MENA Legal Entity Controller, Vice President

MENA Legal Entity Controller, Vice President

Location: Dubai

Job ID: 3247860

Department Profile

The Finance Division reports to the Chief Financial Officer and consists of some 3,000 employees worldwide. Finance protects the Morgan Stanley franchise by serving as guardian of the Firm's books and records, and by contributing to firmwide risk management and risk reduction. This division maintains relationships with Morgan Stanley's various industry and government regulators, and also serves as the conduit of financial information to the outside investment community. Finance plays a critical role as advisor to Morgan Stanley's various businesses and its senior management team.

The Financial Control Group (FCG) is responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial and regulatory reporting for the Firm. FCG prepares external financial reports for public filings and regulators. For internal reporting FCG, along with Financial Planning and Analysis (FPA), summarises, plans and forecasts the organisation's financial position, including income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of future revenues, expenses and earnings. FCG is comprised of Business Unit Controllers, Infrastructure Controllers, Accounting, Regulatory and Reporting groups, and Valuation Control.

Team Profile

Dubai Controllers are part of the MENA Finance team which has four controllers including the MENA Head of Finance in Dubai, one controller each in Saudi and Turkey. The Dubai team provides finance coverage across all MENA legal entities and regional support to business units and Firm Management. The MENA team has a wide range of responsibilities covering legal entity control, regulatory and tax reporting, providing advisory services and management reporting to business units and Firm Management.

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?

This is an analytical and detail-oriented review role in the Legal Entity Control (LEC) team. The individual will work on all aspects of regulatory and tax reporting and ensure that the organisation acts in compliance with internal policies, external rules and regulations in the UAE and Qatar. The role will also involve supervision of recurring reporting in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Reporting to the Head of MENA Finance, the individual will assume a number of responsibilities:

1. Responsible for the entire legal entity lifecycle ensuring compliance with internal and external reporting requirements;
2. Perform detailed reviews of:
1. Quarterly legal entity reporting packs which support regulatory filings and annual financial statements along with engaging external auditors;
2. Monthly tax returns;
3. Provide oversight of month end responsibilities which include:
1. Understanding the business and validating expense allocations, management recharges and transfer pricing bookings on the entity;
2. Ensuring comprehensive review of month end reconciliations and sign off in the global system for Balance Sheet, Net Revenues and Expenses;
3. Maintaining a comprehensive reconciliation between balances reported under local GAAP and US GAAP;
4. Liaise with other internal groups including MENA COO, local infrastructure teams, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Fixed Assets, Product Controllers and Tax;
5. Support firmwide Legal Entity initiatives and any ad-hoc/regular regional management reporting requirements;
6. Support management in promoting a strong culture of compliance, high levels of integrity and good conduct and adherence to Morgan Stanley's global standards.

The responsibilities listed are the core responsibilities in relation to this role. From time to time, the role holder may be called upon to take on additional responsibilities as required to meet the objectives of their division and of the wider organisation.

What we're looking for:

1. Business School, Engineer School or University Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline with Postgraduate qualification (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent);
2. Prior experience of 9-10 years of working in Financial Services, audit, or accounting (legal entity control experience preferable);
3. An understanding of the following areas: month end close, expense management, transfer pricing, cost allocations and financial regulatory reporting;
4. Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
5. Exceptional problem solving and execution skills with attention to detail;
6. Pro-active, motivated, strong organisational, planning and prioritisation skills, with ability to handle multiple tasks, work under pressure, and manage competing priorities;
7. Ability to partner and work effectively both with direct team members and virtually with colleagues across the wider organisation;
8. High self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as an effective team member;
9. Demonstrable track record of exercising sound and independent judgment and ability to identify issues requiring escalation.

We are focused on bringing together different backgrounds, experience, and talents to deliver world class service. If you are a driven self-starter, client-focused, and eager to contribute to a leading Global Financial Services firm, please apply. We welcome all backgrounds and experiences.

Where will you be working?

This role is based in DIFC, Dubai.

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.

Internal Applicants:

Internal mobility can be a way to grow your career and realize your professional potential. Typically, you must be in your position for at least 18 months and performing satisfactorily before applying for another job at the Firm. Internal applicants can find out more regarding career navigation, mobility guidelines and policy on our employee portal.

Equal opportunities statement:

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.