We’re seeking someone to join our team as a Director – Payroll Operations to manage end‑to‑end payroll processing and all related statutory, accounting, and compliance activities for India entities. The role requires deep expertise in Indian payroll operations, regulatory compliance, stakeholder management, and vendor coordination, with a strong focus on accuracy, controls, process efficiency, and employee experience.

In the Human Capital Management division, we provide advice and insight to attract, retain, reward and develop a talented global workforce, giving employees the support and tools, they need to succeed. This is a Director level position within the India Payroll team which manages end to end payroll processing and all related statutory, accounting, and compliance activities for India entities.

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: Payroll Processing & Accounting

• Manage end‑to‑end payroll processing for India entities in accordance with internal policies and statutory requirements.
• Generate payroll‑related accounting entries through firm systems for accurate booking of payroll costs.
• Perform monthly review and reconciliation of payroll general ledger accounts and payroll bank reconciliations.
• Ensure timely accrual of payroll and related expenses during calendar year‑end and financial year‑end.

Compliance & Statutory Filings

• Oversee statutory compliances including Provident Fund (PF), Professional Tax (PT), and income‑tax related obligations.
• Review and reconcile PF vouchers and payments, ensuring remittance within statutory due dates and maintaining PF pendency reports.
• Ensure timely filing of monthly and annual Professional Tax returns.
• Coordinate filing of quarterly e‑TDS returns (post internal checks) and generation of Form 16 at the end of the financial year, in collaboration with consultants.
• Support and, where required, lead statutory audits for all India entities, including data compilation, audit coordination, and response to audit queries.

Expatriate & Equity Compensation

• Calculate and manage monthly payroll‑related payments for expatriates on India assignments, in coordination with external tax consultants.
• Manage valuation of ESOP perquisites and oversee issuance of statements upon conversion.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage payroll and related vendors, including regular engagement on process updates, regulatory changes, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Review and ensure timely processing of payroll vendor invoices and other related vendor invoices within agreed timelines.
• Provide payroll‑related data, reports, and support to Finance and other internal stakeholders as required.

Process Excellence & Automation

• Actively participate in and lead payroll automation and process improvement initiatives to strengthen controls, mitigate risks, and drive operational efficiency.
• Continuously enhance payroll processes, documentation, and internal checks to ensure robustness and compliance.

Employee Support & Reporting

• Ensure employee payroll queries are addressed promptly and accurately, with a strong focus on service quality.
• Manage full‑and‑final settlement (FnF) employee lists and recovery communications with relevant teams.
• Provide timely assistance and payroll‑related information to internal teams as per agreed service levels.

Other Responsibilities

• Manage annual investment proof collection and verification processes in coordination with relevant teams.
• Handle one‑time payroll‑related requests and any other payroll assignments as required.

What you'll bring to the role:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Commerce.
• Experience in payroll operations, with strong exposure to Indian payroll processes and statutory compliances.
• Proven experience in managing payroll accounting, audits, and regulatory filings.
• Strong proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint.
• Good analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• At least 8-10 years' relevant experience would generally be expected to find the skills required for this role

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 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.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser.

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.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.