Head of Finance

Head of Finance

The Head of Finance is a senior, commercially minded finance professional who works closely with the Managing Partner, senior firm leadership & Group CFO to drive financial performance and bottom‑line growth. Acting as a strategic partner, this role provides insight, analysis, challenge and support to practice heads and legal departments to help them improve profitability, efficiency and long‑term sustainability.

This is a pivotal position that combines Head of Finance level responsibilities, strategic business partnering, and day‑to‑day management (within a group matrix reporting structure) of a local finance team. You will play an essential role in supporting the firm’s performance, informing decision‑making, and driving sustainable growth.

Working alongside the Group Head of Legal Accounts, the Head of Finance ensures that financial data is translated into clear actions that strengthen the firm’s performance, support decision‑making and enhance partner accountability.

• Act as the primary financial advisor to the Managing Partner and the senior leadership group.
• Provide high‑quality commercial insight, identifying trends, opportunities and risks across the firm.
• Support and influence strategic planning, including long‑term financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Translate complex financial data into clear recommendations and business cases.

• Oversee all aspects of the finance function, ensuring robust financial control, compliance, and reporting.
• Oversee the preparation and review of monthly management accounts, statutory accounts & statutory audit.
• Monitor performance, productivity, realisation and profitability & firm‑wide KPIs, fee‑earner performance, matter profitability, and utilisation metrics.
• Analyse and explain drivers of performance variance (e.g., utilisation, leverage, recovery, matter mix).
• Lead regular financial review meetings with practice groups to drive accountability and commercial awareness.
• Provide coaching & support to the partner group & heads of department on financial management & performance, pricing, fee structures, margin improvement and cashflow management.

• Lead annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles across the firm, providing input and insight to the Lawfront Group Head of Financial Performance & Analysis.
• Develop forward‑looking MI and dashboards that support decision‑making at partner and board level.
• Improve financial reporting processes to deliver timely, reliable and insightful information.

• Lead profitability improvement initiatives across sectors, teams and matter types.
• Support alternative fee arrangements (AFAs), fixed fee pricing and framework agreements.
• Evaluate investment opportunities, new hires, office expansion, and major operational initiatives.

• Lead or support cross‑firm projects related to efficiency, cost control, systems optimisation and process redesign.
• Play a significant role in system migration or PMS transformation projects, ensuring financial processes and reporting align with future operating models.
• Support partner remuneration processes, KPIs and performance metrics.
• Evaluate M&A opportunities, integration plans, and post‑merger performance.

• Ensure aligned financial controls, policies and reporting across the finance team.
• Work with the Group Legal Accounts Manager & Legal Accounts/Credit Control function to ensure financial integrity, compliance and accurate data foundations, improve lock‑up, realisation rates, billing cycles and working capital performance.

• Lead, develop and mentor the local finance team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Promote strong communication between finance and the wider business in particular the Partners and Heads of Department.

• Professional qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a professional services or…