Asia Operational Risk - Executive Director

Morgan Stanley Asia Limited; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong invites an experienced risk professional to join the Asia Operational Risk Department. Based in Hong Kong, you will lead the Asia Operational Risk Business Coverage, partnering with business and infrastructure units to identify and challenge operational risks relevant to each area.

You will drive the effectiveness of the Operational Risk Management Framework, collaborate with Compliance and Non-Financial Risk colleagues, and build strong relationships with senior

Qualifications

• Demonstrated risk management experience in wholesale financial services.
• Strong understanding of risk types and controls.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, analyze, and challenge operational risks across assigned coverage areas.
• Drive governance and adherence to the Operational Risk Management Framework.
• Collaborate with business units, infrastructure groups, and compliance teams.
• Lead NFRA, scenario analysis, and post-event reviews of material risk events.
• Support risk incidents and escalation with timely, data-driven insights.
• Build solid relationships with senior stakeholders to influence risk decisions.

Skills

Sales & Trading knowledge

Experience in risk management

Influence & consensus-building

Risk identification and mitigation

Strong organizational skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Regulatory affairs experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Economics or quantitative discipline

Job description

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.

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. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow.

Department Profile:

The cornerstone of Morgan Stanley's risk management philosophy is the execution of risk-adjusted returns through prudent risk-taking that protects Morgan Stanley's capital base, liquidity and franchise. Operational Risk refers to the risk of financial or other loss, or potential damage to a firm’s reputation, resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, systems, or from external events (e.g., fraud, legal and compliance risks or damage to physical assets) impacting the full scope of its business activities, including revenue-generating activities and infrastructure groups.

The Firm has developed a robust Operational Risk Management Framework designed to identify and assess significant operational risks and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are undertaken. The Framework is based upon a “Three Lines of Defense” model within which ORD operates as part of the Second Line of Defense, providing independent oversight and challenge to the management of operational risk across the Firm. Given the nature and breadth of operational risk, operational risks are managed at multiple levels e.g. Firmwide, as well as Regional, Business Unit, Infrastructure Group, Control Function and Legal Vehicle.

Position Description:

Morgan Stanley is seeking an experienced Risk professional for its Asia Operational Risk Department (ORD).

We are looking to attract a senior recruit to manage the Asia Operational Risk Business Coverage team, to be based in Hong Kong reporting to the Asia Head of Operational Risk.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Asia Operational Risk Business Coverage team is responsible for working with business and infrastructure units to identify, analyse, assess and challenge operational risk associated with the processes and controls relevant to each area. Coverage Officers are responsible for driving the effectiveness and embeddedness of the Operational Risk Management Framework within the Firm’s Business Units, Infrastructure Groups and Control Functions.

Specific responsibilities include:

Enhance / build solid client relationships with key senior individuals relevant to designated coverage responsibilities;

Develop in-depth understanding of the business and operational risks within designated coverage areas;

Assist the divisions in highlighting their key operational risks and management of risk levels against designated risk tolerance limits at a divisional and Firm level;

Carry out targeted reviews into material operational risk events (internal and external) and analyses of thematic and emerging operational risks;

Challenge operational risk incidents, issues and actions, metrics, Non-Financial Risk Assessment (NFRA) and Scenario Analysis workshop outputs

Assist in the enhancement of the Operational Risk programme and embedding of the framework and standards

Collaborate with Non-Financial Risk (NFR) colleagues across specialist risk areas and Compliance Advisory teams in identification and oversight of emerging risks to the region and to the Firm

Skills Required:

Strong Sales & Trading business knowledge having worked directly in one of these business areas or an infrastructure unit supporting one, ideally within a wholesale financial services environment;

Prior experience in risk management, or other risk/control-based roles, preferred;

Confidence to take ideas forward and to challenge others, where appropriate, with experience in management by influence, facilitating and gaining consensus;

Proven ability to anticipate and identify risks and effective mitigants;

Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask and prioritise; ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to produce concise and effective presentations

Ability to work in a team environment, building and maintain a network of contacts and coordinating with a large number of stakeholders

Experience in dealing with regulators/regulatory issues and good understanding of banking regulation, especially relating to risk management, highly desirable

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, ideally in a quantitative discipline, Finance, Economics or similar;

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.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect 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.

Unlock job insights

Hirer responsiveness Salary match Number of applicants

Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.

Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.