Main Duties and Responsibilities as Commercial Finance Manager

Team Management & Culture

• Provide direction and day-to-day management of their Commercial Finance team, striving to deliver outstanding results and service
• Actively manage performance, development and career paths of individuals within their Commercial Finance team, including conducting performance and development reviews and succession planning with all direct reports
• Build and embed a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and openness to change

Business Planning

• Develop and challenge financial / business plans with legal group(s) and ensure agreed plans are reflected in individual team forecasts and budgets with appropriate KPIs identified and reported to monitor achievement
• Accountable for the delivery of the detailed budgeting & forecasting process for the relevant legal group(s) which includes working with PLs and team leaders as appropriate to provide in-depth analysis of revenue streams, costs base, risks and opportunities
• Evaluate, challenge and build business cases to support key proposals (e.g. lateral hires, Partner and Director promotions, mergers and other "step-change" ideas) and ensure appropriate post-investment appraisal and monitoring

Financial Performance & Control

• Support and challenge the legal group(s) to drive delivery of forecast and budget commitments
• Identify opportunities to improve performance and work with the legal group(s) to develop clear plans to achieve these including the monitoring of delivery
• Help educate, communicate and embed a culture of financial discipline and control within the legal group(s) including improving lockup management such as WIP management, billing, debt and cash collection as well as managing other direct and overhead expenditure against budget (e.g. travel accommodation, entertaining, training, disbursements etc.) and authorisation of such expenditure
• Play a key role in helping to deliver reporting and analysis that is straightforward, insightful, supports decision making and drives performance

Business Development

• Support, evaluate and challenge key decision makers (such as Partners) in sales pitches and tenders, to include pricing, discount structures, commercial terms etc.
• Drive profitability analysis of clients, sectors, business types, and working with partners to identify options and recommendations to increase sales and profit margins
• Work with partners to maximise the value of client relationships (e.g. sales volume, pricing, discounts, annual fee rate increases, secondment reviews, client financial reporting, debt collection, contingent fees etc.)
• Ensure efficient and effective working with the Business Development team on the above where appropriate

To be considered for the positition of Commercial Finance Manager, candidates must be/have:

• Fully Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA/ICAS)
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels across the business - both finance and non finance

Package on offer for the successful Commercial Finance Manager:

• £50,000-£55,000 basis
• Bonus
• Pension
• Private medical care
• Opportunities to progress within an international business