We are working with a highly regarded, growing London law firm that is looking to recruit an experienced Finance Manager on a part-time basis.
This is a broad, hands-on role with responsibility for the day-to-day financial operations of the firm. It would suit someone who has worked within a law firm finance function and is comfortable combining oversight and management responsibilities with the practical detail of billing, accounts payable, reconciliations, client account transfers, WIP and credit control.
The role is 25 hours per week and highly flexible. The firm’s preference is for some coverage across the working week, but they are very open to discussing different working patterns for the right person.
The position is hybrid, with only one day per week required in the London office.
The Finance Manager will work closely with the COO, manage the firm’s part-time Invoicing Manager and oversee the legal cashiering service provided by an outsourced Cash Room.
Responsibilities will include:
- Taking overall responsibility for the firm’s day-to-day finance operations
- Managing and supporting the Invoicing Manager
- Overseeing the firm’s outsourced legal cashiering provider
- Managing the billing process, including assisting with more complex invoices and narratives
- Overseeing supplier and consultant invoices and the Accounts Payable function
- Ensuring invoices, expenses and disbursements are correctly allocated to client matters and nominal accounts
- Reviewing consultant invoices against individual commission arrangements before payment
- Preparing bi-weekly payment runs
- Reviewing Client Account balances and identifying transfers between Client and Office Account
- Responding to cashiering queries relating to postings, payments and transfers
- Reviewing the Office Account and ensuring transactions have been posted to the correct nominals
- Producing monthly and quarterly financial reports for the management team
- Updating P&L and cashflow forecasts against actual performance
- Reviewing WIP, aged debt and recovery rates across employed lawyers and consultants
- Overseeing credit control
- Overseeing client financial onboarding
- Liaising with the firm’s bank manager, accountants and outsourced Cash Room
- Supporting budgeting and wider financial planning
- Assisting with month-end and year-end processes, Annual Accounts and SRA Client Account audits
- Identifying unusual movements or payments and escalating these to the COO
We are looking for someone with strong finance experience gained specifically within a law firm environment.
This person needs to be comfortable getting into the detail. Previous experience across legal billing, client and office accounts, reconciliations, WIP, aged debt, credit control, Accounts Payable and SRA accounting requirements will be particularly important.
You should be able to work autonomously, spot issues quickly and communicate confidently with fee earners, senior management, accountants and outsourced providers.
Previous supervisory or management experience would be valuable, as the role includes line management of the Invoicing Manager.
Experience of legal accounting or practice management systems is important. The firm uses Tessaract, although previous Tessaract experience is not essential provided you have worked with comparable legal finance systems and can get up to speed quickly.
This is a 25-hour-per-week role with genuine flexibility around working pattern, together with only one day per week required in the London office.
It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced law firm finance professional looking for a varied, responsible role within a growing firm alongside a genuinely flexible working arrangement.
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