Financial Controller

The Role

This is a leadership role for all the financial operations of the Firm. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the largest part of the finance function (c. 11 individuals across Management Accounting, FP&A, day to day financial operations, and Credit Control).

The role holder will lead the firm’s financial management, ensuring strong financial controls and efficient accounting processes as well as supporting the delivery of the Firms Budgets and targets.

As well as leading the day-to-day finance delivery, the role will play a part in providing analysis, continuous improvement, support to strategic commercial decisions, and will be instrumental in helping to align financial strategy with the Firms ambitions - driving further profitability and growth.

This role will report to and work closely with the COO/Head of Finance with potential to develop into the Head of Finance role over time.

Team Leadership

• Overseeing the day-to-day finance function – holding line-management responsibilities.
• Supervising and mentoring the team – fostering a cohesive and collaborative culture with a focus on quality and performance, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Suggesting enhancements to team structures and roles to ensure the financial operations are always meeting the evolving needs of the business and giving development and progression opportunity to team members.

Financial Management

• Manage general ledger activities ensuring adherence to deadlines, quality standards, procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Leading the accounting and billing & collections functions – supporting the delivery of billing and collections in line with targets. This involves working across the business.
• Overseeing the accurate preparation of monthly management reports and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Supporting the budget process for the Firm.
• Oversight and sign off on banking reconciliations.
• Overseeing the accurate preparation of regular cashflow forecasts.
• Key contact with the Firms banking providers – including the management of the Firms banking and loan facilities.
• Senior level approval for invoices, expenses and bank payments.

External Audit Oversight & Management

• Supporting the preparation of Annual Accounts for the Firm in coordination with the external accounting firm.
• Main contact for the annual Financial Audit – managing the audit process.

Tax Oversight & Management

• Assist the Firms external Tax advisor in the preparation of the UK annual tax return.
• Supporting the preparation of and managing VAT submissions.
• Supporting the preparation of and managing PSA submissions.
• Supporting our tax advisors with the preparation of individual Partner tax returns.

Risk & Compliance

• This role will hold the Compliance Officer for Finance & Administration (COFA) position for the Firm - ensuring an appropriate approach and culture of risk management across the finance team and wider Firm.
• Responsible for any financial inputs into SRA audits

Oversight of Partnership Financials

• Oversight of the Firms financial management related to the all-equity Partner structure, including managing Partner Capital Loans, processing profit distributions, and making partner tax payments.
• Support the production of financial reporting to assist with Partner performance reviews and renumeration.

Management of Financial Systems & Processes (including Change Management)

• Management of the Elite 3E Practice Management System
• External relationship management for financial management suppliers to the Firm.
• On-going review, improvement and development of financial processes, operation, and outputs to improve efficiencies and deliver an optimised financial service to the business.
• Support the Firm’s strategy delivery by helping to align KPIs, reporting, and financial insight.
• Support the Firm’s agenda of operating as ‘one Firm’ – helping to integrate finance successfully across the wider business.

Qualifications and Experience

• Be fully qualified in either ACCA/ACA/CIMA or equivalent
• Have experience leading a finance team and managing people.
• Ideally have experience working in a law firm with knowledge of the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
• Be happy taking on a hands-on role and getting stuck into the finance operations work when needed - this is a relatively small team so will require flexibility.
• Be assured in a senior leadership role with the ability to instil confidence with the Board, Partners and wider Firm.
• Experience with 3E or similar accounting software.
• Be quality focussed and keen to drive continuous improvement within financial operations.
• Have high levels of confidentiality, discretion, and diplomacy.

The Opportunity

• Competitive base salary
• Pensions Scheme (5% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance
• Permanent health insurance
• Life assurance
• Receive either the sum of £750 per annum as a travel allowance or reimbursement of carparking expenses via a pay as you go card at a local carpark (likely to be Farnham Road carpark)
• Travel – option to apply for an interest free loan for a season ticket or parking permit
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay (after sufficient service)
• Cash back scheme
• Comprehensive flexible benefits package including:
• Critical illness insurance
• Buy/Sell holiday scheme
• Dental insurance
• Cycle to work schemes
• Taste card
• Fun pass
• Give as you earn
• Discounted gym memberships and shopping
• Profit share and discretionary bonus schemes

The Firm

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career.

You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the upcoming Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both “Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year” – Legal Business Awards 2023 and “Law Firm of the Year” – SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for “Law Firm of the Year: The Independents” – The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for “UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm” – The British Legal Awards 2023 and “Workplace Fit-out of the Year” – Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation.

We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service. We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion

We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.