Global General Ledger Control - Director (AVP)

ACCA Careers; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Global General Ledger Control Director to lead the implementation of a new Quality Assurance process. This pivotal role involves enhancing the control environment, collaborating with finance teams, and managing key stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate will possess strong audit experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence at senior levels. Join a dynamic team in a flexible hybrid working model, where your contributions will shape the future direction of financial controls and attestation processes. This is a unique opportunity to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment while advancing your career in one of the world's leading financial institutions.

Benefits

Desirable compensation and benefits package

Annual bonus eligibility

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working opportunities

High specification office space

Onsite fitness suite

Qualifications

• Strong audit experience with a focus on financial controls.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of a new Quality Assurance process.
• Enhance the overall control environment and reporting.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving abilities

Audit or similar experience

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Critical thinking

Microsoft Excel skills

Job description

Global General Ledger Control – Director (AVP)

The Global General Ledger Control (GGLC) Governance team sits centrally to the Firm’s books and records control and attestation processes. It has responsibility for setting and implementing policy and procedures governing the monthly general ledger substantiation and attestation process, and the standards which controllers across Finance must adhere to. It has global reach across Morgan Stanley Finance.

Following the recent implementation of a new attestation tool, the team is focused on enhancements to the overall control environment: as such, there has been a comprehensive reset of the team's remit and profile, with a focus on design and delivery of robust controls to support books and records attestation. This role, which has arisen because of internal mobility, will be critical in assuring the delivery of the new GGLC model and will report to the team Vice President.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services.

As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and strong team ethic. We can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career – a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives, and needs is an important part of our culture.

What will you be doing?

• Take a leading role in continued implementation of a newly introduced Quality Assurance process focusing on the content and quality of substantiation and attestation, dovetailing with the Firm's Internal Audit and SOX reviews.
• Responsibilities will include ongoing enhancement of the overall direction including scope, remit, and approach implementation, and design of resultant reporting
  • This is a key component in future books and records attestation, partnering with Finance colleagues across the Firm to enhance control and facilitate process / behavioural change
• Month end attestation relies on a framework of account grouping logic rules which assign ownership of accounts in the attestation tool.
• Working closely with the responsible Director, the candidate will facilitate renovation of the account grouping logic, allowing for increased streamlining and reduced coverage risk.
• Take a strategic role in the assignment and monitoring of required policy reading to controllers, liaising with Accounting Policy as relevant on BAU updates and changes on future direction.
• Development and maintenance of key stakeholder relationships across Finance teams with individuals up to and including MD level.
• Ownership of specific project workstreams impacting the future direction of the Firm's books and records attestation model, building on the implementation of the new attestation tool.
• Ownership of specific departmental procedures, including liaison with team management on updates and maintenance, and development of areas specifically identified as gaps.
• Develop an understanding of processes from the wider department, including report production and entitlement reviews, for both coverage purposes and to facilitate full integration with the team's reporting processes.
• Shared responsibility to guide and develop junior members of our aligned team in Mumbai.
• Prepare and critically review KRIs and other metrics as required.

What we’re looking for:

• Excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence colleagues/clients up to senior levels.
• Committed and self-motivated individual demonstrating initiative and problem-solving abilities.
• Audit or similar experience, combined with a proven track record of designing, operating and evaluating financial controls.
• Given the significant amount of work facing the team, ability to hit the ground running: demonstrate self-starter competencies and be able to prioritize, drive, and manage their own work slate.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Strong appreciation of escalation and risk awareness.
• Analytical skills with a control focus and high regard for attention to detail.
• Demonstrate an understanding of account assertions and concepts of audit evidence.
• Critical thinking in order to challenge processes, solve for ad hoc queries, and creativity to suggest alternative approaches.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.

We offer:

• Work in the Finance department of one of the world's top-tier Financial Institutions and a firsthand 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.

Where will you be working?

Working in a collaborative growing team in the Glasgow Finance division on a 3/2 hybrid model.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 85 years. At our foundation are five core values — putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back — that guide our more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find trusted colleagues, committed mentors and a culture that values diverse perspectives, individual intellect and cross-collaboration. We Firm is differentiated by the caliber of our diverse team. While our company culture and commitment to inclusion define our legacy and shape our future, helping to strengthen our business and bring value to clients around the world.

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

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.