Director/AVP in Compensation Accounting - Global Compensation Reporting & Pensions team

PowerToFly; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial services firm seeks a Director/AVP in Compensation Accounting in Glasgow. This role involves managing pension accounting processes, financial reporting, and collaborating with global finance teams. Candidates should have a professional accountancy qualification and strong communication skills. The position offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development. Join a dynamic team at a top-tier institution focused on excellence and inclusive culture.

Benefits

Desirable compensation and benefits package including eligibility for an annual bonus

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working opportunities

High-specification office space with wellbeing facilities

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification, or equivalent specialization in finance.
• Flexibility to change priorities as new situations present themselves.
• Strong communication skills; clear, concise, and appropriate method of delivery.
• Experience with establishing and meeting critical deadlines.
• Risk awareness and good guardianship skills.
• Collaborative team player with a strong work ethic.
• Good Excel skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Leverage existing accounting skills to develop pension accounting knowledge.
• Ensure accurate and timely pension-related financial reporting.
• Execute and/or review monthly and annual pension controllership processes.
• Maintain strong governance over pension accounting processes.
• Collaborate with global finance teams, HR, and external actuaries.
• Drive automation and standardisation of pension controllership processes globally.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Good Excel skills

Collaborative team player

Flexibility to change priorities

Risk awareness

Education

Professional accountancy qualification

Job description

Director/AVP in Compensation Accounting - Global Compensation Reporting & Pensions Team

We’re seeking someone to join our Global Corporate Controllers team as Director. This role represents an exciting opportunity to join the newly formed global pension controllership team. Working with third‑party actuaries, the team manages the accounting for the Firm’s global defined benefit pension plans and stress testing for the most material plans. Full on‑the‑job training will be provided, so while prior pensions experience is useful it is not required.

The Compensation Controller team is led globally from Glasgow and is part of Global Corporate Controllers. The function is responsible for financial accounting, control, and reporting, both internal and external, related to the Firm’s compensation and benefit expenses globally.

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. This is an Associate within our Risk, Assurance, Governance & Control job family which provides oversight and monitoring of operational risk or third‑party/out‑sourcing for the global Finance division, validation and testing of financial and regulatory reports and reinforcement of regulatory requirements, policies and procedures.

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.

Benefits

• Work in the Finance department of one of the world’s top‑tier financial institutions and a first‑hand insight into our business
• A desirable compensation and benefits package including eligibility for an annual bonus
• Professional development opportunities including access to Morgan Stanley’s world‑class internal training program
• Enriching challenges that provide opportunity for constant learning and advancement
• A supportive and inclusive environment, we accept individual differences and use them to better our work environment and culture
• A balance between personal and professional lifestyles, including flexible working opportunities such as work‑from‑home arrangements
• High‑specification office space with leading technologies, collaborative working spaces and wellbeing facilities including an onsite fitness suite

Responsibilities

• Learn and Apply Technical Skills: Leverage existing accounting skills to develop pension accounting knowledge
• Financial Reporting: Ensure accurate and timely pension‑related financial reporting under relevant accounting standards, managing disclosures for statutory and consolidated financial statements
• Accounting & Analysis: Execute and/or review monthly and annual pension controllership processes
• Governance & Controls: Maintain strong governance over pension accounting processes and controls; support internal and external audits; manage stress testing of the most material plans, working with the third‑party actuaries
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with global finance teams, HR, and external actuaries to ensure review and challenge of key assumptions and consider the impact of the changes in valuations
• Process Improvement & Projects: Drive automation and standardisation of pension controllership processes globally using digital and AI tools

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification, or equivalent specialization in finance
• Flexibility to change priorities as new situations present themselves
• 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
• Collaborative team player with a strong work ethic that works effectively in cross‑functional team environment
• Good Excel skills and attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience of pension accounting or pensions audit – useful but not required

About Morgan Stanley

We are committed to maintaining the first‑class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 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.

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‑opportunities employer. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximize their full potential. Our skilled and creative workforce is comprised of individuals drawn from a broad cross‑section of the global communities in which we operate and who reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion is evident through our constant focus on recruiting, developing, and advancing individuals based on their skills and talents.