AML ( Screening ) - Manager - Fund Services

Morgan Stanley Fund Services (MSFS),
a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley
,
provides fund administration services to the world's leading hedge funds. With over $600 billion in Assets under Administration, the division employs over 1,340 professionals globally, with offices in New York, Dublin, London, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Glasgow, and Bangalore.

The
Investor Services group
(AML – Screening team)
within Morgan Stanley Fund Services prides itself on providing best in class service to both the Hedge Funds and their investors. We leverage the firm's proprietary web-based applications and work closely with hedge fund clients, investors, and other teams within the division.

We are currently seeking a candidate to be a part of the Mumbai AML Screening team. The position is based in Mumbai. These are client facing positions. This team is directly responsible for providing AML/KYC services which involves reviewing of KYC documents, identification of red flags, verifying the source of wealth and source of funds of investors, performing sanctions/negative media screenings, and conducting appropriate due diligence based on the risk score of investors. The role entails a wide range of responsibilities related to investor relations, transactions, compliance, risk mitigation, reporting and communications. It requires attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in overseeing the day-to-day operations related to Screening function, ensuring the efficient and accurate processing of investor AML reviews, reporting, and the delivery of exceptional client service. The role requires a deep understanding of hedge fund operations, AML expertise, Screenings, and strong leadership skills to manage a team while collaborating with various internal and external stakeholders.

This role is pivotal to ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the Investor Services Operations, requiring a combination of leadership, operational expertise, and client management skills.

• Shift Timing: 5:30 PM to 3:30 AM (Night Shift working hours)

Background on the Team
The AML Screening team is responsible for performing following functions:

• Negative News [NNS] and Politically Exposed Persons [PEP] Screening - the process of screening investors, their directors & beneficial owners against news media articles / politically exposed person (PEP) lists on regular basis to negate any potential AML / franchise risk associated with doing business with them.
• Sanctions Screening - the process to identify whether the investors, their directors & beneficial owners is prohibited under trade or economic sanctions lists, and / or may pose money laundering or any related risk to the firm.

Here is a breakdown of key tasks and responsibilities typically associated with this role:

• Operational Management:
• Part of the AML - Screening team, ensuring efficient processing of investor transactions, fund subscriptions, redemptions, and transfers.
• Performance of detailed screening and or ongoing sanction, adverse news & PEP reviews utilizing available tools, various third-party and internal databases
• Perform name screenings [NNS, PEP, Sanction] of real time hits for potential sanctions matches to designated sanctions targets and prohibited persons lists, violations as per the internal and external watchlists.
• Effectively investigate, document, and write dispositions with clear rationale substantiating the decision about the match being positive or false.
• Identify anomalies, use judgment for to determine if case needs to be escalated for further investigation and querying additional details, in order to make a more informed decision about the match.
• Ensure accurate, complete, and up-to-date internal documentation to provide evidence of decisions and reasoning based on the facts and the potential ML/FT risk identified.
• Ensure that the alerts processed are accurate and completed within the specified time period.
• Follow operational procedures on sanctions alert handling for all alert types, including documenting the decision rationale. Speed and accuracy of decision making is essential.
• Escalate alerts that may raise any potential reporting requirements and/or to the Morgan Stanley Global Financial Crimes team (GFC).
• Communicate with clients/investors when further information is required as part of reviewing against sanctions lists.
• Provide inputs in order to refine automated sanctions screening risk methodology, reduce false positives, mitigate sanctions risks and improve customer experience.
• Produce and review MIS and other internal operational reports that assist in the effective operation of the team.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring timely and accurate processing of investor screenings, inquiries, and requests.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance the investor experience.
• Manage the investor onboarding screening process, including the setup of new accounts and verification of investor information.
• Maintaining effective, professional operational relationships with management and colleagues in other functional teams to ensure that we deliver a unified service to our clients.
• Foster a positive and productive team environment to meet organizational goals.
• Keeping management in Mumbai, Westchester and Dublin appraised of operational issues in a timely manner.
• Work closely with senior management to ensure high impact client delivery is produced in day-to-day operations and keep them apprised of any issues.
• Ensuring that line management are made aware of any HR or individual performance issues in a timely manner.
• Client Relationship Management:
• Act as a primary point of contact for institutional clients, regarding AML - Screening inquiries, ensuring their needs are met and address any escalated issues.
• Ensure high levels of client satisfaction by delivering consistent, high-quality services.
• Manage the resolution of complex investor inquiries or disputes, working closely with other departments as needed.
• Maintaining confidentiality of client information provided due to the nature of their role.
• Maintain effective, professional operational relationships with clients.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including investors, fund managers, and internal teams.
• Compliance and Risk Management:
• Ensure all AML - Screening operations comply with relevant regulatory and legal requirements.
• Monitor operational risks and take proactive steps to mitigate any issues related to compliance, accuracy, or fraud.
• Ensure that line management, risk team/senior management are made aware of any AML/KYC - Screening issues in a timely manner. This will include escalating for action as well as escalating for outcome.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of clients, industry regulations, compliance standards, and market trends.
• Reviewing procedure documents and updating it with any new regulatory changes.
• Take ownership for the effective communication and resolution of issues.
• Ensure that line management are made aware of any operational issues in a timely manner. This will include escalating for action as well as escalating for information.
• Play a central role in the resolution of the specific issue, drafting of incident reports and in reporting to the line management.
• In conjunction with line management, communicate the initial issue and ongoing status to the risk team/senior management.
• Play a role in ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to prevent a recurrence (e.g. employee training, procedural changes, system enhancements, etc.)
• Process improvement and Operational Efficiency:
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the AML/KYC team to enhance operational efficiency reduce errors, enhance the investor experience and service quality.
• Work closely with technology teams to automate and streamline processes where possible.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide reports on operational performance to senior leadership.
• Ensure that all activity is processed in line with the fund documentation, anti-money laundering requirements, statutory regulations and company policies and procedures.
• Act as a contact point and escalation to the Vice President for AML/KYC related activity.
• Ensure that KYC records of the investors are maintained in a complete and organized manner.
• Produce and review internal and external AML/KYC reports that assist in the effective operation of the team.
• Manage the investor onboarding process, including the setup of new accounts and verification of investor information.
• Ensure that each work product is supported with work instructions and other guidance material to make deliverable both efficient and reliable in quality.
• Maintaining effective, professional operational relationships with management and colleagues in other functional teams to ensure that we deliver a unified service to our clients.
• A strong knowledge of our internal policies and procedures.
• Team Leadership and Development:
• Lead, train, motivate, mentor, and develop a team of AML professionals.
• Communicate team objectives, demonstrate sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ensure that individual team members are aware of the policies, controls and procedures that apply to their role.
• Foster a positive and productive team environment to meet organizational goals.
• Identify areas for skill development.
• Building AML process instructions for each topic that help new hires understand the process faster.
• Work closely with senior manager to ensure high impact client delivery is produced in day-to-day operations.
• Managing the delivery of services to clients against a pre-agreed service level agreement.
• Providing oversight and guidance to their team.
• Providing AML expertise and help to resolve issues arising from AML process.
• Should be able to determine risk-based approach and accordingly advise the team to process AML reviews.
• Ensuring that their team delivers services in a timely, accurate and compliant manner.
• Ensuring that the team has appropriate cover in place to cope with annual and ad-hoc leaves.
• Develop and maintain rapport with peers, colleagues, and offshore counterparts.
• Providing a point of escalation to team leaders and other team members as appropriate.
• Keeping management appraised of operational issues in a timely manner.
• Ensuring that line management are made aware of any HR or individual performance issues in a timely manner.
• Reporting and Analytics:
• Prepare and present detailed reports on AML - Screening operations to senior management, highlighting key performance metrics and any issues that may require attention.
• Analyze operational trends and provide insights to enhance service delivery and reduce inefficiencies.
• Provide regular reports on team performance, AML assignments, client/investor feedback and satisfaction, and other key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Drive data cleansing to ensure all the data and reports are accurate, complete & consistent.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Ensure timely and appropriate follow ups on pending items and update systems accordingly.
• Investigate fully, and where necessary ask probing questions to ensure that the issue is understood, and guardianship maintained.
• Preparation of various MIS/ PPT reports for internal monitoring and reporting the MIS to senior management.
• Daily Status presentation along with relevant backups and action plan.
• Drive efficiency through excel based functions and data tools, for Auto Allocation of activities based on the priority, SLAs, and capacity of each team.
• Preparing and reviewing, timesheet, labor studies, FTE Utilization across teams and clients for better staffing.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
• Work closely with other departments (e.g., IT, AML/KYC, Investor Relations, Documentation, Global Financial Crimes, Risk, Accounting) to resolve issues and optimize service offerings.
• Collaborate with the client facing, accounting, conversion, IT teams to address client concerns and ensure the smooth onboarding of new investors.
• Assist in the development of new tools, frameworks & services for enhancing AML systems by providing operational insights.
• Qualifications, Technical Skills & Experience:
• Master's Degree / MBA in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. Preferably in a business or numerical discipline.
• Certification in a professional association such as the Association of Certified Anti- Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) would be helpful.
• 6-8+ years of AML/KYC - Screening experience within a regulated financial services firm / Fund administration, or a similar operational role within financial services.
• A strong knowledge of global AML regulations (as it pertains to funds would be advantageous).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to build strong client and investor relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and other data management tools; experience with financial software is a plus.
• A strong knowledge of global AML regulations (as it pertains to funds would be advantageous).
• Good administrative and organizational skills with a particular focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
• Good team player and ability to work independently with little supervision but also knows when to seek help and escalate issues where necessary.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to build strong client and investor relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and other data management tools; experience with financial software is a plus.
• An ability to work under pressure and an ability to cope with increased workloads at month-end.
• Skillset:
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Experience with process automation and efficiency improvement initiatives.
• Good administrative and organisational skills with a particular focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
• An ability to work and lead under pressure, lead as part of focused globally team and an ability to cope with increased workloads at month-end.
• Prior experience in hedge fund operations, AML/KYC, Screening, or a similar financial services role is preferred.
• Well verse with KYC documentary requirements as per Simplified Due Diligence (SDD), Client Due Diligence (CDD), and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) standards.
• Knowledge of financial regulations (e.g., AML/KYC) is preferred.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on process optimization, ability to understand complex client exceptions, offerings, transactions.
• An ability to work as part of a virtual team that is spread across different time zones and geographies.
• Ability to use key financial systems and other IT tools.
• Strong knowledge of financial products, markets, and AML/KYCs operations.
• Proven leadership skills and experience managing a team.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements related to AML/KYCs (e.g., SEC regulations, anti-money laundering).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and generate reports.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with AML/KYCs platforms or CRM tools.
• Work Environment:
• The role is typically office-based, with potential for flexible work arrangements depending on the company's policy.

Good To Have

• Excel basics - Must have
• Advance excel skills - Fundamentals of VBA - Must have
• VBA coding - Good to have
• Any Digital tool experience (Alteryx , Tableau, Xceptor, Power BI, etc)- Good to have
• Comfortable with Microsoft office: Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Share point, Access

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.

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.

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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.