Finance Manager

Howell-Jones LLP; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Howell-Jones LLP in the United Kingdom is seeking a Finance Manager to join a hybrid, flexible setup. The role is either full-time or 4 days per week (80%), reporting to the Finance Director and handling financial reporting, controls and business support for a growing professional services firm.

You will drive KPI reporting, budgeting, cashflow and system improvements while supervising the finance team and ensuring compliance with Solicitors Accounts Rules.

Qualifications

• Advanced Excel, Pivot Tables and data analysis are essential.
• Experience supporting or supervising finance staff and knowledge of financial controls.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly KPI, profitability and performance reporting.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Prepare financial analysis to support business decisions.
• Analyse trends and identify areas requiring management attention.
• Support day-to-day finance operations and billing/payment processes.
• Help maintain financial controls and assist with external audits.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Pivot Tables

Data analysis

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Independent work

Education

ACCA or CIMA or ACA part-qualified or qualified

Job description

Join Howell Jones as our Finance Manager

Hybrid. Full Time or 4 Days per Week (80%)

As Howell Jones continues to grow, we’re looking for an experienced Finance Manager to join our team and play a key role in supporting the financial management of the firm.

Reporting to our Finance Director, this is a varied and hands-on position combining financial reporting, operational finance management, process improvement and support for the day-to-day running of the finance team.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys getting into the detail, producing meaningful financial information and helping ensure that financial processes and controls keep pace with the growth of the business.

This role would suit an experienced Finance Manager, Management Accountant or Assistant Financial Controller looking to progress to a broad and varied role within a successful and growing professional services firm. The role will play an important part in ensuring the finance function has the systems, processes and controls required to support the continued growth of the firm.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce monthly KPI, profitability and performance reporting.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Prepare financial analysis to support business decisions.
• Analyse trends and identify areas requiring management attention.

Operational Finance

• Support the day-to-day operation of the finance department.
• Assist in supervising finance team workflows and workloads.
• Act as a point of escalation for finance-related queries.
• Help ensure key deadlines and reporting requirements are met.
• Support billing, purchase ledger, sales ledger and cash management processes.

Financial Controls and Compliance

• Maintain and develop financial controls and procedures.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support compliance with Solicitors Accounts Rules and internal financial policies.
• Assist with preparation for external audits and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure financial records are maintained accurately and consistently.

Cashflow and Working Capital

• Produce cashflow forecasts and reporting.
• Monitor debtor balances, lock-up and working capital performance.
• Support credit control reporting and initiatives.

Systems, Data and Process Improvement

• Produce advanced Excel reporting and analysis.
• Develop and maintain reports using Pivot Tables and Microsoft Query.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, reporting and processes.
• Support automation and efficiency initiatives across the finance function.

Business Support

• Work closely with the Finance Director on strategic and operational projects.
• Provide financial information and analysis to management and partners as required.
• Support the continued development of the finance function as the firm grows.

Person Specification

• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis and reporting and query-based reporting (Microsoft Query or similar tools).
• Experience supporting or supervising finance staff.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• ACCA, CIMA or ACA part-qualified or qualified.
• Experience within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience of legal accounting systems.
• Experience implementing or improving financial controls.
• Experience supporting business growth and change projects.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and self-motivated.
• Commercially aware.
• Process and improvement-focused.
• Collaborative and supportive.
• Confident working in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to balance operational requirements with longer-term improvements.

Howell-Jones LLP is committed to providing equal opportunities and to avoiding unlawful discrimination in employment. We shall ensure that no job applicant shall receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion, disability or age.