IBD - Operations Manager - Expense Management

Team Profile

The IBD/GCM Expense Management Team is responsible for all Expense Management matters for Investment Banking (IBD) and Global Capital Markets (GCM) in 16 offices within 15 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Expense Management is primarily comprised of auditing and approving employee expense reports vendor invoices, client entertainment, gifts and travel. Expense Management produces reporting and trend analysis for management and stakeholders.

The team environment is dynamic with volumes driven by business activity and a focus on customer service, which requires connectivity to the office during off hours, weekends and holidays as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic operations manager to join an established team. The candidate will support and manage strategic tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the Expense Management function and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency in the operation and enhance the team's performance whilst fostering a collaborative environment.

The candidate should demonstrate competency with oversight of financial information and budgets. Ensure adherence to internal financial controls, external audits, and regulatory controls, anticipate problems and resolve issues independently in the absence of direct manager.

Client-centric skills including patience, motivation, and good listening skills together with confident judgment and decision making are essential as the role pivots around solving issues raised by internal clients. Analyse the business needs and faster collaboration between stakeholders to solve problems and make decisions in the organization's best interests.

Requirement to oversee colleagues during the execution of tasks and experience managing or partnering with offshore teams would be valued.

Other key responsibilities

• Service improvement: gather feedback to enhance and optimize service delivery.
• Conflict resolution: manage and resolve escalations.
• Client Communications: serve as a point of contact for clients on expense management services ensuring transparent approval process.
• Educate clients on Travel and Expense policies and process.
• Strong knowledge of Travel and Expense software.
• Familiarity of compliance regulations and financial audit requirements.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work cross functionally and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients addressing concerns and providing guidance.

Skills Required

• Strong analytical skills and critical thinking combined with a strategic mind set.
• Strong people management skills - able to motivate, direct and empower team members through ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Strong team player - able to contribute to a team environment that balances individual initiative and team accomplishments.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and in a team environment.
• Solid track record driving process improvements enhancing team performance and optimising financial workflows.
• Client-centricity - ability to establish rapport with internal clients so they feel that they have a "personal" relationship with the team.
• Strong professional skills - recognized for product/functional knowledge and execution.
• Excellence - able to identify opportunities to optimize a team's talents and an ability to contribute to efficiency.
• Innovation - able to identify creative solutions in the face of complex problems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential.
• Good listening, motivation, and communication skills
• Committed to delivery of highest quality work product; strong attention to detail.
• Proactive, self-motivated and goal oriented.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Background in organising, updating documentation/policies/procedures
• Proven experience working with Senior Management
• Flexible approach to tasks and hours in order to satisfy the needs of the business.
• Big picture perspective
• Curiosity
• Experience of managing and/or collaborating with offshore teams.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages and expense management software skills desirable.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 85 years. At our foundation are five core values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - that guide our more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you'll find trusted colleagues, committed mentors and a culture that values diverse perspectives, individual intellect and cross-collaboration. We Firm is differentiated by the caliber of our diverse team. While our company culture and commitment to inclusion define our legacy and shape our future, helping to strengthen our business and bring value to clients around the world. Learn more about how we put this commitment to action: morganstanley.com/diversity. 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.

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

Certified Persons Regulatory Requirements:
If this role is deemed a Certified role and may require the role holder to hold mandatory regulatory qualifications or the minimum qualifications to meet internal company benchmarks.

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.

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.