Finance Director – Chippenham

Wagstaff Recruitment; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Chadwick Nott in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is seeking a Finance Director to join the leadership team of a growing law firm. You will lead all financial management, regulatory compliance and long-term planning, working closely with the Board and COFA.

The role requires ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification and extensive UK law-firm finance experience, with strong commercial awareness and leadership capabilities to drive profitability.

Qualifications

• Significant finance leadership experience within a UK law firm.
• Extensive knowledge of legal accounting, client accounts and SRA Accounts Rules.
• Experience operating at senior management or Board level.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience of legal practice management systems, payroll software and advanced Excel.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate a team.
• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification; regulatory compliance experience.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering the firm’s financial strategy in line with business objectives
• Providing financial insight and strategic guidance to the Board and senior leadership team
• Preparing budgets, forecasts and long-term financial plans
• Producing monthly management accounts and key financial reporting
• Managing cash flow, liquidity and working capital
• Overseeing payroll, pension contributions, VAT returns and tax-related requirements
• Coordinating year-end accounts and external audits
• Ensuring compliance with SRA Accounts Rules and regulatory obligations
• Overseeing client account management and financial controls
• Supporting the COFA and maintaining compliant financial procedures
• Monitoring profitability, WIP, lock-up, billing performance and debtor management
• Delivering financial analysis to support operational and commercial decision-making
• Working closely with Partners to improve business performance across departments
• Leading, mentoring and supporting the finance team
• Providing hands-on support with legal cashiering functions when required

Skills

Finance Leadership

UK Law Firm

SRA Rules

Board Reporting

Analytical Thinking

Stakeholder Mgmt

Excel Proficiency

Payroll & Tax

Practice Management

Education

ACCA/CIMA qualified

Tools

Legal accounting software

Payroll software

Excel (Advanced)

Job description

Finance Director

Chippenham, Wiltshire

Competitive salary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Finance Director to join the leadership team of a well-established and growing law firm.

This is a key strategic appointment, offering the opportunity to play a central role in shaping the firm’s financial direction while working closely with the Board and senior stakeholders. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading all aspects of the firm’s financial management, regulatory compliance and financial planning, helping to drive continued growth and profitability.

The role requires a commercially focused finance professional with significant experience within the legal sector and a strong understanding of the regulatory framework governing law firms, including the SRA Accounts Rules.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering the firm’s financial strategy in line with business objectives
• Providing financial insight and strategic guidance to the Board and senior leadership team
• Preparing budgets, forecasts and long‑term financial plans
• Producing monthly management accounts and key financial reportingManaging cash flow, liquidity and working capital
• Overseeing payroll, pension contributions, VAT returns and tax‑related requirements
• Coordinating year‑end accounts and external audits
• Ensuring compliance with SRA Accounts Rules and regulatory obligations
• Overseeing client account management and financial controls
• Supporting the COFA and maintaining compliant financial procedures
• Monitoring profitability, WIP, lock‑up, billing performance and debtor management
• Delivering financial analysis to support operational and commercial decision‑making
• Working closely with Partners to improve business performance across departments
• Leading, mentoring and supporting the finance team
• Providing hands‑on support with legal cashiering functions when required

The successful candidate will ideally be ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, although applicants with substantial legal sector finance experience will also be considered.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Significant finance leadership experience within a UK law firm
• Extensive knowledge of legal accounting, client accounts and SRA Accounts Rules
• Experience operating at senior management or Board level
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Experience of legal practice management systems, payroll software and advanced Excel
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate a team

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior legal finance professional seeking a strategic leadership role with real influence over the future direction of a successful law firm.

At Chadwick Nott, we are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive culture as well as supporting our large client network achieve the same. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications of all qualified candidates regardless of their age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, disability, culture or anything other personal characteristic. We champion and celebrate diversity in the workplace. Where a level of experience is indicated, please note that this is only a guideline.

Job Tenure: Permanent and Full‑Time
Salary: Negotiable
Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire