EMEA Client Onboarding Manager - Director/AVP in Glasgow

We are seeking an experienced Client Onboarding / Transition Management / Client Implementation professional to join the Operations division as a Client Onboarding Manager. This role sits within the Client Onboarding team and focuses on onboarding EMEA clients across Equities products, with particular emphasis on Listed Derivatives and OTC Clearing. You will act as a primary coordinator and problem solver through the end‑to‑end onboarding lifecycle—partnering with Sales & Trading, Credit, KYC, Legal, Documentation, Regulatory and downstream operations teams—to deliver controlled, timely client launches, strengthen the client experience, and continuously improve processes through data, automation and AI‑enabled tooling.

Operations partners with business units across the Firm to support financial transactions, devise and implement effective controls, and develop trusted client relationships. Within this, Client Operations supports key franchises including commercial Derivatives Clearing, Prime Brokerage, ISG Margin and broader Institutional Securities—enabling the Firm’s largest and most sophisticated clients to access new products, markets and services. We work closely with Sales & Trading stakeholders and Technology and Data partners to plan capacity, deliver bespoke solutions and raise service standards. A strong onboarding experience is central to winning and retaining business, and this role is pivotal in ensuring new and expanding client relationships launch smoothly, safely and on schedule.

The Clearing Client Onboarding team partners closely with Institutional Equity Derivatives Sales & Trading and our clients to deliver daily onboarding activity, implement new products and services, and reduce risk through well‑designed processes and controls. We coordinate the many building blocks required to onboard and support cleared and listed derivatives business—spanning legal and documentation setup, credit and risk assessments, client identification and due diligence, market and regulatory readiness, operational and technology entitlements, downstream static data, reporting and client communications.

As a Director‑level Team Specialist, you will be expected to take ownership of complex onboarding outcomes, guide teammates, and proactively identify opportunities to simplify and transform how we deliver onboarding at scale.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary point of contact for Organic and SRM clients onboarding to Listed Derivatives and OTC Clearing, owning the end‑to‑end onboarding lifecycle from kickoff through go‑live.
• Understand existing onboarding scope and requirements (products, markets, entities, account structures and operating model choices).
• Coordinate account and client setup across systems and downstream functions (static data, entitlements, reporting and operational workflows), ensuring accuracy and validation prior to implementation.
• Partner with Sales & Trading, Credit, Risk, Legal and Documentation teams and other stakeholders to align client expectations, confirm target launch dates, and drive predictable delivery.
• Plan and oversee client launch communications (connectivity, reporting, allocations and post‑trade flows where applicable), resolving issues and escalating early.
• Embed strong operational risk discipline: identify and mitigate risks, document decisions/exceptions, maintain evidence, and continuously strengthen controls, checklists and handover practices.
• Engage in continuous process improvements either using traditional process improvements or AI tooling.

Qualifications

• Delivery under pressure: proven ability to manage multiple onboarding workstreams with tight deadlines, maintain control of details, and drive outcomes without compromising risk discipline.
• Prioritisation and ownership: ability to work independently across the majority of day‑to‑day responsibilities, lift effectively, and take accountability for end‑to‑end delivery.
• Clear communication: strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex operational topics into concise updates for senior stakeholders and clients.
• Project and stakeholder management: ability to build structured onboarding plans, manage dependencies, and coordinate across cross‑functional teams to deliver milestones on time.
• Problem solving: strong analytical approach to identifying root cause, evaluating options, and implementing pragmatic solutions that balance client needs, operational readiness and control requirements.
• Continuous improvement mindset: demonstrable interest in improving processes through data, automation and AI‑enabled tools; comfortable partnering with Technology and Data teams to evolve ways of working.
• Leadership and culture: ability to lead by example, provide constructive challenge, coach others, and act as a culture carrier by embracing the Firm’s core values.
• Experience onboarding complex institutional clients (e.g., multi‑entity structures, multiple trading venues/clearing relationships, or cross‑product expansions).
• Familiarity with operating models spanning front‑to‑back workflows, including handoffs to downstream teams and ongoing service management.
• Experience producing and presenting onboarding MI (e.g., pipelines, KPIs, risk and exception reporting) to management audiences.
• Experience contributing to change initiatives such as new product/market launches, regulatory programmes, control uplift, or workflow automation.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience to the role.

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. Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.