Financial Controller

A senior finance role with genuine ownership, autonomy and Partner-level exposure.

BRD Search is working with an established and growing law firm to appoint their Financial Controller.

As the FC you will be the most senior finance professional in the business, working closely with the Managing Partners and taking ownership of the firm's finance function.

It's a role that will suit someone who enjoys being close to the detail but can also step back and provide clear, commercially relevant insight to senior stakeholders.

What will you be doing?

You'll have broad responsibility across the finance function, including:

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• Leading the day-to-day financial control and management of the business.
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• Producing monthly management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash flow forecasts.
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• Providing financial analysis, commentary and insight to the Partners.
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• Overseeing the finance team and ensuring effective financial processes and controls.
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• Managing the annual accounts, audit process, VAT and taxation requirements.
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• Overseeing payroll and wider transactional finance activity.
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• Maintaining the integrity of financial data and ensuring appropriate controls are in place.
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• Acting as COFA (Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration), with responsibility for the firm's financial compliance and client money controls.
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• Overseeing theSRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) Accountant's Report and ensuring compliance with the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
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• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, reporting and financial control.
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What are we looking for?

You'll ideally be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong financial control experience.

We're particularly interested in people who:

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• Have operated at Financial Controller or similarly senior level.
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• Are confident owning a broad finance function.
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• Have strong management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow experience.
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• Are comfortable working directly with senior stakeholders and Partners.
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• Take ownership and aren't afraid to roll their sleeves up.
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• Can communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
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• Have a proactive and commercially minded approach.
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Law firm or professional services experience would be advantageous, particularly exposure to client money, COFA or SRA requirements but it isn't essential.

If you're a strong Financial Controller from another regulated or professional services environment, we'd still be very interested in speaking with you.

Why consider it?

This isn't a role where you'll be one layer of management within a large finance department.

You'll have genuine ownership of the finance function, direct access to the Partners and the opportunity to influence how finance supports the wider business.

It's also a business that values longevity. The current Financial Controller has been with the firm for a number of years and is now approaching retirement, so this appointment is being made proactively to allow for a thorough handover.

The successful candidate can therefore join with the opportunity to learn the business properly, build relationships and make the role their own.

Location & flexibility

The preference is for someone who is comfortable being predominantly office-based, particularly when establishing themselves within the business. There is a pragmatic approach to flexibility and an understanding that there are times when working from home can be a real benefit.

The details

Financial Controller

£65,000 – £75,000

Beaconsfield

Permanent

Senior finance leadership role

If you're an experienced Financial Controller looking for a role where you can have real ownership, work directly with Partners and become a key part of an established and growing business, I'd be keen to speak with you.