Partner Finance Accountant

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global law firm is seeking a Partner Finance professional in London. The role focuses on delivering exemplary financial services to partners, managing partner remuneration, and overseeing finance processes. Applicants should be qualified accountants or tax advisers with significant experience in legal or corporate environments and a keen attention to detail.

Benefits

Strong benefits package

Bonus scheme

Qualifications

• 5 years professional partnership experience in legal or corporate organisations.
• High level of accuracy in financial tasks.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise Tax & Partner Finance Assistant.
• Preparation of partner remuneration and capital management.
• Field queries from key stakeholders and ensure efficient reporting.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication

Service orientation

Education

Qualified accountant

Tax adviser

Job description

• To ensure Partner Finance delivers a consistent, seamless service to partners globally.
• To develop Partner Finance systems and controls, including greater use of consistent process and technology.

The Opportunity

Primary Responsibilities:

Global Partner Finance

Assisting the Partner Finance Manager:

• To ensure Partner Finance delivers a consistent, seamless service to partners globally.
• To develop Partner Finance systems and controls, including greater use of consistent process and technology.

Core responsibilities

Supervisory aspects

• Supervision of Tax & Partner Finance Assistant in relation to their Partner Finance responsibilities.
• Help contribute to a collegial, supportive and enjoyable environment in which to work where team members feel they are being developed to enhance their contribution to the Firm.
• Provide coaching and support to new and existing team members.

Partner payments

Preparation of relevant workings and paperwork required to deliver Partner remuneration efficiently.

Ensuring all payments to ROW partners are made in a coordinated and timely manner and have been subject to appropriate approval. This includes:

• Monthly drawings
• Recording and communicating the lock-up incentive scheme results
• Quarterly drawings
• Distributions

Partner Capital

Administering and reconciling partner capital. This includes:

• Maintaining capital information packs/forms
• Administering the annual capital call
• Issuing capital information packs to lateral and promotion candidates
• Reconciliation of the banks' interest charge
• Calculation of the additional entitlement
• Maintaining the monthly reconciliation

Cashflow forecasts

• Preparation and distribution of individual cashflow statements for partners.
• Provision of timely, accurate information for management - for example, distribution forecasts and partner cash flow forecasts

Monthly reconciliations, reports & surveys

Preparation of;

• Member Drawings & Current Account Reconciliations
• Member Equivalent Drawings & Current Account Reconciliations
• Sundry Debtor Reconciliation
• Benefits & Allowances Reconciliation
• Foreign exchange and system currency journals
• Payment Schedule for Banking

Provision of partner statistics to stakeholders

Surveys

Maintaining partner information in Workday

Other Partner Finance responsibilities

Processing partner recharges including

• CIGNA
• Life assurance
• PHI
• Critical illness cover
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Gym membership
• LLP Fund

Documenting and administering partner foreign exchange elections

Administering ad-hoc payments (e.g. sabbatical, allowances, capital repayments)

Fielding queries from key stakeholders

Year end

• Preparation and distribution of individual current account statements for partners and associated loan notes
• Provision of information to TRPC team for UK tax computation in relation to unpaid salaries
• Fielding audit queries
• Preparation of the member allowances journals

Processes & Controls

• Ongoing evaluation of best practice and identify operational improvements in Partner Finance team processes.

Finance & Accounting

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with Business Finance stakeholders.
• Consideration of local accounting, group accounting and related tax, foreign exchange and partner remuneration issues.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Fulfilment of the Partner Finance team's obligations in an efficient and timely manner.
• Timely dissemination of information to relevant stakeholders
• Accuracy of information provided

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Qualified accountant and/or tax adviser
• 5 years professional partnership experience working in legal or large corporate organisations
• Attention to detail with a high level of accuracy
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise

Competencies

• Attention to detail with a high level of accuracy;
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise;
• Ability to cope with conflicting demands and meet deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills and proactive management of stakeholder expectations;
• Enthusiastic, positive and committed team member;
• Excellent service orientation skills;
• Ability to use initiative and be pro-active;
• Intelligent and commercially minded.

Team
Business Finance

Working Pattern

Full time

Location
London

Contract type
Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values-Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

• £80000 - £95000 per annum + strong co bens and bonus scheme
• £80000 - £95000 per annum + strong co bens and bonus scheme