Client Tax Operations Compliance Manager

About the role

We're seeking a Tax Compliance Manager in WM Operations to lead a critical global tax compliance program that enables Morgan Stanley's regulatory obligations while supporting business growth, innovation, and emerging initiatives. In the Operations division, we partner with business units across the Firm to support financial transactions, devise and implement effective controls, and develop client relationships. This is a Director Advanced Specialist position at the P4 job level within Risk, Regulatory & Resilience, which performs various independent functions to ensure adequate controls are in place by providing an integrated risk and control framework to govern, assess, mitigate, and manage financial and operational risk in Operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution and ongoing enhancement of the Responsible Officer (RO) Compliance Program supporting FATCA, FFI, QI, and QDD regulatory obligations. Program activities include compliance testing, control assessments, sub-certification collection, issue management, and delivery of Global Tax Compliance Awareness Training.
• Lead the preparation and execution of triennial IRS Responsible Officer certifications, including evaluating compliance program results, coordinating independent reviews, engaging senior stakeholders, and driving consensus on certification conclusions and regulatory submissions.
• Identify, assess, and escalate compliance risks, control gaps, and remediation activities as appropriate.
• Partner with Tax Operations, Tax Legal, Technology, and external stakeholders to strengthen controls and deliver sustainable compliance solutions.
• Assess the impact of new business initiatives, products, and regulatory developments—including digital assets—on the RO Compliance Program, and lead the design and implementation of governance controls and processes necessary to support business growth and ongoing RO compliance obligations.
• Drive strategic initiatives to enhance program effectiveness through process optimization, governance improvements, and automation.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level reporting, metrics, and presentations to senior management and key governance forums.
• Develop staff, lead projects, and control deployment of resources, owning management tools/methods such as work queues, checklists, depth charts, and calendars.
• Set direction and expectations for your team(s), defining training plans and transfer of expert knowledge to contribute to team output and development.
• Contribute to the business plan for the area, establish risk/contingency plans, raise and address issues with urgency when required.
• Build and manage relationships with business unit partners, other Morgan Stanley infrastructure departments, and external contact points in Client or Market organizations.

Requirements

• Strong relationship-building skills serving as a role model for client service.
• Ability to think commercially, understand the impact of initiatives and risks on the operational budget.
• Experience in managing teams, enhancing control, continuous improvement, and reducing operational risk.
• Culture carrier and role model, representing and leading the Firm's core values to influence and motivate those around you.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. tax withholding, reporting, and compliance requirements, including IRS Chapters 3, 4 (FATCA), and 61; familiarity with Qualified Intermediary (QI) and Qualified Derivatives Dealer (QDD) requirements preferred.
• Strong program management skills with experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and delivering against strict deadlines.
• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess risk and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong executive presence with excellent verbal, written, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and CoPilot.
• Experience with data analytics and end-user automation tools (e.g., Power BI, Alteryx) preferred.
• Experience with digital assets, emerging products, or new business initiatives preferred.
• Must obtain Series 99 license if supervising a covered function.
• At least 6 years' relevant experience.

Pay

Expected base pay rates for the role will be $120,000.00–$172,500.00 per year at the commencement of employment. Base pay is determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.