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

We are seeking a Sanctions Controls Business Analytics / Project Manager, Director to act as a bridge between Compliance, Operations, and Technology teams, ensuring 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.

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 in-flight 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 Are Looking For

• Typically, 5+ years’ relevant experience would generally be expected to find the skills required for this role.
• 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 visualization 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 & Organisational Skills: 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: Bachelors 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 – 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 on 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 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 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.