EMEA Accounting Advisory and Policy

Job description

Morgan Stanley has earned a worldwide reputation for the excellence of its advice and execution in financial markets. With over 1,300 offices in 42 countries, the firm is truly global- and a market leader in the U.S, Europe, and Asia as well as in Emerging Markets. We provide institutions and individuals with almost every kind of financial product and service across all the world’s major markets.

We have built a world class reputation for quality and service and the talent and passion of our people has been critical to our success. We can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career, a place for people to learn, to achieve and to grow. Together we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and a strong team ethic.

Due to our growing business, we have a demand for career minded people to join our teams. Our opportunities offer unrivalled scope for progression and training within a fast paced, meritocratic, and constantly changing environment.

The Accounting Advisory and Policy team within the Global Advisory and Policy function is an independent accounting advice and review function based in London, Glasgow, Hong Kong and Tokyo, and forms a significant component of the Global Advisory and Policy team based in New York. The team provide centralised expertise for technical accounting matters, monitors franchise risk arising through new business and new legal entities and performs reviews to ensure compliance with accounting policy under US GAAP globally and IFRS on a local basis.

The Accounting Advisory and Policy group provides support across various areas of the firm, including:

• Business Accounting Advisory
• Driving US and IFRS GAAP implementation Projects
• Accounting Policy
• Legal Entity Accounting Advisory

The team works very closely with a variety of stakeholders within the Finance Division and across the firm on a global basis, for example, product control, valuation control, legal entity control, tax, legal, market risk and credit risk. Maintenance of strong relationships with the external auditors, other external advisors, the standard setters, and industry bodies is also key to the success of the team.

An opportunity exists to join the Accounting Advisory and Policy team in London. The successful candidate will have exposure to all areas of the team’s activities, but with primary responsibility as follows:

Working as part of the Advisory and Policy team, including:

• Business accounting advisory - providing accounting support and advice in respect of transactions and in resolving accounting issues, working with controllers to support business activity and reporting
• Supporting the Teams contributions to industry lobbying efforts, including through the formal and informal comment process on proposed new standards and participation in industry groups.
• Liaison with other locations to ensure consistent application of accounting interpretations on a global basis
• Working alongside other members of the team to consider legal entity and disclosure impacts

Supporting development of the firm’s accounting policies, including:

• Monitoring evolving GAAP and assessing the implications for Morgan Stanley
• Developing and maintaining corporate accounting policies under US GAAP and IFRS
• Provision of technical training and development
• Working as part of the Advisory and Policy team on critical US GAAP change implementation projects within EMEA and IFRS implementation globally.

This role is based in London and will report into an ED within the Accounting Advisory and Policy Team.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience in technical accounting within the financial services industry. The level of understanding required for this role would typically be gained from at least five years? Post-qualification experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across US GAAP and IFRS, together with a commitment to ongoing learning and development across all GAAPs and an understanding of the changing accounting landscape
• Understanding of the financial services industry, its products including in particular investment banking products and the accounting issues to which they give rise, gained through experience of that industry
• Excellent organisational skills to achieve objectives efficiently and maintain a high standard of client service.
• Evidence of working closely across functions and departments and an ability to develop good working relationships both locally and in other locations
• Strong written and spoken communication skills are essential. The role involves writing accounting memoranda that capture the fact pattern, analysis and resolution of technical issues and contributing to the development of accounting policies and guidance tools. Conclusions need to be communicated within accounting policy, as well as to other areas of Finance and other relevant departments within the Firm, including the business and senior management.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fair treatment, regardless of background.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.