Legal Finance Manager

Tlt Llp; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A large law firm in Bristol is seeking a Legal Finance Manager on a full-time, fixed-term basis. This role is vital for managing operations of Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Billing while supporting a project to upgrade the finance system. Key responsibilities include managing team schedules, approving payments, and ensuring effective cashflow management. Ideal candidates should have legal finance experience in a leadership role and strong communication skills. Competitive salary and benefits offered, with a focus on hybrid working.

Benefits

25 days holiday (increases to 30 with service)

Private medical insurance

Competitive salary with annual pay review

Qualifications

• Legal finance experience in a management or team leader position.
• Strong teamwork ethic and adaptability.
• Competence in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve all out-of-policy travel spend.
• Authorize all payment runs for the Purchase Ledger team.
• Update daily cashflow forecasts with expected income and expenditure.
• Conduct monthly reviews and manual reconciliations of sole accounts.

Skills

Legal finance experience

Team leadership

Communication skills

Adaptability

Problem-solving

Microsoft Excel

Tools

SOS (Solicitors Own Software)

Job description

We are seeking a Legal Finance Manager to join our Operational Finance team based in our Bristol office. This role is being offered on a full time, fixed term basis. Reporting directly to the Head of Operational Finance, you will work closely with managers across all finance functions to ensure the smooth day‑to‑day running of Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Billing, Credit Control, and Supplier Payments. This role is critical in maintaining business‑as‑usual operations while supporting the team managers as they focus on a major project to replace our current finance system. As Legal Finance Manager, you will take ownership of a wide range of operational and leadership tasks. This is a rare opportunity to gain exposure to all areas of finance operations within a large law firm, as such, a strong sense of prioritisation and flexibility are a must for the successful candidate.

Responsibilities

• Travel Approvals - Review and approve/reject all out‑of‑policy travel spend and inter‑office travel.
• Payment Approvals - Authorise all payment runs for the Purchase Ledger team via Barclays.net.
• Rota Planning - Manage weekly team schedules to ensure full coverage.
• Cashflow Management - Update daily cashflow forecasts with expected income and expenditure.
• Bank Reconciliations - Complete daily reconciliations and post standing orders/direct debits.
• Client Account Reconciliations - Perform and sign off monthly reconciliations.
• Performance Reporting - Prepare monthly stats, KPIs, and financial control reports.
• Risk & Finance Reporting - Collate PowerPoint slides for partner meetings.
• Receipts Review - Monitor third‑party payor receipts and act as escalation point.
• Trust Account Oversight - Conduct monthly reviews and manual reconciliations of sole accounts.
• Team Oversight - Manage Topdesk ticketing system across all teams.
• Debt Management - Review "no chase" debt list and oversee monthly debt provisions.
• Credit Control Reporting - Ensure accurate end‑of‑day reporting.
• Policy Queries - Handle queries related to debt retention policy and reporting.
• Billing Management - Oversee complex billing queries, attend issue‑resolution meetings, and manage month‑end billing cycles, including prioritisation and resourcing.
• E‑Billing - Oversee the E‑billing ledger and attend monthly meetings.
• Revenue Control - Oversee the Revenue Controllers, produce monthly KPIs and track progress.

Qualifications

• Legal finance experience in a management/team leader position
• Have worked on SOS (Solicitors Own Software) finance platform advantageous
• Able to use own initiative, have strong teamwork ethic, be adaptable and flexible
• Be competent in all Microsoft office applications, specifically excel
• Work well under pressure and to tight deadlines whilst managing multiple tasks
• Have strong communication skills and be able to communicate at all levels
• Be a strong leader with an ability to coach and support a team both in person and remotely
• Be able to think laterally to solve problems within an evolving finance team

Fast paced, fast growing and forward thinking, TLT is the law firm that helps clients stay one step ahead, and we do the same for our people. We work with high profile clients in innovative sectors. With local, national and international reach, we have over 1,800 people in offices across the UK and a network of partner firms across Europe, India and the US. TLT was named Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2023. This marks the third year in a row the firm has taken away this accolade in industry awards - having previously been named Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards in 2021 and the British Legal Awards in 2022. Our purpose is to protect, prepare and progress our clients for what comes next and it's essential that we do the same for our people, our planet and our communities too. In our open and collaborative culture, we encourage everyone to be their whole self, to have a voice and to contribute.

We value our employees highly and we want you to feel valued. You'll receive a competitive salary with an annual pay review. You will also have access to an extensive range of benefits via our flexible benefits scheme including 25 days holiday (which will increase to 30 days based upon length of service) and private medical insurance. At TLT we have a progressive fully flexible working approach. We empower our people to work in a place and at a time that meets their needs, those of their clients and of the wider team and firm. Part of this agile approach is a focus on hybrid working and supporting the work/life balance of our people.