Compensation Accounting – Global Reporting, Transformation & AI - VP

Morgan Stanley; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley in Glasgow is seeking a VP to lead Compensation Reporting and drive transformation across the Compensation Controller function. You will oversee global reporting, partner with senior stakeholders and shape automation and AI initiatives within Finance.

The role blends technical accounting with strategic leadership, requiring strong communication, governance and people management in a complex, global environment.

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification or equivalent specialization in finance.
• Strong Excel skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and succinct delivery.
• Experience with establishing and meeting critical deadlines and driving execution.
• Risk awareness and strong guardianship of controls.
• People management experience and ability to lead in matrix environments.
• Proven ability to simplify, standardise and automate complex finance processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Global Compensation Reporting team (approx. 5 FTE) and oversee internal and external reporting.
• Partner with Executive Director to drive transformation across compensation controller functions—accounting, controllership and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to standardise processes, implement scalable control frameworks and drive automation/AI initiatives.
• Ensure timely quarterly/annual regulatory filings and global compensation related disclosures.
• Provide governance, analysis and advisory support to senior stakeholders (CFO and peers).
• Develop and retain talent; foster an inclusive, high-performing finance team.

Skills

Excel

Communication

Deadlines

Risk awareness

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

Automation/AI in finance

Education

Professional Accountancy Qualification

Tools

Power Platform

Job description

Compensation Accounting – Global Reporting, Transformation & AI - VP

JR043666

GLASGOW

We’re seeking someone to join our Compensation Controller team as a Vice President in Finance to lead our global compensation reporting and help drive transformation, automation and AI across the wider Compensation Controller function.

The Compensation Reporting team is responsible for the preparation of the Firm’s internal and external compensation related financial and regulatory reporting (including statutory financial disclosures). As a result, team members perform a variety of functions within their roles, offering a breadth of experience for the right candidate. For example:

• Financial accounting across all GAAPS and legal entities
• Management and regulatory accounting and reporting for the Firm and its legal entities’ compensation expenses
• Management reporting for the CFO and other senior stakeholders
• Technical advisory and discussion on compensation related matters

This is a Vice President position within our Corporate Controllers, Reporting & Accounting Job Family which is responsible for the accuracy and control of the Firm’s books and records to produce the consolidated firm, segment and legal entities financial statements, including development, management and oversight of financial accounting & reporting systems as well as database management, including capital and liquidity reporting and external reporting functions.

In the Finance division, we act as a partner to business units around the globe by providing management, review, analysis and advisory services of the Firm’s financial and capital resources.

Since 1935, Morgan Stanley is known as a global leader in financial services, always evolving and innovating to better serve our clients and our communities in more than 40 countries around the world.

What you’ll do in the role:

This role has two equally weighted responsibilities: approximately 50% leading the Global Compensation Reporting team (~5 FTE), with oversight of internal and external compensation reporting and senior stakeholder relationships; and approximately 50% working with the Executive Director to drive transformation across the wider Compensation Controller function, spanning accounting, controllership and reporting. The transformation remit will focus on simplifying, standardising and automating Finance-owned processes, applying data, automation and AI appropriately, and establishing scalable approaches to control and review.

Be responsible for oversight of internal and external reporting processes relating to The Firm’s compensation and benefit expense, including:

• inputs to critical quarterly and annual regulatory filings and outputs such as the Firm’s 10Q/K, earnings and other critical deliverables
• detailed global monthly compensation and benefits expense reporting and analysis for senior management globally supporting the Firm’s legal entities, business segments and firm level reporting
• planning and oversight of global compensation related statutory account disclosures

Transformation and AI (approximately 50% of the role):

• Work with the Executive Director to drive the transformation agenda across the wider Compensation Controller function, starting with your own team. The function covers accounting, controllership and reporting, partnering with process owners to identify, prioritise and deliver material improvements.
• Identify common patterns across non-standard deterministic processes and develop reusable approaches to data inputs, validation, calculation, journal creation, reconciliation and review.
• Apply automation, data and AI capabilities with appropriate judgement, recognising where rules-based automation is more suitable than AI within a controlled Finance environment.
• Drive pragmatic Finance-owned solutions where dedicated Technology support is limited, while recognising when formal Technology engagement is required.
• Design output review, control and assurance approaches so that automated preparation is not simply replaced by manual review, including reconciliations, tolerances, exception reporting, reasonableness testing and risk-based review.
• Drive delivery through embedded champions across the wider function.
• Manage, attract, develop and retain talent for team within Finance while creating an inclusive environment; translate Firmwide goals into actionable goals for department/function

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Professional Accountancy Qualification, or equivalent specialization in Finance
• Good excel skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills; clear, concise, and appropriate method of delivery
• Experience with establishing and meeting critical deadlines, as well as tracking and driving execution
• Risk awareness and good guardianship skills
• People management experience
• Collaborative team player with a strong work ethic that works effectively in cross-functional team environment
• Demonstrated experience simplifying, standardising and automating complex Finance processes, particularly those involving manual Excel-based workflows, accounting entries and reconciliations.

Nice to have:

• Experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including practical use of tools such as Power Query, Power Automate, Power Apps and/or Power BI to improve Finance processes.

This role represents an exciting opportunity to further develop a variety of skills and be part of a global function.

#LI-GB1 #LI-Hhybrid #GLACC

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser.

Certified Persons Regulatory Requirements:

If this role is deemed a Certified role and may require the role holder to hold mandatory regulatory qualifications or the minimum qualifications to meet internal company benchmarks.

Flexible work statement

Interested in flexible working opportunities? Morgan Stanley empowers employees to have greater freedom of choice through flexible working arrangements. Speak to our recruitment team to find out more.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflects our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.