Partnership Accountant

Career Legal; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in London seeks a Senior Partnership Accountant. This role involves preparing management accounts, assisting with financial reporting, and working closely with financial stakeholders. The ideal candidate has ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualifications and significant experience, particularly in the legal sector. Strong Excel skills and attention to detail are essential, with a focus on financial performance enhancement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience.
• Previous experience in the legal sector or accountancy practice essential.
• Understanding of UK tax requirements preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts including billing and collections.
• Assist with VAT returns and financial reporting.
• Manage cash flow requirements and review budget expenses.

Skills

ACA qualified

Excellent working knowledge of Excel

Strong problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA qualified

Tools

Aderant (CMS) system

Job description

Overview

Our client is an international law firm with a diversified business practice. The firm is one of the largest grossing law firms in the US and globally, representing a wide range of commercial, industrial, and financial enterprises, both publicly and privately held.

They are looking to recruit a Partnership Accountant. The Partnership Accountant is responsible for providing management reporting on the activities of the office to various stakeholders and assisting with statutory and tax reporting. This position prepares and presents complex reports with analytical insight and works under minimal supervision, relying on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts including but not limited to: Billing, Collections, Billing Factor, Import-Export billing
• Chargeable hours report
• Non-financial information (e.g., headcount, new matters opening)
• Revenue leakage, billing factor and client profitability analysis
• Comments and analysis for the Director of Finance and Office Head
• Assist the Accounting & Finance Manager in ensuring the timely submission of VAT returns, PAYE settlement agreement, P11ds, Payment Practice Reporting including ONS submissions
• Assist the Accounting & Finance Manager to prepare accrual based year-end statutory accounts and supporting schedules (including accruals, prepayments, WIP valuation, accrued income)
• Analysis of P&L expenses for the partnership tax computation and assist the Director of Finance in preparing the partnership tax computation
• Assist the Accounting & Finance Manager with the statutory, SRA and audit process liaising with the auditors
• Working Capital and Productivity Management
• Partner with the Director of Administration and the Senior Partner to understand financial performance, offering financial guidance and support
• Prepare fee earners productivity reports for the Director of Administration and the Senior Partner
• Assisting the Senior Revenue Manager with WIP and AR reports on delinquent accounts and general revenue management for London management
• Supporting the London office through its Collections pushes at mid-year and at year-end
• Ensure sufficient funds are available in the relevant bank account with inter-account transfers
• Manage cash flow requirements by preparing cash funding requests when needed
• Support the Accounting and Finance Manager in the input and review of the annual office administration expenses budget including monthly reviews of expenditure versus budget and forecast
• Assist with authorising bank payments
• Assist the London Director of Finance and Senior Director of International Accounting & Finance as required
• Assist the Accounts team with ad-hoc data requests and investigative work
• Continuously review and improve internal financial processes, striving to enhance efficiency, accuracy and timeliness in the reporting by liaising with and being trained by the US Financial Analysts team on our reporting software
• Educate existing and new partners to the use of their financial dashboards to monitor their financial performance
• Assist the Accounting & Finance Manager in reconciling all balance sheet accounts being accounted for on 3E with a view to integrate 3E into Aderant system in early 2026

Candidate Profile

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA qualified with at least 3 years post-qualification experience
• Previous experience in legal sector or accountancy practice essential
• Understanding of SAR rules and UK tax requirements preferred but not essential
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel
• Knowledge of Aderant (CMS) system preferred but not essential
• Resilience and ability to thrive in a high-pressured environment
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Proactive and strong problem-solving skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and a proven methodical approach

Important Notice

It is Career Legal's policy, as a matter of courtesy, to respond to all applications within three working days. However, due to the volume of applications, we are sometimes unable to respond to individual candidates. If we have not contacted you within three working days, your application has been unsuccessful, and your details have not been retained. Please apply for any other position you may see in the future. Thank you.

Career Legal is a Recruitment Agency and is advertising this permanent vacancy on behalf of one of its clients.