Partnership Accountant

Fieldfisher; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Dental insurance

Life assurance

Critical illness insurance

Matched pension contributions up to 7%

Holiday trading

Job summary

Fieldfisher’s Belfast office is seeking a Management/Partnership Accountant to support the partnership finance function across the firm. You will manage partner distributions, capital accounts, and retirement calculations, ensuring accurate reconciliations and timely payments.

You will produce monthly management accounts, assist with VAT returns, and support statutory accounts and audits. A qualified accountant with strong Excel skills and experience in legal/services is ideal.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• Experience in a global organisation, preferably legal/professional services.
• Conscientious, accurate and methodical approach to work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to communicate with partners and staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage partner distributions, earnings, and monthly drawings with accurate reconciliations and timely payments.
• Oversee partner capital accounts including contributions, loans, repayments and reconciliations.
• Prepare retirement calculations, resignation schedules, and earnings confirmations for partners.
• Support monthly management accounts, VAT returns, and year-end statutory accounts and audits.

Skills

Partner accounting

Financial reporting

VAT compliance

Management accounts

Audit support

Communication with partners

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Vacancy

The Firm

Fieldfisher is an ambitious and growing European law firm providing commercial solutions across a range of industry sectors. Servicing an impressive client base that includes big name brands and international businesses, the firm has over 250 partners, 700 other lawyers and nearly 600 support staff across offices in the UK and Internationally. The firm's revenue for 2024/25 was over £360 million.

Responsibilities

The role will sit within the accounts department in our Belfast office. The remit of the team is to support all non-tax aspects of the firm's partnership accounting/partner finance function across the territories in which the firm operates. This includes the calculation and payment of partners\' profit share (drawings & distributions), the management of partnership capital, and partnership capital loans. It will also involve assisting in the production of monthly management accounts, reconciliations of partner control accounts, regulatory financial requirements such as VAT returns and surveys, continued development of financial reporting and preparation of the firm\'s statutory accounts and supporting schedules ready for the annual audit.

• Manage partner distributions, earnings, and monthly drawings, ensuring accurate reconciliations, journals, statements, and timely payments.
• Oversee partner capital accounts, including annual capital contributions, loans, repayments, and account reconciliations.
• Act as the primary liaison with banks and legal advisers regarding partner capital loan arrangements and documentation.
• Own partner joiner, mover, and retiree processes, ensuring smooth onboarding and offboarding transitions.
• Prepare retirement calculations, resignation schedules, earnings confirmations, and financial reports for partners.
• Manage and reconcile partner-related financial records, including benefits, CAF contributions, and general ledger accounts.
• Support the monthly management accounts process, collaborating with UK and international finance teams.
• Complete quarterly VAT returns and assist with year-end statutory accounts, audits, and partner reporting requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement of finance processes and internal controls, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and best practice.
• Serve as the main point of contact for partner profit, capital, and tax-related queries, while supporting ad hoc projects and analysis.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience of working as a Management or Partnership Accountant
• Previous experience in a global organisation, preferably legal/professional services
• Must be a qualified accountant either ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• Experienced with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and ability to adapt to unfamiliar software packages
• Good experience of seeking and implementing ways to improve on current processes
• Must have a conscientious, accurate and methodical approach to work
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, e.g. articulate when communicating to partners and key staff
• Can demonstrate strong relationship building skills with ability to deal with partners, fee earners and clients at all levels.
• A team player with a flexible and pro-active approach to work with the ability to work autonomously

Other Attributes

• Attention to detail
• Excellent planning and organising skills - able to handle multiple tasks
• Numerate

• Shows commitment to the role and team
• Pro-active mentality

• Displays a willingness to learn and actively seeks new work and challenges

• Takes personal responsibility for maintaining personal development

• Professional and credible in attitude and appearance

• Prepared to work overtime during peak periods

Who are we looking for?

• We don\'t have a type. We believe our differences are our strength; varied cultures, approaches and experience can only benefit us.

What do we offer?

• You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. We\'re a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
• In the office or WFH?: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.
• Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: Reward & Benefits / Fieldfisher.
• Modern Office Space: Located on Adelaide Street in Belfast City Centre, with excellent commuter links and parking nearby.
• Nurturing your talent: ake a \u0027build a career\u0027 approach to your training. You\'ll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you\'d like to study more closely.
• Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.

Inclusion at Fieldfisher

At Fieldfisher, inclusion is central to how we work. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to succeed.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or once you join us, we will work with you to put the right support in place. Examples include extra time for assessments, accessible document formats, alternative interview formats, quiet rooms, or physical and technological accessibility support.

For information about the accessibility features of our Belfast office, please visit Fieldfisher Belfast Office Accessibility Information

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