Head of Finance

We are looking to welcome a Head of Finance and Business Insights to Phillips Law. This role is responsible for the financial health of the Firm: 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.

Phillips Law was formed in 1986, and since then we have been committed to building the region’s strongest, dynamic, full-service law firm built on foundations of traditional values.

In 2026, we continue to be featured in the Legal 500 – a globally recognised legal directory that serves as a comprehensive guide for clients seeking premium legal services.

At Phillips Law our values mean we pull in the same direction, tell it like it is, do the right thing, break the mould, and deliver on our goals.

• Develop and deliver the firm’s financial strategy in support of its growth and wider business objectives.
• Provide clear financial analysis, commercial insight and recommendations to the Managing Directors, Shareholders and leadership teams.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow and working-capital management, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
• Oversee the firm’s day-to-day financial management, including payroll, supplier payments, expenses, credit control and debt recovery.
• Ensure the production of accurate and timely management accounts, financial statements, performance reports and KPI dashboards.
• Maintain robust financial controls, risk-management processes and compliance with financial reporting requirements and the SRA Accounts Rules.
• Coordinate year-end accounts, statutory and SRA audits, and relationships with accountants, auditors, HMRC, banks and other financial institutions.
• Combine financial, operational, client and people data to support forecasting, capacity planning and strategic decision-making.
• Monitor performance across areas including billing, matter progression, fee-earner productivity, chargeable hours, client profitability and workforce trends.
• Lead pricing and profitability analysis across practice areas, fee earners and different fee arrangements.
• Support mergers and acquisitions through financial due diligence, modelling, integration and post-acquisition reporting.
• Use data to identify process improvements and strengthen financial, operational and management reporting.
• Lead and develop the finance and business insights team, while providing matrix guidance to the Head Cashier.
• Work collaboratively with operational, people and client-focused teams to ensure the function effectively supports the firm and its fee earners.
• Promote accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence across the finance and business insights function.

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• Significant post-qualification experience, including senior financial management roles, ideally within professional services
• Strong understanding of UK financial regulation and tax legislation
• Working knowledge of financial management accounting, cashiering principles, and aged debt management
• Advanced Excel proficiency, including complex formulas, pivot tables, and financial modelling
• Working knowledge of data visualisation and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, or Fathom), with the ability to commission and interpret dashboards even where built by others
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insight
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present financial and operational performance clearly to non-financial colleagues and senior stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work to deadlines, including agreed turnaround times for ad-hoc analysis
• A naturally improvement-oriented approach, willing to question what doesn’t work and introduce better…