Finance Manager – Law Firm Experience

Company: ICAEW
Apply for the Finance Manager – Law Firm Experience
Location: Essex
Job Description:

Your new company

An exciting opportunity for a qualified accountant with solicitors’ experience to take full ownership of a well-established regional law firm’s finance function – leading the team and partnering directly with the Board. A respected, growing regional law firm is seeking an accomplished Finance Manager to lead its finance function and manage a team of four. This is a high-profile role for a qualified accountant who combines strong technical expertise with confident, collaborative people leadership. You will be a trusted adviser to the Partners and Management Board, providing clear commercial insight while ensuring robust financial control and full compliance with the SRA Accounts Rules.

Easy access from the M11/M25/A414 and the Central Line.

Your new role

This is more than a reporting role. You will lead the day-to-day financial operations of the firm, shape management information, strengthen systems and controls, and help drive informed decision-making across the business.

  • Leading and developing a finance team of four, including performance management, training and succession planning.
  • Producing monthly management accounts, financial reports, KPI reporting and variance analysis.
  • Managing budgets, forecasts, cash flow, banking relationships and borrowing requirements.
  • Monitoring lock-up, WIP, debtors, disbursements, billing performance, recovery rates and departmental profitability.
  • Overseeing client and office account reconciliations, payments and receipts, and residual client balances.
  • Ensuring ongoing compliance with the SRA Accounts Rules, VAT, PAYE, payroll and other relevant obligations.
  • Preparing information for statutory accounts, annual accountant’s reports, audits and compliance reviews.
  • Working closely with senior stakeholders, including Partners, the Management Board, HR, IT and compliance colleagues.
  • Improving finance processes, controls, reporting dashboards and the use of legal accounting systems.
  • Potential appointment to COFA.

What you’ll need to succeed

You will be a qualified accountant, ACA, ACCA or CIMA, with finance experience gained within a law firm, alongside the credibility to influence senior stakeholders.

  • Proven finance experience within a law firm.
  • Working knowledge of SRA Accounts Rules and legal-sector financial controls.
  • Proven experience preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash-flow reporting.
  • Experience managing and motivating a finance team.
  • Sound knowledge of legal billing, revenue recognition, VAT, payroll and legal accounting or case-management systems.
  • Strong commercial awareness, excellent organisational skills and the ability to communicate financial information clearly.
  • A practical, positive and service-led approach, with the judgement to identify and manage risk.

Previous COFA experience would be advantageous.

What you’ll get in return

You will join a supportive firm that values professional development, high standards and a healthy work/life balance.

  • hybrid and flexible working
  • a structured career path
  • bonus schemes
  • 25 days’ holiday rising with service
  • pension
  • healthcare cash plan
  • a broad range of wellbeing benefits

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Posted: November 9th, 2026