Senior Finance & Accounting Manager

Baker McKenzie; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker McKenzie in London seeks a Senior Finance & Accounting Manager to lead a team of qualified accountants, ensure financial integrity of local records, manage year-end audits and liaise with auditors.

You will partner with lawyers and business professionals, oversee monthly reporting, tax compliance, banking relationships and cost management, and provide technical accounting guidance to support firm leadership.

Qualifications

• Must hold a recognized professional accounting qualification.
• Strong leadership and team development capabilities.
• Experience delivering financial insights to senior stakeholders.
• High integrity and ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the London Finance team.
• Partner with lawyers, Business Professionals and Firm leadership to provide financial analysis and guidance.
• Oversee London cost budgeting and cost-base optimization.
• Manage monthly management reporting, balance sheet integrity and controls; coordinate with Belfast SC.
• Oversee statutory accounts for London entities and manage external audits.
• Lead finance support for internal audits and governance.”
• Oversee UK tax compliance and liaison with external advisers.
• Collaborate with cashier team on banking, treasury and payments approvals.
• Serve as principal relationship manager for external audit, tax and advisers.
• Provide technical accounting guidance on treatment of expenses, asset capitalization and other matters.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Professional accounting body qualification

Job description

The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager will manage a team of experienced, qualified accountants, ensure financial integrity of local accounting records, manage year-end audit and liaise with internal and external auditors. The role-holder will oversee InMarket financial support to Lawyers and Business Professionals.

Main responsibilities

• Lead and develop the London Finance team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, controlled and commercially focused finance service
• Act as a key business partner to lawyers, Business Professionals and Firm leadership, providing financial analysis, insight and challenge to support decision-making
• Lead the London cost budgeting and process and support optimisation of the Firm's cost base
• Oversee monthly management reporting, balance sheet integrity and financial controls, working closely with the Belfast Service Center and other finance teams.
• Maintain responsibility for the statutory accounts of the London entities, including compliance with FRS 102 and management of the external audit process.
• Lead finance support for the Firm's internal audit, ensuring robust balance sheet substantiation and control documentation
• Hold day-to-day oversight of UK tax matters, including compliance, reporting, partner tax-related matters and liaison with external tax advisers
• Collaborate with the cashier team in managing the firm’s banking relationships, treasury-related activities and significant payment approval processes, maintaining strong governance and financial controls
• Act as the principal relationship manager for external audit, tax and other advisers
• Provide technical accounting guidance on accounting treatment, expenses, asset capitalisation and other finance matters
• Support Business Professionals' initiatives, ensuring implementation aligns with guidance from Specialist Functions and Global Process Owners

Skills and experience

• Qualified with an appropriate recognized accounting body
• Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the respect of others by being transparent
• Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others as people
• Treats delicate or confidential issues with discretion

Reports to:Finance Director