Senior Finance Manager

Role profile

Osborne Clarke are looking for a new Senior Finance Manager to join us in our Bristol office. This senior role will be central to maintaining strong financial control, delivering high quality management information and supporting effective decision making across the firm during a period of expansion.

This is a permanent position offering hybrid working.

The Senior Finance Manager will lead and manage the UK financial accounting team across Osborne Clarke LLP and two service companies, as well as our Finance Business Services Partnering team. You will ensure audit and tax compliance, provide robust budgeting, forecasting, cashflows and high quality management reporting and analysis to the UK Chief Finance Officer, Head of Financial Control and Business Services Heads.

You will coach, develop and mentor team members, aligning responsibilities with professional qualifications and supporting career progression and succession planning, while driving continuous improvement in processes, controls and data quality.

• Take overall accountability for the month end close process, ensuring balance sheet integrity, strong internal controls and compliance with firm policies and relevant regulations.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of monthly management accounts and overheads analysis to the UK Chief Finance Officer, Finance Heads and Business Services Heads.
• Oversee reconciliation of key control accounts and lead overall balance sheet review.
• Review and sign off journals, accruals, prepayments and variance analysis, maintaining high control standards and accuracy.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting and projects relating to investments and new offices.

• Own the overhead and Business Services teams' headcount budgeting and reforecasting cycle, including review and challenge of budget submissions and consolidation of firm-wide budgets.
• Monitor performance against budget and forecast, providing insight and commentary to support decision making.
• Lead preparation of the annual cash flow budget and oversee monthly cash flow reporting to support effective working capital management.
• Approve payroll journals and reconciliations and ensure accurate and timely recharges to Osborne Clarke International Services Limited (OCISL) and national businesses as agreed.
• Oversee IT recharges from the UK to OCISL and national businesses, working closely with the IT business partner.

• Review audit file preparation and timely finalisation of annual statutory accounts for the firm and its service companies, including the year-end WIP valuation. Ensure the year-end audit process is delivered effectively from a financial accounting perspective, coordinating audit requests and responses, and liaising with auditors.
• Review detailed tax and capital allowances analysis and ensure statutory and regulatory compliance, including VAT returns and Tax filings and ONS survey submissions.
• Provide monthly financial accounting and reporting support to the International Financial Controller for OCISL and OC Inc. and as required.

• Act as owner of the 3E UK chart of accounts in conjunction with the International Financial Controller and International Finance Systems Team, ensuring it is aligned with other national businesses, remains fit for purpose, and supports effective reporting and control.
• Serve as joint product owner for Chrome River Expenses, overseeing back-end configuration, coding structures and associated finance processes.
• Drive process improvements and standardisation within the financial accounting function to enhance efficiency, control and data quality.
• Interact regularly with the OC International Services Financial Controller and International Finance Systems Team, supporting alignment and collaboration across the international finance community.

• Manage the Finance Business Services Partnering team to ensure Business Services Chiefs, Directors and Heads are fully supported on all current and future financial matters relating to headcount and overhead budgets and projects.
• Lead the monthly reporting and regular review of actual versus budgeted expenditure for Business Services with each Business Services head.
• Assist with analysis to support decision making and future projects to support the firm's strategic initiatives and operational improvements.
• Provide ad‑hoc cover for the Legal Cashier Manager by authorising client payments in line with the firm's policies, procedures and financial controls.
• Promote a culture of mutual understanding and effective communication across the wider Finance team and Business Services, contributing to the continuous review and improvement of processes.

• A fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant post‑qualification experience in financial control…