Practice Manager

Ambition; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in the City of London is seeking a Practice Manager to drive strategic, operational, and financial excellence. This senior role requires strong financial acumen and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a matrixed environment. The successful candidate will support divisional strategies and oversee operational management, making significant contributions to the firm's performance and culture.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Referral scheme with rewards

Qualifications

• Strong financial acumen and experience in business planning and operational management.
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• High levels of discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Experience working in a matrixed organisation, ideally within professional services.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of divisional and practice group strategies.
• Monitor financial performance and provide actionable insights.
• Act as a liaison with HR and finance teams for operational management.
• Contribute to annual management, partner reviews, and business planning.
• Support HR projects related to partner under-performance and succession planning.

Skills

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Diplomacy and professionalism

Job description

Our client, a leading international law firm, is seeking a highly experienced Practice Manager to support divisional and practice group leadership in driving strategic, operational, and financial excellence across the business. This is a pivotal role for a commercially astute and collaborative professional who thrives in a dynamic, matrixed environment.

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Lead the implementation of divisional and practice group strategies aligned with global business priorities.
• Monitor financial performance, provide actionable insights, and support budget planning and lateral recruitment initiatives.
• Support lateral recruitment activity for the Division, including identifying strategic priorities, preparing lateral investment cases, and testing business plans from lateral candidates.
• Drive financial discipline in the Division and individual Practices.
• Take a lead role in the Divisional annual budget process playing a key role in collecting income projections and quantifying costs.

Operational Excellence & People Leadership

• Act as a liaison point with HR Business Partners, BD and wider finance team to oversee operational management of the Division and Practice Groups.
• Make a key contribution in creating and maintaining a positive work environment, ensuring high levels of organisational effectiveness and communication, and instilling a high-performance culture; play a role in influencing behavioural change across the office.
• Provide guidance and support with client management, service delivery, preparation of estimates, and contribute to pitches.
• Play a proactive role in all annual management including partner review meetings, feener appraisals, promotions, and business planning.
• Support the HR Department with the key projects relating to:
  • Practice size and shape - manage resource levels/optimum team size/productivity etc.
  • Partner and Associate under-performance
  • Succession planning and talent mapping
  • Lateral recruitment initiatives - partner and associates
  • Partner with business services leaders to support transformation initiatives
  • Provide guidance on client service delivery, pricing, and pitch support.

Experience needed

• Strong financial acumen and experience in business planning and operational management.
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• High levels of discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Experience working in a matrixed organisation, ideally within professional services.

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to join a globally recognised firm in a senior strategic role, offering scope to influence change and drive performance across a major business division.

Diversity & Inclusion

Our client is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. Applications are encouraged from all backgrounds, and reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the recruitment process.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you know someone who would be great at this role, why not take advantage of our referral scheme? We offer £200 in shopping vouchers for every referred candidate who we place in a role. Terms & Conditions Apply. https://www.ambition.co.uk/refer-a-friend