Tax Associate – Transfer Pricing recruitment

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.
In 2000 the Institutional Securities division established an operations team in Glasgow with just 6 employees.  Since then our office has grown to over 1000 employees across 6 divisions: Operations, PWM, Finance, Fund Services, Information Technology and Risk Management.  Our offices are located in Glasgow’s city centre in the heart of the International Financial Services District.
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 Glasgow Finance Division helps senior management and its individual business units manage the firm’s risk by implementing financial controls over our business activities. The division is crucial to safeguarding the firm’s franchise, reporting on current performance, and evaluating business opportunities

Department Summary:

The Morgan Stanley Tax Department encompasses planning, advisory, compliance and investment product tax functions and managing the tax position of the Firm on a global basis. The department is based in several locations, with the primary centres being New York, Chicago and London.

Recognizing that significant benefits could be achieved by creating a dedicated Tax function based in Glasgow, a new team is being established to support global direct tax reporting, compliance and technical analysis needs.

The initial phase will comprise Transfer Pricing (TP) and certain European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and US Tax Compliance and Reporting functions and high calibre individuals are now required to join this team, to assist in the transition of processes and roles to Glasgow and subsequently undertake the functions transferred.

Role:

A Tax associate is required for a varied and challenging role with a dual focus, supporting both the global TP Tax group and also the EMEA Firm Compliance Planning (FCP Tax) group, which is based in London and Glasgow.  

In this role, the candidate will have exposure to legal entity and transfer pricing issues across all of the tax jurisdictions within which MS does business, working together with the TP Tax Group, the TP Control Group, Legal Entity Controllers from a number of Morgan Stanley subsidiaries, and Product Controllers across the Firm.  

In addition, the candidate will work as part of the FCP Tax group, which is responsible for all direct tax returns and audits in the EMEA region together with involvement in internal restructures, Firm acquisitions and Business Unit structures that are on the Firm’s Balance Sheet.  The associate’s primary role is to provide initial tax support for entities within certain EMEA continental jurisdictions and business units.

As an initial member of the Glasgow Tax group, the candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in the development of the function in Glasgow.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Specific duties, other than the participation in the continuing project to further transition and develop the Tax function in Glasgow, comprise:

TP:
• Review and coordinate transfer pricing calculations across all businesses of the firm on monthly – quarterly basis
• Assist in preparation and coordination of transfer pricing documentation.
• Obtain financial data required for the preparation of economic analysis, the cost/services regulation review project, and other analytic reviews/projects
• Coordinate with Transfer Pricing Control and Legal Entity/Business Unit Controllers to ensure Business Unit Cost Centres are appropriately assigned to transfer pricing policies and strategies.

EMEA Reporting and Compliance:
• Preparation of quarterly effective tax rate reporting numbers, as well as the year end tax provision process both for US GAAP group reporting and for UK GAAP/ European GAAP individual company reporting.  
• First review of disclosures in certain overseas financial statements
• Initial review of EMEA tax returns (prepared by advisors)
• US Federal Annual Tax reporting (5471)
• Management of EMEA tax risk and administration e.g. payments and audits

Skills Required
Academic Qualifications / Experience / Required Skills:

• Qualified ACCA/CIMA/CA accountant or qualified by experience
• Previous practical experience of tax accounting under UK GAAP, IFRS and US GAAP preferable
• Highly motivated and able to work in fast-paced environment.   
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to multi-task and be a team player.
• Outstanding attention to detail and follow up
• Applicants should have a record of accomplishment of delivering against tight deadlines
• Experienced user of Omega Wise, Share Point and Microsoft applications, particularly Excel and Access preferred
• Prior transfer pricing experience and/or an understanding of EMEA tax compliance requirements is advantageous but not essential.  

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