Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.
The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values –We are experts, We are united and We care – the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.
Role overview
The Finance Business Partner will act as the primary finance adviser to the Corporate Finance and Dispute Resolution practice groups, providing commercial insight, strategic challenge, and decision support to senior leaders and Partners. This role is not primarily focused on financial reporting; its purpose is to influence commercial decision-making, improve profitability, and drive sustainable growth through data-led analysis and actionable recommendations.
Reporting to the Financial Controller, who is also the Head of Commercial Finance, the role will work closely with Partners, Practice Heads, and stakeholders across both practice groups. This is an individual contributor position with no direct people‑management responsibilities.
The successful candidate will be a trusted business partner, combining strong commercial acumen with analytical capability and influencing skills to support strategic decision‑making, improve financial performance, and strengthen commercial discipline across the business.
Key activities/responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering
- Act as the primary finance adviser to Practice Heads and Partners, providing commercial insight and constructive challenge.
- Influence strategic and operational decision making through robust financial analysis and recommendations.
- Support the development and execution of growth strategies, business plans, and investment decisions.
- Provide financial leadership on strategic initiatives, transformation programmes, and change projects.
- Ensure financial plans and commercial decisions align with firm strategy, growth objectives, and risk management requirements.
- Develop a deep understanding of the commercial drivers, opportunities, and challenges within the practice groups.
Financial Planning and Performance Management
- Lead the annual budgeting process, rolling forecasts, and long‑term financial planning activities for assigned practice groups.
- Drive improvements in forecast accuracy and financial planning processes.
- Deliver insightful analysis of revenue, profitability, utilisation, realisation, recovery, leverage, pricing, working capital, and cash generation.
- Identify emerging financial risks and opportunities and recommend actions to improve business performance.
- Monitor financial performance against forecasts and budgets, highlighting key variances, trends, and areas requiring management attention.
- Prepare and present high quality financial reports and management information to senior stakeholders.
Commercial Analysis and Decision Support
- Lead profitability reviews at client, matter, partner, team, and practice group level.
- Develop business cases, financial models, investment appraisals, and scenario analyses to support strategic decisions.
- Evaluate commercial opportunities and provide recommendations to optimise financial returns.
- Support pricing decisions and initiatives designed to improve matter profitability and commercial performance.
- Analyse financial and operational data to identify opportunities for revenue growth, cost optimisation, and margin improvement.
- Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for both finance and non‑finance stakeholders.
Working Capital and Cash Performance
- Partner with Revenue Control teams to improve billing performance, debt collection, lock‑up management, and cash conversion.
- Drive accountability for working capital performance across the practice groups.
- Support initiatives to improve cash generation and enhance overall financial performance.
Stakeholder Management
- Build strong and credible relationships with Partners, Practice Heads, and senior business leaders.
- Challenge assumptions and decision making constructively while maintaining collaborative stakeholder relationships.
- Promote financial awareness, accountability, and commercial discipline across the business.
- Present financial insights and recommendations confidently to senior leadership audiences.
- Act as a key liaison between Finance and the wider business to ensure alignment on priorities and objectives.
- Identify and implement improvements to reporting, forecasting, planning, and decision‑support processes.
- Support the continued development of commercial finance capabilities across the firm.
- Champion best practice and innovation in financial analysis and business partnering.
Key Relationships
- CFO
- Financial Controller / Head of Commercial Finance
- Practice Heads
- Partners
- Revenue Control
- Business Development
- Human resources
- International Offices
Skills and experience – essential
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
- Significant post‑qualification experience in a Finance Business Partnering, Commercial Finance, Strategic Finance, or similar business facing finance role.
- Proven ability to influence business decisions through financial insight and commercial analysis.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of improving financial performance and profitability.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability.
- Experience developing financial models, business cases, and scenario analyses.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience working with large and complex datasets.
- Ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly to non‑finance audiences.
- Experience presenting to senior stakeholders and leadership teams.
- Knowledge of professional services metrics including utilisation, realisation, recovery, leverage, matter profitability, and lock‑up.
Skills and experience – desired
- Experience within legal, consulting, accountancy, or other professional services environments.
- Experience supporting practice groups, fee‑earning teams, or client‑facing businesses.
- Experience using Power BI or other business intelligence and data visualisation tools.
- Experience supporting profitability improvement, pricing, or commercial performance initiatives.
Personal skills/attributes
- Commercially minded and strategic in approach.
- Proactive, pragmatic, and solutions focused.
- Strong influencing and communication skills.
- Confident operating in a senior stakeholder environment.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
- Collaborative and relationship focused.
- Resilient and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment.
- Naturally curious and committed to continuous improvement.
We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.
Additional information
The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.
Equal opportunities
Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long‑term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact London_Recruitment@wfw.com .
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