Finance Director

Finance Director

Location : London (Hybrid working) Salary : Competitive salary + discretionary bonus & comprehensive benefits package

Our client is a well-established London law firm with a strong reputation across its specialist practice areas. As part of the continued development of the business, they are seeking an experienced Finance Director to lead the finance function and work closely with the partnership on financial strategy, performance, and operational improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the firm’s finance function, taking responsibility for financial reporting, management information, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and financial control
• Work closely with the Managing Partner, senior leadership team, and wider partnership to support commercial and strategic decision-making
• Prepare and present high-quality financial analysis, management reporting, and performance information to the partnership
• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process, providing clear insight into revenue, profitability, costs, and cash flow
• Monitor financial performance across practice areas, partners, clients, and matters, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities
• Oversee working capital management, including billing, WIP, lock-up, collections, and cash flow optimisation
• Support partner remuneration, profit distribution, and wider partnership financial matters
• Ensure robust financial controls, policies, processes, and governance are maintained across the firm
• Oversee statutory reporting, tax, audit, banking, insurance, and other external financial relationships
• Drive improvements across finance systems, reporting processes, automation, and data quality
• Lead, develop, and manage the finance team, ensuring the function provides a high-quality service to the wider business
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, tax advisers, and other professional advisers
• Ensure the firm remains compliant with relevant regulatory and financial requirements, including appropriate oversight of client money and SRA-related finance controls

Requirements

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent qualified accountant
• Significant post-qualified experience within a senior finance leadership role
• Previous experience within a law firm or wider professional services environment is highly desirable
• Strong understanding of partnership accounting and the commercial dynamics of a professional services business
• Experience managing budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, cash flow, and working capital
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, statutory reporting, audit, and tax requirements
• Experience leading and developing a finance team
• Confident and credible communicator capable of influencing senior stakeholders within a partnership environment
• Experience improving finance systems, processes, reporting, and controls would be advantageous
• Proactive, pragmatic, and comfortable operating within a hands-on senior leadership role