Finance Business Partner

This role sits at the heart of strengthening financial insight, planning capability and decision support across Shoosmiths’ Business Services functions, combining core FP&A with change, systems improvement and strategic analysis in a complex professional services environment.

Working as a trusted finance partner within FP&A, the role helps shape investment, resource and performance decisions across the firm, bringing sharper analysis, clearer challenge and stronger financial discipline to support Shoosmiths’ strategic priorities.

• Provide clear, decision-ready analysis of Business Services performance against budget, forecast and strategic plan.
• Prepare concise management information, dashboards and insight packs that support sharper performance oversight and executive decision-making.
• Deliver financial modelling, scenario analysis and investment appraisal to inform business cases, prioritisation and strategic choices.
• Identify financial risks, opportunities and emerging trends, translating complex data into commercially relevant insight and action.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting for assigned Business Services functions, partnering closely with Directors and senior managers on priorities, risks and trade-offs.
• Develop robust assumptions, planning drivers and forward-looking views that align local plans to firm-wide financial priorities.
• Produce variance analysis with clear narrative, root‑cause assessment and practical actions to improve performance.
• Drive cost discipline, efficiency opportunities and value‑for‑money assessment across Business Services, balancing control with strategic investment.

• Act as the lead finance contact for Business Services Directors, providing commercial insight, constructive challenge and trusted support.
• Build strong relationships across Business Services, Finance, HR and Operations to enable joined‑up planning and effective decision‑making.
• Contribute actively to leadership discussions, bringing financial perspective, challenge and recommendations to shape priorities and outcomes.
• Partner on cross‑functional initiatives and firm‑wide strategic programmes, ensuring financial insight informs delivery and decision‑making.

• Develop and monitor KPIs and financial metrics that strengthen visibility of Business Services performance and value.
• Provide insight into performance drivers and track progress against financial, operational and strategic objectives.
• Support prioritisation of investment, resourcing and transformation initiatives through clear financial analysis and evidence‑based recommendations.

• Support the Head of FP&A and senior leadership on strategic projects, investment cases and complex financial analysis.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting and planning capability across Business Services and FP&A.
• Develop and coach the FP&A Analyst, helping build a high‑performing business services finance capability.

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with a strong grounding in commercial finance, planning and performance management.
• Strong experience in Finance Business Partnering or FP&A, ideally within legal, professional services or another complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Advanced financial analysis, modelling and business case capability, with the ability to turn complex data into clear insight, recommendations and action.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with credibility and confidence with senior non‑finance stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement, intellectual curiosity and a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work at pace and deliver high‑quality output to deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Experience supporting central or Business Services functions such as Finance, IT, HR, Business Development or Property, with an understanding of how these areas create value for the wider firm.
• Experience with financial planning,…