Sanctions Controls Business Analytics / Project Manager, Director (AVP equivalent)

Morgan Stanley; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial services firm in Glasgow is seeking a Director for the Sanctions Controls Business Analytics / Project Manager position. This role involves leading cross-functional projects while ensuring compliance with global sanctions regulations. Candidates should possess extensive project management experience, strong analytical skills, and knowledge of sanctions regimes. This full-time position offers a dynamic work environment with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Comprehensive employee benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in Financial Crime Compliance or related project management roles.
• Experience managing complex projects with recognized certifications.
• Strong knowledge of global sanctions and AML compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery.
• Capture and document business requirements and prepare necessary documents.
• Develop dashboards and reports to track KPIs and ensure compliance.

Skills

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication & Organisation

Technical Expertise with Fircosoft

Regulatory Knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or IT

Certifications (CAMS, ACAMS, PMP, PRINCE2)

Tools

SQL

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Sanctions Controls Business Analytics / Project Manager, Director (AVP equivalent)

Glasgow

JR024028

We are seeking someone to join our team as a Sanctions Controls Business Analytics / Project Manager, Director. The Business Analyst / Project Manager will act as a bridge between Compliance, Operations, and Technology teams to ensure effective sanctions screening of transactions using tools such as Firco Continuity, Accuity Compliance Link, Actimize, WorldCheck, and Refinitiv. This role combines business analysis, project management, and subject matter expertise to drive both day-to-day operations and strategic transformation initiatives. The successful candidate will support compliance with global regulatory requirements, optimize screening processes, and deliver on key change programs.

In the Legal & Compliance division, we assist the Firm in achieving its business objectives by facilitating and overseeing the Firm's management of legal, regulatory and franchise risk.

The Sanctions Controls team is a central program management team of specialists and experts responsible for managing complex, cross‑functional initiatives as well as the development, enhancement and governance of technology controls that support the Firm's Sanctions obligations. The remit of the team includes sanctions evasion controls, including name and transaction screening, sanctioned securities controls, and geo‑location monitoring.

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

Project & Change Management

• Lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and budget.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
• Oversee project risks, issues, and dependencies, implementing effective mitigation strategies.
• Support the Product Owner with tracking inflight initiatives and partner with Financial Crimes technology teams.

Requirements Gathering & Documentation

• Capture and document business requirements for enhancements, rule tuning, and system configuration changes.
• Prepare Business Requirement Documents (BRDs), functional specifications, and process flows.
• Manage project backlogs and ensure requirements are prioritized and delivered in line with business needs.

System Optimization & Testing

• Analyse alerts generated by sanctions controls to identify patterns, trends, and root causes of false positives.
• Perform deep‑dive analysis on alert volumes across watchlists (OFAC, EU, UN) and transaction types.
• Review and recommend enhancements to sanctions screening tools and systems.
• Collaborate with technical teams to optimise matching rules and screening configurations.
• Support tuning initiatives to reduce false positives and improve detection accuracy.
• Participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) and validate configuration changes or upgrades.

Reporting, Analytics & Regulatory Compliance

• Develop dashboards and reports to track KPIs, alert volumes, and tuning effectiveness.
• Ensure processes and documentation comply with internal policies and global sanctions regulations.
• Assist in audits and respond to regulatory inquiries with evidence of screening decisions.
• Prepare and submit necessary reports to regulatory bodies and senior management.

What We’re Looking For

• Technical Expertise: Strong working knowledge of Fircosoft products (Firco Continuity, Firco Trust) or equivalent tooling such as WorldCheck, Refinitiv, Actimize, etc., fuzzy matching logic, watchlist management, and alert disposition workflows. Familiarity with SWIFT and ISO 20022 payment formats is a plus.
• Project Management: Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, preferably with recognised project management certifications.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in SQL, Excel, and data visualisation tools (Power BI, Tableau). Ability to analyse large datasets and identify optimisation opportunities.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of global sanctions regimes (OFAC, UN, EU, UK) and AML compliance requirements.
• Communication & Organisation: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder engagement and training delivery, and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Desirable: Exposure to automation tools (e.g., WorkFusion), knowledge of machine learning or AI‑based false‑positive reduction strategies, and experience with regulatory exams and audits.
• Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Information Technology, or a related field. Certifications (e.g., CAMS, ACAMS, PMP, PRINCE2) preferred.
• Experience: 3‑5 years in Financial Crime Compliance, AML Sanctions Screening, or related project management roles within financial services.

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 89 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.

Certified Persons Regulatory Requirements

If this role is deemed a Certified role and may require the role holder to hold mandatory regulatory qualifications or meet 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.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

Equal Opportunity Statement

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunities employer. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximise 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.