Head of Finance and Business Insights

Head of Finance and Business Insights | Basingstoke

The Head of Finance and Business Insights is responsible for the financial health of Phillips Law: the accuracy and timeliness of its day-to-day financial operations, and the integrity of the forecasts and insights that underpin the firm’s strategic decisions. The role combines the financial ownership expected of a finance lead with a broader responsibility for joining up operational, client, people, and risk data into a single coherent view of the firm’s performance.

The role reports to the Managing Director for financial performance, with an ultimate line of accountability to the Business Shareholders on matters of financial governance. It carries direct line management of the Office Finance & Renewals Manager, the Credit Controller, and those responsible for business insights and reporting. The role does not carry direct line management of the Legal Cashiering team, but holds responsibility for the financial processes that team operates, and works in a matrix relationship with operations colleagues to ensure those processes remain efficient, current, and well controlled.

Initially, the Head of Finance and Business Insights will personally produce much of the financial and insight reporting required by the business, while also drawing together contributions from colleagues across the firm who are not direct reports — including the Finance and Operations Data Reporting Analyst, the Governance Monitoring Manager, and others holding relevant data or process knowledge.

• Managing Director
• Ultimate line of finance accountability to the Business Shareholders

• Office Finance & Renewals Manager
• Credit Controller (Matrix)

• Head Cashier — matrix line of report, in respect of the efficiency, currency, and control of Legal Cashiering processes (without direct line management of the Legal Cashiering team itself)
• Operations Manager — close working relationship, recognising the Operations Manager’s direct line of report to the Legal Cashiering team
• Practice Group Partners (PGPs) and Heads of Legal Teams — on financial performance, pricing, and resourcing within their teams
• Client Journey and Integrations Manager — to optimise the client journey and ensure seamless financial and operational integration of mergers and acquisitions
• People Business Partner (HR) — on financial benefits administered for staff (payroll, pension, Cycle to Work, and other benefits)
• Those responsible for other business insights and reporting.

• Develop and implement the firm’s financial strategy in alignment with its wider strategic and growth objectives
• Provide financial insight and analysis to the Managing Directors and Shareholders to support strategic decision-making
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, cash flow, and operational efficiency across the firm
• Partner with the Managing Director and Shareholders on matters of firm finance, investment, and growth, including the financial integration of acquired practices
• Hold overall responsibility for the day-to-day financial surety of the firm, ensuring sound financial management in conjunction with the Office Finance & Renewals Manager
• Oversee the monthly preparation of actual and budgeted cashflow, and the overall annual budget, working through the firm’s accounts system (Xero)
• Oversee spend reporting and the monitoring of business expense claims, working with the Office Finance & Renewals Manager and Operations Manager to rationalise ongoing spend
• Oversee payroll creation and operation, and the facilitation of financial benefits for employees, in conjunction with the People Business Partner
• Ensure all supplier payments are made within deadline, and authorise supplier invoice payment in Xero as required
• Manage cash flow and working capital requirements, and maintain relationships with banks and other financial institutions
• Oversee credit control, and debt recovery processes through the Credit Controller

• Oversee the production of accurate, timely financial statements…