Finance Business Partner

Howard Kennedy; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Finance Business Partner to enhance financial success and operational efficiency. This pivotal role will involve collaboration with fee earners and key stakeholders to achieve strategic goals while ensuring robust financial practices. You will lead initiatives to optimize profitability, manage revenue growth, and streamline financial processes. Join a dynamic team committed to excellence, where your contributions will significantly impact the firm's financial health and operational success. This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified accountant looking to make a difference in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Benefits

25 days annual holiday

Permanent Health Insurance

Life Assurance

Interest-free Season Ticket Loan

Private Healthcare

Pension Scheme

Staff Introductory Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Finance Business Partner in professional services.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to communicate complex data.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teams to drive financial performance and operational improvements.
• Manage Revenue Controller(s) and oversee financial hygiene practices.

Skills

Financial Acumen

Collaboration Skills

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Data Interpretation

Communication Skills

Education

Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACA, ACCA)

Job description

The role

The Finance Business Partner role involves collaborating with fee earners and key stakeholders to ensure the achievement of departmental strategic and financial goals while maintaining strong financial hygiene practices across the business. It offers the opportunity to play a critical role in driving financial success and operational improvements across the firm.

The role sits within the Finance department, with a dotted reporting line to Heads of Departments (HoDs) and the Head of Operations (HoOps). It involves collaboration across various teams, including other areas of Business Services, to drive financial and operational performance. The role includes management of the Revenue Controller(s).

You will be an integral part of driving the success of the respective department forward and will be tasked with effecting demonstrable change in working practices and performance by promoting a best-in-class philosophy and strategic financial decision making.

Role responsibilities

Pricing & profitability

• 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.
• Conduct detailed profitability analysis of clients by work type, team, and department; discuss findings with partners to identify Business Development opportunities.

Revenue growth

• 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), review fee structure with Revenue Controller(s) and assist fee earners with matter management, monitoring WIP against original estimates and raising issues with clients as needed.
• Identify and monitor at-risk WIP to prevent unnecessary write-offs, using dashboards for real-time tracking.
• Assist in reviewing commercial fee arrangements (CFAs) and deferred billing arrangements (DBAs) to ensure commercial viability and support fee earners through the approval process.
• Provide monthly reviews of CFAs and DBAs to the Head of Finance and HoDs.
• Contribute to annual budget and quarterly reforecasting processes to set fees and headcount, aiming to deliver the targeted Gross Profit Margin.
• Compile financial metrics regularly for HoDs to monitor and manage gross profit and contribution, helping them understand their financial performance and address issues.
• Analyze results from biannual WIP write-offs and annual FRS5 valuation exercises, identifying areas for recoverability improvements and working with HoOps and HoDs to implement new processes.
• Assist in streamlining the annual rate-setting process, including developing team/client-specific rates and reviewing all client/matter-specific rates.
• Brief HoDs and HoOps on a weekly and monthly basis.

Smart Working

• Collaborate with fee earners to reduce lock-up days to a minimum of 120, address WIP and debt concerns with Credit Control, and escalate issues to the Head of Finance.
• Investigate and resolve financial queries promptly (within 2 working days).
• Manage ad-hoc finance projects from inception to delivery.
• Assess current processes and reporting practices, identifying opportunities for efficiency gains.
• Support practice management system upgrades, including testing, training, and documentation.

People Management & Development

• Manage Revenue Controller(s), conducting performance reviews and supporting their development.
• Delegate tasks effectively to ensure team efficiency and workflow management.

Risk & Quality

• Oversee the handover process for files from departing fee earners, ensuring proper reassignment of roles and documentation of balances.
• Follow up on residual balances and progress in clearing them.
• Provide training on finance fundamentals to enhance financial awareness across the firm.

About you

• Proven relevant experience as a Finance Business Partner or similar role within a professional services environment.
• Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, ACCA) or equivalent experience.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to interpret and communicate complex data.
• Effective collaboration skills with senior stakeholders, including fee earners and management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and proactive risk/opportunity identification.
• Experience advising on pricing strategies and profitability management.
• Proven leadership and team management abilities.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to prioritize tasks under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting to non-financial audiences.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest-free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

We are a firm with almost 200 lawyers, advising major corporates, institutions, and entrepreneurial enterprises. Our strong reputation is built on our talented team, collaborative culture, and commitment to diversity and professional growth. We offer opportunities for client work, pro bono projects, and social activities in a supportive environment.