of such partners’ and institutional investors’ Partnership units and (ii) in the case of the Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement, any payments SSG makes under the Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement (including tax benefits related to imputed interest). SSG will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash tax savings under both Tax Receivable Agreements. In connection with the Greenspring acquisition, the sellers receiving Class C units of the Partnership became parties to the Exchanges Tax Receivable Agreement. |
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeThe Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income consists of foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on the defined benefit plan sponsored by one of its subsidiaries. |
| Segments | Segments The Company operates as one business, a fully-integrated private markets solution provider. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, who is the Company’s chief executive officer, utilizes a consolidated approach to assess the performance of and allocate resources to the business. Accordingly, management has concluded that the Company consists of a single operating segment and single reportable segment for accounting and financial reporting purposes. |
| Concentrations of Risk | Concentrations of Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk or other risks consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, investments and fees receivable. The majority of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash is held in large, high credit quality financial institutions. Substantially all cash amounts on deposit with these large financial institutions exceeded federally insured limits at March 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company actively monitors its banking relationships and periodically performs an assessment of the financial condition and the reputations of these financial institutions. Based on these results, management believes that the Company’s exposure to credit risk is remote. The concentration of credit risk related to fees receivable is generally reduced by the relatively short payment terms extended to the Company’s clients. Amounts due to the Company in the form of carried interest allocations, which are reported as a component of investments in the consolidated balance sheets, remain subject to investment performance risk. In certain cases, carried interest allocations that have been distributed to the Company may remain subject to clawback, pursuant to the terms of the governing documents of the related funds. Refer to the discussion of carried interest above in this note 2 for additional details regarding the investment performance and clawback risk associated with carried interest allocations that have been recognized in income by the Company and/or recorded as accrued carried interest allocations in the consolidated balance sheets. |
| Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recent Accounting Pronouncements The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). ASUs issued during the current period not listed below were assessed and determined to either be not applicable to the Company, or not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting , which amends current guidance to provide optional practical expedients and exceptions, if certain criteria are met, for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that are affected by the reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions in this update apply only to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Initially the update did not apply to contract modifications or hedging relationships entered into after December 31, 2022, but in December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, which defers the sunset date for applying reference rate reform relief in ASC 848 to December 31, 2024. This guidance is effective for adoption anytime after March 12, 2020, but must be adopted prior to December 31, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on the consolidated financial statements. In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity , which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The Company adopted this guidance on April 1, 2022 under the modified retrospective approach. The Company has changed its accounting policy to reflect the updated equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity, and has accounted for freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in the Company’s own equity at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. In July 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-05, Leases (Topic 842): Lessors—Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments , which modifies ASC 842 to amend the lease classification requirements for lessors to align with practice under ASC Topic 840. Lessors should classify and account for a lease with variable lease payments that do not depend on a reference index or a rate as an operating lease if the lease would have been classified as a sales-type lease or a direct financing lease under ASC 842, and the lessor would have otherwise recognized a day-one loss on the investment in the lease. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this guidance on April 1, 2022. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers , which modifies ASC 805 to require an acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606. At the acquisition date, an acquirer should account for the related revenue contracts in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. Under current GAAP, an acquirer generally recognizes such items at fair value on the acquisition date. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance on April 1, 2022, and will apply the guidance prospectively to business combinations that occur after this date. The guidance had no effect on the consolidated financial statements. |
