Legal Entity Controller

Morgan Stanley; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley in New York is seeking an experienced Director to lead the Legal Entity Controller Group, overseeing financial reporting for the Firm’s entities under US GAAP and global regulatory regimes. The role requires coordinating with internal teams and external auditors to ensure accurate statements and compliant disclosures.

The candidate will manage analytics, cost allocations, and the preparation of financial statements, while enforcing strict controls and risk standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of work experience in financial services or consulting.
• Familiarity with FOCUS reporting and broker-dealer financial/operational requirements.
• Ability to operate independently and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Finance colleagues and across the Firm on reporting.
• Lead delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for legal entities.
• Ensure compliance with US GAAP and international regulatory regimes.
• Review external financial statements and disclosures for footnotes.
• Interface with internal and external auditors and regulators as needed.
• Investigate, analyze, and resolve issues and respond to ad-hoc queries.

Skills

Finance knowledge

Independent work

Regulatory awareness

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

FOCUS reporting

Job description

We are looking for an experienced professional to join our team as a Director in the Legal Entity Controller Group. The Legal Entity Controller group is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting and regulatory adherence of our legal entities, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements, and maintaining compliance with industry standards and regulations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in finance, accounting, and regulatory frameworks.

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 a Director level position within the 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. The group owns the Firm’s financial reporting under US GAAP, International GAAP and the global regulatory regimes. Responsibilities include the development, management and oversight of financial accounting & reporting systems as well as database management. Includes capital and liquidity reporting and external reporting functions.

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

• Collaborate with a varied group of colleagues in Finance and across the Firm
• Responsible for and lead aspects of individual and team deliverables and projects, leveraging in-depth knowledge of Finance functional area, product and/or client segments
• Adhere to the Firm's risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls; proactively identify ways to reduce risk in work
• Act as a culture carrier; embody and set an example of the Firm's values and hold yourself and others accountable to Firm standards
• Review detailed monthly analytics and commentary to ensure completeness and accuracy of the financial statements.
• Prepare quarterly analytics on cost allocations.
• Oversee timely and accurate preparation of legal entity financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Responsible for review of external financial statements as well as related disclosures for various footnotes.
• Be control-oriented and have an ability to efficiently interface with both internal and external auditors as required.
• Investigate, analyze, and resolve issues, and respond to ad-hoc queries.

What You’ll Bring To The Role

• In-depth knowledge of Finance functional area, product and/or client segment and technical skills, as well as of industry and competitive environment
• Ability to operate independently with respect to most job responsibilities
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ of years of work experience in financial services, consulting,
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication skills with collaborative mindset.
• Familiarity with FOCUS reporting and broker-dealer financial and operational requirements.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, operate within deadlines, and escape when appropriate.

What You Can Expect From Morgan Stanley

We have a track record of innovation and passion for unlocking new opportunities, we help our clients raise, manage and allocate capital. We do this by offering a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and asset management services. All that we do at Morgan Stanley is driven by our five core values: do the right thing, put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, commit to diversity and inclusion, and give back. These aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day, ensuring we do what’s best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees around the world. And at the core of our success are the people who drive it - relentless collaborators and creative thinkers who are fueled by diverse thinking and experiences. Wherever you are in our 1,200 global offices, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest in an environment where you are empowered to achieve your full potential. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along our work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry.

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.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $90,000 and $155,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

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.