Financial Controller

Career Legal; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal is recruiting a Finance Controller for a 12 month contract in central London. The role leads the firm’s accounting services, ensuring robust controls, budgeting and reporting.

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant with a track record of managing teams within a legal environment. Responsibilities include WIP and billing management, year-end audits, cashflow forecasting, and producing management information for partners and budget holders.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with 5 years PQE in the legal sector.
• Good understanding of Solicitors’ Accounts Rules.
• VAT and partnership tax knowledge.
• Experience managing and developing a team.
• Advanced MS Excel skills.
• SQL reporting skills.
• Experience preparing financial statements and managing audits.

Responsibilities

• Maintain proper accounting records of the LLP and Service Company.
• Ensure financial controls are in place and adhered to.
• Identify and address financial risks and opportunities.
• Manage lock up by driving WIP management, billing, and collection.
• Meet with budget holders to prepare annual budgets and to analyse, review and forecast their business areas.
• Review and publish monthly management accounts and associated reports within agreed timescales.
• Review and publish cashflow and P&L forecasts.
• Production and distribution of other ad hoc management information.
• Conduct profitability analysis at team, client and matter level.
• Analyse and model new initiatives and scenarios.
• Review and provide financial information for legal press surveys, new business pitches, panel reviews and other marketing purposes.
• Oversee all other internal and external reporting delivered by the finance team.
• Manage, support, train and develop the finance team.
• Design and deliver best practice training to fee earners (including partners).
• Work closely with the Systems Accountant, IT department and other support departments to design and deliver solutions, automating where possible.

Skills

Team management

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Tools

MS Excel

SQL reporting

Job description

Our client is a medium sized with just over 100 fee earners, specialising in Corporate and Property law. They are based in prestigious offices in the heart of London’s Mayfair.

They are looking to recruit a Finance Controller on a 12 month contract. The successful candidate will be responsible for the planning, managing, operating and controlling of the firm’s accounting services. The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant and have experience of managing and developing a team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain proper accounting records of the LLP and Service Company
• Ensure financial controls are in place and adhered to
• Identify and address financial risks and opportunities
• Manage lock up by driving activity on WIP management, billing, and collection
• Meet with budget holders to prepare annual budgets and to analyse, review and forecast their business areas
• Review and validate office and client payments
• Manage the year-end financial audit
• Review and publish monthly management accounts and associated reports within agreed timescales
• Review and publish cashflow and P&L forecasts
• Production and distribution of other ad hoc management information
• Conduct profitability analysis at team, client and matter level
• Analyse and model new initiatives and scenarios
• Review and publish the annual statutory accounts and corporation tax returns
• Review and provide financial information for legal press surveys, new business pitches, panel reviews and other marketing purposes
• Oversee all other internal and external reporting delivered by the finance team
• Manage, support, train and develop the finance team
• Design and deliver best practice training to fee earners (including partners)
• Work closely with the Systems Accountant, IT department and other support departments to design and deliver solutions, automating where possible
• Continually appraise existing systems and processes and lead on any change initiatives required
• Review and update policies and guidance notes

Candidate Profile

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with 5 years PQE gained within the legal sector
• A good understanding of the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules
• Good knowledge of VAT and partnership tax
• Experience of managing and developing a team
• Advanced MS Excel skills
• SQL reporting skills would also be an advantage
• Experience of preparing financial statements and managing audits