Commercial Advisor

Clifford Chance LLP; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Clifford Chance LLP in Amsterdam seeks a Commercial Advisor to join our finance team, combining financial analysis with strategic counsel for matters across the firm. You will work with Partners and matter teams to optimize working capital and billing, providing clear financial insight to support informed commercial decisions.

You will own the billing process for your Partner group, lead WIP discussions, and contribute to month-end and year-end routines.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in working capital and billing or equivalent.
• Strong ability to translate financial data into practical advice for senior stakeholders.
• Experience with IFRS and Dutch GAAP understanding.
• Proficiency in Excel; Power BI a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted commercial adviser to Partners and matter teams, providing clear financial advice.
• Own the billing process for your Partner group, ensuring timely and accurate invoicing.
• Lead regular WIP meetings with Partners and debt chase when necessary.
• Provide financial analyses to identify risks, trends and opportunities; recommend actions.
• Support month-end and year-end activities, including WIP valuation and related controls.
• Manage complex billing, including eBilling, and resolve arising issues.
• Maintain charge-out rates, billable targets, and annual standard-rate changes.
• Identify process improvements and ensure consistent best practices across Finance.
• Share knowledge with colleagues and provide guidance within the Finance team.
• Contribute to Power BI billing training for Partners and Managing Associates.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

English communication

Education

HBO/WO Finance or Accounting

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Finance systems

Job description

Who we are
As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.
Our culture is collaborative and inclusive— where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.
We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.
We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.
You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.
Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.

Job Description

The role

Do you enjoy combining financial analysis with commercial advice, while working closely with senior stakeholders? As Commercial Advisor, you’ll be at the heart of the financial management of our matters.

You’ll work closely with Partners and matter teams in Amsterdam, helping them manage working capital and billing effectively. You’ll provide the financial insight they need to make informed commercial decisions, identify risks and opportunities, and keep matters on track.

Alongside managing your own portfolio of stakeholders and matters, you’ll take ownership of more complex billing and eBilling matters, contribute to our month-end and year-end processes, and work with Finance colleagues across our international network.

What you'll be responsible for

• Act as a trusted commercial adviser to Partners and matter teams, providing clear and practical financial advice.
• Take ownership of the billing process for your aligned Partner group, ensuring matters are progressed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Drive regular WIP meetings with Partners and occasional debt chasing, agreeing priorities and following up on actions, including back-up for debt activities.
• Provide financial analysis and insights, using data to identify risks, trends and opportunities and recommend appropriate actions.
• Support month-end and year-end activities, including WIP valuation, office income calculations and related controls.
• Manage more complex billing, being a specialist on eBilling and help resolve issues as they arise.
• Support billing controls and the timely processing of credit notes ahead of month-end close.
• Maintain and review relevant fee-earner information, including charge-out rates, billable targets, job-level changes and annual standard-rate implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and contribute to the consistent application of best practices.
• Share knowledge and provide guidance to colleagues within the wider Finance team.
• Support the delivery of Power BI billing training to Partners and Managing Associates.

Qualifications

Your Experience

• At least five years of experience in working capital and billing, ideally within a large international legal or professional services organisation.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience advising senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing complex billing and eBilling matters.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn financial data into clear, practical advice.
• A good understanding of financial reporting, revenue and accounting principles, including IFRS and Dutch GAAP.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial or practice management systems. Experience with Power BI would be an advantage.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills in English, with the confidence to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• An analytical, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.
• HBO or WO level education in Finance, Accounting, Business or a related field.

Additional Information

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

You can also get involved in a variety of employee affinity groups. There is also opportunity to be part of charitable events and volunteering.

What we offer

From your first day, you'll be part of a firm that invests in your growth, with the training, resources and support to keep developing your expertise throughout your career. You'll work in an international, collaborative environment at the forefront of legal knowledge and innovation, in a role with real scope and visibility across the region, and within a team whose expertise is genuinely recognized and valued.

Clifford Chance is committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone can bring their whole self to work. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are happy to discuss any adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here .