Financial Director

Tuckers Solicitors; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Tuckers Solicitors is recruiting a commercially minded, hands-on Finance Director to lead financial operations and drive growth for a National Legal Aid UK firm. The role oversees a finance team across locations, shapes strategic financial planning and partners with the managing partner to set the firm’s commercial direction.

The successful candidate will modernise systems away from Excel, enhance profitability, manage payroll, GL, AP, and cash flow, and ensure SAR/COFA compliance while

Qualifications

• Experience in law firm finance, ideally including exposure to criminal law or legal aid environments.
• Strong mix of strategic finance and hands-on operational tasks (payroll, credit control, AP, GL).
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams across multiple sites.
• Familiarity with HR systems is advantageous.
• Commercially astute, proactive, and collaborative.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver financial strategies to support growth and profitability.
• Improve margins, optimize cost structures and enhance financial performance.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.
• Develop scalable financial processes and systems for expansion.
• Provide commercial insight and data-driven recommendations.
• Ensure SAR compliance and COFA duties.
• Oversee payroll, GL, accounts payable, and cash flow management.
• Lead and mentor a London-based finance team and coordinate across locations.
• Integrate finance with HR systems.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning

Commercial acumen

Team leadership

Excel reporting

Financial controls

Regulatory compliance

Cash flow management

Cross-site collaboration

Job description

An established National Legal Aid UK law firm is seeking a commercially minded, hands-on, 'sleeves-rolled-up' Finance Director to lead financial operations and drive the next phase of growth. The organisation currently relies largely on manual, Excel-based processes and is seeking a finance leader to modernise its systems, improve efficiency, and enhance revenue and profitability.

This role will oversee a finance team, lead strategic financial planning, work closely with the managing partner, and play a key role in shaping the firm’s commercial direction. This will suit an applicant in a Financial Controller position who has reached a glass ceiling or has no prospect of promotion.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Partner with the senior leadership team to design and deliver financial strategies supporting sustainable growth and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, optimise cost structures, and enhance financial performance.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning.
• Develop scalable processes and systems to support expansion.
• Provide commercial insight and data-driven recommendations to influence strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR), and serve as the COFA.

Operational Finance Management

• Manage payroll processing to ensure that it is accurate and compliant with regulations.
• Manage general ledger activity, journal entries, and financial transactions.
• Lead credit control and maintain effective cash flow management.
• Supervise accounts payable, including supplier reconciliations and payments.
• Maintain and enhance Excel-based reporting tools while leading the shift toward more automated systems.
• Support integration between finance and HR systems.
• Lead and mentor a finance team based in London, with collaboration across multiple locations.
• Provide guidance, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of teamwork and operational excellence.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated experience in law firm finance, ideally including exposure to criminal law or legal aid environments.
• Background in both strategic finance and hands-on operational tasks (payroll, credit control, AP, GL).
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams across multiple sites.
• Familiarity with HR systems is advantageous.
• Commercially astute, proactive, and collaborative.