(Hybrid)
A world leading and future facing law Firm, is looking for a highly motivated and results driven Commercial Finance Analyst to join a dynamic team
Role
This role sits within the Finance Business Partner team which supports the Firm by providing accurate, timely, insightful and relevant financial planning advice to ensure the business is making informed business decisions to support its strategic growth plans.
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual who wants to be part of a progressive, customer-centric team which works closely with the business to provide budget assurance and performance improvement whilst challenging and influencing the leadership teams in managing their areas.
Key components of the role are as follows: -
- Compiling and assessing financial data to support complex business requests including, but not limited to, partner and fee earner appraisals, profitability and trend reporting
- Assisting in the preparation of high quality financial presentations to the business (practice, sector and key client specific) and providing analysis and recommendations as and when required. The Finance Analyst will also provide support to resolve any follow up actions which result from business engagements
- Managing the production of routine deliverables required by the Finance Business Partner team, such as the monthly reporting packs, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
- Providing direct Business Partnering support to regional leads or alternative fee earning teams
- Becoming a SME for the suite of finance systems and models used by the Department, working with the Finance Leadership Team and outsourced partners to ensure systems and models remain accurate, relevant and fit for purpose. The Finance Analyst should proactively look for ways to improve the efficiency of data generation
- Liaising with the Finance Reporting Team to ensure consistent and accurate information is provided
- Assisting in the delivery of the financial education agenda by supporting training initiatives to newly promoted partners / laterals / promotion candidates / new firm joiners. Helping to maintain training materials on behalf of the Department
- Providing assistance to the Finance Business Partners with the annual budget process and quarterly reforecast exercises
- Working with the Finance and HR teams (both locally and remotely) to ensure integrity and accuracy of data used by the Finance Business Partner team, e.g. headcount, fee earner cost rates
- Assisting the Financial Planning & Decision Support department with other adhoc tasks as required
Financial Planning
- Annual planning and budgeting
- Quarterly reforecasting
- Developing longer term 3-5 year plans with the relevant Partners and Senior Finance Business Partner
- Preparation of Executive Reporting to Senior Management in the Firm at regular Business Review Meetings
- Longer term strategic reviews of offices and teams to support profitable growth
Business Partnering
- Assisting Fee Earners with both routine and ad-hoc queries, including supporting them through the SADC
- Attending and providing cover at Partner and Team meetings for the areas being supported
Financial Analysis
- Enabling the practice group and regions to achieve their objectives, make decisions and plan appropriately through the effective understanding and application of financial analysis.
- Supporting the delivery of monthly finance MI which contains insightful commentary and analysis. Monitoring performance against long-term strategic and short-term operational plans to achieve agreed financial targets.
- In conjunction with Finance Business Partner colleagues, supporting the Financial Planning and Decision Support team in the overall financial management of the practice areas.
- Advanced ad-hoc analysis as required to help maximise profitability across the group around realisation, fee earner utilisation and working capital.
Ad-Hoc
- Assisting in the design and evolution of Dashboards/MI
- Being the Finance lead on non-finance initiatives/projects
- Key part of recruitment process for all hires in your areas
Candidate Profile:
- Professional Services experience
- Strong Financial modelling skills
- Advanced MS Office suite user (particularly Excel)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- The ability to remain calm and focussed under pressure
- A continuous improvement mentality to support development of self, colleagues and business processes and interactions
- Attention to detail as well as an ability to see the bigger picture which considers any cross-business implications
- A collaborative team-player who is transparent and has a collaborative, supportive approach
- Proactive in dealing with work