Finance Business Partner

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The roleIncludes management of the Revenue Controllers.

You will be an integral part of driving the success of the respective departments forward and will be tasked with effecting demonstrable change in working practices and performance by promoting a best-in-class philosophy and strategic financial decision making.

Role responsibilitiesPricing and profitability

Collaborate with the Business Development (BD) team and fee earners to assist with fee estimates for client pitches, ensuring understanding of profitability implications within the fee earning groups.

Review existing client relationships and collaborate with partners to suggest improved fee structures aimed at enhancing profitability.

Conduct detailed profitability analysis of clients by work type, team, and department, and discuss findings with partners to help identify BD opportunities.

Revenue growth

Work with fee earners to maximise billing, regularly reviewing work in progress (WIP) and obtaining pledge estimates where necessary.

For significant new matters (above £100k), work with Revenue Controllers to review the fee structure and assist fee earners with matter management, monitoring WIP against the original estimate, and raising issues with scope or fees with clients.

Identify and monitor at-risk WIP to prevent unnecessary write-offs, leveraging dashboards for real-time tracking.

Assist Revenue Controllers in reviewing commercial fee arrangements (CFAs) and deferred billing arrangements (DBAs) to ensure viability and assist fee earners with approval processes.

Provide monthly reviews of CFAs and DBAs to the Head of Finance and Heads of Departments.

Contribute to the annual budget and quarterly reforecasting processes to set fees and headcount targets to deliver the gross profit margin as per the business plan.

Regularly compile financial metrics for Heads of Departments to monitor and manage gross profit and contribution, helping them understand financial performance and resolve issues.

Analyse biannual WIP write-off and annual FRS5 valuation exercises, identifying areas for recoverability improvements and working with teams to implement new processes to reduce write-offs.

Assist in streamlining the annual rate-setting process, including developing team/client-specific rates and reviewing all client/matter-specific rates.

Brief Heads of Departments and Heads of Operations weekly and monthly.

Smart Working

Collaborate with fee earners to reduce lock-up days to a minimum of 120, address WIP and debt concerns with Credit Control, and escalate issues to the Head of Finance.

Investigate and resolve financial queries promptly (within 2 working days).

Manage ad-hoc finance projects from ideation to delivery.

Assess current processes and reporting for efficiency improvements.

Support practice management system upgrades, including testing, training, and documentation.

People Management and development

Manage Revenue Controllers effectively, including conducting performance reviews and supporting their development.

Delegate tasks to ensure team efficiency and workflow management.

Risk and Quality

Oversee file handovers from departing fee earners, ensuring proper reassignment and documentation of balances.

Follow up on residual balances and progress in clearing them.

Provide training on finance fundamentals to increase financial awareness across the firm.

About youYou will be able to demonstrate:

Proven relevant experience in a Finance Business Partner or similar role within a professional services environment.

Experience as a qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, ACCA).

Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret and communicate complex data.

Effective collaboration with senior stakeholders, including fee earners and management.

Excellent problem-solving skills and proactive risk/opportunity identification.

Experience advising on pricing strategies and profitability management in professional services.

Ability to manage and develop teams, fostering performance.

High attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting to non-financial audiences.

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. All agency CVs require prior approval from our recruitment team; otherwise, they will not be considered, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual holiday

Permanent Health Insurance

Life Assurance

Interest-free Season Ticket Loan

Private Healthcare

Pension Scheme

Staff Introductory Scheme

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