Finance Business Partner

Career Legal; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Finance Business Partner to collaborate with business development teams and assist with profitability management. The ideal candidate will have strong financial acumen and experience within a professional services environment. Responsibilities include reviewing fees, managing financial metrics, and leading teams to enhance performance. This role offers opportunities for personal development in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible benefits package

On-site staff restaurant

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in a Finance Business Partner role.
• Experience as a full or part Qualified accountant.
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex financial data.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with BD team for fee estimates.
• Review client relationships for improved fee structures.
• Provide monthly reviews to Head of Finance.

Skills

Financial acumen

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Excellent communication

Education

CIMA, ACA, ACCA qualification

Job description

Our client is a law firm with origins dating back to the late 1700s; they are now an international law firm with nearly 700 staff located across offices in the UK, Middle & Far East.

They offer a flexible benefits package that includes holidays (buy/sell), pension, gym membership etc. They also have an on-site staff restaurant.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Business Development (BD) team and fee earners to assist with fee estimates for client pitches, ensuring understanding of profitability implications within the fee earning groups
• Review existing client relationships and collaborate with partners to suggest improved fee structures aimed at enhancing profitability
• Work with fee earners to maximise billing, regularly reviewing work in progress (WIP) and obtaining pledge estimates where necessary
• For significant new matters (above £100k), work with the Revenue Controller(s) to review the fee structure and assist fee earners with matter management. This involves monitoring WIP against the original estimate and raising to fee earners when scope and/or fee discussions are required with the client.
• Identify and monitor at risk WIP to prevent unnecessary write-offs, leveraging dashboards for real time tracking
• Assist the Revenue Controller(s) with reviewing commercial fee arrangement (CFAs) and deferred billing arrangement (DBA) proposals to ensure they are commercially viable and assist fee earners with the approval process
• Work with the Revenue Controller(s) to provide a monthly review of CFA's and DBA's to the Head of Finance and HoD.
• Input to the annual budget and quarterly reforecasting processes to set fees and headcount to deliver a Gross Profit Margin as per the business plan
• Regularly compile financial metrics required by HoDs to monitor and manage gross profit and contribution in order to reach their targets. Assist HoDs and Heads of Teams (HoTs) to understand their financial performance, identifying any issues and supporting them to resolve these and deliver exceptional performance
• Analyse results from the biyearly WIP write off and annual FRS5 valuation exercises, identifying areas to improve recoverability and work with HoOps and HoDs to implement new processes to reduce write offs.
• Assist in streamlining the annual rate-setting process, including development of team/client specific rates and review all client/matter specific rates
• Brief HoDs and HoOps on a weekly and monthly basis
• Collaborate with fee earners to reduce lock up days to a minimum of 120, address WIP and debt concerns in conjunction with the Credit Control team and raise issues with the Head of Finance for next steps
• Investigate and resolve financial queries promptly (within 2 working days)
• Manage ad-hoc finance-related projects, from ideation through to requirements gathering, proposal, design and delivery
• Assess current processes and reporting practices, identifying opportunities for greater efficiencies
• Support practice management system upgrading projects, including testing, training and documentation.
• Effectively manage Revenue Controller(s), conduct performance reviews and ensure their positive personal development
• Delegate tasks effectively to allow for team efficiency and good workflow management
• Oversee the handover process for files from fee earners leaving the firm, ensuring proper reassignment of Matter Partners and Client Relationship Partner (CRP) roles and the documentation of WIP, debt and residual balances.
• Follow up with teams about residual balances and progress made to clear balances
• Provide training on finance fundamentals to raise financial awareness and understanding across the firm

The Candidate

• Proven relevant experience in a Finance Business Partner or similar role within a professional services environment
• Experience as either a full or part Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, ACCA)
• Strong financial acumen and ability to interpret data and communicate complex financial data
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of senior stakeholders, including fee earners, business services functions and senior management
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying financial risks and opportunities
• Previous experience advising fee earners on pricing strategies and profitability management in a professional services environment
• Proven ability to manage and lead teams effectively, fostering development and achieving performance goals
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to prioritise multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders

Important Notice

It is Career Legal's policy, as a matter of courtesy, to respond to all applications within three working days. However, because of the volume of applications, we are sometimes unable to respond to individual candidates. If we have not contacted you within three working days your application has been unsuccessful, and your details have not been retained. Please apply for any other position that you may see in the future. Thank you.

Career Legal is a Recruitment Agency and is advertising this permanent vacancy on behalf of one of its clients.

Zowie Melville Director