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We have been voted as the leading UK regional law firm to work for in the South East by the Best Company Survey published by the Sunday Times in 2006 and best law firm to work for in the South East for three years in a row.
Role Description
This is a great opportunity for a Finance Director to join a fast paced but friendly team based in Reading.
This is a key role within the senior leadership team. Responsible for the financial management of the firm, providing expert reporting and analysis, robust financial controls, efficient processes, and informed executive decision making. The job holder must possess exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, to ensure regulatory financial compliance as the COFA whilst driving operational and reporting excellence of the finance function, guiding the senior leadership on commercial finance matters, whilst also getting into the detail when required.
- To be a proactive, innovative, and visionary catalyst for financial debate, improvement and development within the firm.
- To take an overview of the firm’s financial strategy, planning, monitoring, management, and reporting, including the management and development of policies, systems, processes and the personnel involved.
- To provide impartial and objective advice and direction to the Managing Partner and the Partners on all aspects of the financial management of the firm, working closely with them and the other members of the firm’s management team to target firm growth, development, and improved profitability.
Experience/ Attributes required
- Qualified member status of accountancy body or holder of an equivalent qualification (CIMA, ACA, ACCA)
- A proactive financial leader with strong business acumen and technical accounting and finance skills
- Experience in a legal partnership or a professional services environment is highly desirable for this role together with:
- Expert knowledge and experience of leading a finance function, either as a Finance Director or Head of Finance.
- A proven track record of achieving positive and substantial financial improvement in the businesses with which they have worked.
- Commercially astute, articulate, technically strong, dynamic, insightful, and influential leadership skills with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
- High impact communication and presentation skills, working at all levels to influence the wider business direction and decisions.
- Continuous improvement mind-set with a focus on adding real value to a business.
- High integrity and openness combined with commitment to good governance.
- Highly motivated, with an enquiring mind and passion for excellence and innovation in pursuit of business growth and success.
- A good team player and excellent team management skills.
- An effective delegator.
- Capable of discerning and balancing the conflicting expectations of the owners of the business.
Work type:
- To be a key member of the firm’s Senior Leadership team working closely with Management Committee (the board) to deliver the firm’s business plan, advising, and guiding the management committee in commercial finance matters.
- To ensure regulatory financial compliance is adhered to and taking on the COFA role.
- To implement and maintain operational excellence across all finance and accounts processes.
- To lead the development of the finance strategy across all areas of the business, challenging assumptions, and decision-making as appropriate.
- To provide financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets, and business drivers.
- To liaise with auditors to manage the production of year end accounts as well as financial and SAR account rules audits. This will include negotiation of engagement terms, management of audit process and presentation of the final accounts to the partnership for approval.
- To be responsible for monitoring cash flow and treasury management with the goal of managing the firm’s liquidity and mitigating any operational, financial and reputational risk.
- To improve and automate the Firm’s financial systems and processes to ensure they are efficient robust, compliant supporting current activities and future growth.
- To provide management reporting and consolidated accounts as well as stewardship and accountability for client monies.
- To control, oversee, review, and adherence to the budgets for each practice group and business central services support team.
- In addition to having the ability to think strategically, the role-holder must, when necessary, assist the team and be involved in the detail of their work if needed.
Benefits
Contrctual Benefits
- 28 days holiday
- Pension scheme with a 6% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution
- Life Assurance - 5 x final salary
- Private medical cover
-
Shopping discounts and Medicash
Discretionary bonus scheme
Non Contractual Benefits
- Weekly wellbeing hour
- Birthday off
- 1 x 8 hour charity day
- Bring your dog to work
- Travel season ticket loan scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
Team structure
- 1 x Finance Controller
- 1 x Accounts Clerk/payroll
- 5 x Accounts Clerks
- 1 x Credit Controller
Other information
Boyes Turner’s Employment team is ranked in Tier 1 by Legal 500. Its partners are recognized as experts in their field. The Group is innovative and seeking to find ways of developing its offering and services to clients harnessing all modern technologies.
We offer excellent working conditions and a modern, forward thinking, friendly team.