Head of Finance

We are currently working with a highly progressive firm of specialist solicitors based in Hertfordshire who are renowned for their professional yet personal service.

The firm are ranked in The Legal 500, a leading legal directory, and hold many accreditations including Lexcel, Customer Service Excellence, Cyber Essentials+ and ISO
9001. Their aim is to recruit progressive, forward-thinking individuals who wish to be part of their growth and who share their core values:

Open and honest

Working together

Valuing people

Taking pride in what we do

The Head of Finance will be responsible for providing strategic finance and daily control for the accounting function within the business. The Head of Finance will ensure that external and internal service levels, compliance and legislative standards are set and achieved, and the finance function is performed to the highest standards. They will manage the finance strategy and plan, budget and expenditure, audits and maintain external and internal relationships and ensure that the finance team work efficiently and accurately.

The Head of Finance will set the tone for the finance provision and deliver a consistent message to all staff within the business through appropriate communication at all levels and will maintain documentation, adhere to SAR rules and policies, whilst maintaining the firm's core principles and in a manner aligned with the firm's strategy and / or stated objectives.

The Head of Finance will ensure the delivery of "Business as Usual" financial services whilst continuing to consider and deliver new solutions in line with the finance strategy, either internally or by engaging third parties.

Financial Control:

Manage all transactional and financial accounting procedures, ensuring appropriate controls are in place

Manage the Practice Management accounting system ensuring relevant processes are controlled

Oversee the banking functions for all banking systems and accounts

Review cash and bank reports, forecasts and reconciliations

Oversee supplier pay runs and ad hoc payments prior to authorisation

Review interest payments to client accounts

Attend meeting as required

Financial Accounting:

Manage the month end accounting process in line with the agreed timetable

Review and approve all general ledger journals

Prepare the month end accounts in accordance with agreed timetable

Review all monthly balance sheet reconciliations

Prepare and review monthly trial balance reports

Prepare and distribute monthly reports to include fee earner snapshots

Enter salary payments onto the bank for approval to ensure employees are paid on time

Review all regular and ad hoc financial accounts related analysis and reports

Manage the year end accounting and audit process

Manage the statutory accounts and annual return processes

Ensure that all accounting standards are understood, communicated and applied

Ensure that the finance manual is compliant with internal and external requirements and kept up to date

Management Accounts, Budgeting and Forecasting:

Complete a timely and accurate issue of draft and final monthly management accounts in the agreed format

Attend monthly management accounts meetings working closely with the Managing Partner to ensure that management information is shared with all Equity Partners

Leads on the annual budget and forecasting process

Performance reporting

Educated to relevant degree standard

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent)

Minimum 5 years' experience of delivering finance leadership to law firms or other professional services, at a high level

Thorough understanding of a service environment with a strong customer service orientation.

Ability to interpret budget, accounting and…