Senior Commercial Finance Manager

Role summary/purpose of job

The primary purpose of the Commercial Finance Senior Manager role will be to serve as key advisor on local commercial Finance issues to the Local Practice Group Representative. The Commercial Finance Senior Manager will be a trusted advisor to the firm, may manage others and deputise for the Commercial Finance PG lead. Their expertise and knowledge will be highly developed to provide leadership with strong business consulting skills across a wide range of commercial finance subjects.

The Commercial Finance Senior Manager will deliver the global commercial finance business partnering processes as set by the Commercial Finance lead to improve the firm’s working capital management, business planning capabilities and expert Finance advisory services. Working in close collaboration with senior internal stakeholders to position the firm for the future and manage P&L performance.

Location Overview: London

Our London office is at the heart of our global network, in one of the most exciting world cities. London is arguably the world’s greatest financial centre: all of the world’s leading financial institutions have a significant presence here. It’s home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s largest companies.

Our London team has a reputation that’s second to none. They’re the team the world’s leading businesses turn to for help with their most challenging problems. They work with colleagues around the world on complex, cross-border deals and disputes. Whether you join as a lawyer, a recent graduate or in a business services role, London is a great place to work.

You will have the opportunity to work on challenging, engaging work that will give you the opportunity to make your mark and progress your career. We believe there is no better place to work.

Function Overview

The global Finance function ensures robust financial control across our global operations, whilst partnering with the firm as a valued commercial advisor, influencing strategic decision making and driving long term profitable growth for the firm.

We achieve our vision with all our people working collaboratively with a shared culture and identifying themselves as part of one inclusive Global Finance team.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Business insight and advisory

• Drives, develops, and maintains close links with the lawyers and Practice Group Leadership, providing commercial finance insight and guidance and ensuring that the strategy, plan, and financial performance criteria are delivered to maximise the Practice Groups financial performance

• Advises and challenges on P&L performance for practice group leadership, supporting and influencing decision making, inputting into practice group performance reporting, and tackling areas of improvement.

• Maintains an outward client focus & awareness through strong stakeholder relationships, networking and research.

• Working closely with the wider Finance team to ensure a well-rounded knowledge of strategic and operational issues impacting the firm’s financial risk profile promoting and, where appropriate, enforcing financial policy

• Reporting and providing commentary on operational performance including input, utilisation and other KPIs. 

Working Capital Management

• Responsible for delivering end-to-end working capital targets ensuring timely updates & forecasts are provided to the Commercial Finance PG Lead on critical areas including time recording, WIP conversion and cash collection and ensuring that corrective action is taken where required

• Advising the team with complex billing requirements including multi-jurisdiction, multi-practice group, complex timelines, e-Billing requirements, and any other specific client needs as they evolve.

• Ensuring that budgets and targets issued by management are well understood and communicated to local teams. 

• Management of billing cycles including setting out plans, communicating to relevant stakeholders, and considering allocation of team resources appropriately.

• Working closely with Global Pricing to deliver improvements in time recording and matter control

• Support with monitoring the performance of the Global Shared Services team against SLAs and KPIs to ensure timely processing of transactions, working with Global Process Owners to deliver process improvements where there is impact commercial finance processes

Business planning, Cost Management, and projects

• Advises practice groups in setting and monitoring local P&L budgets, forecasts, and plans - challenging assumptions where appropriate

• Leads direct and indirect cost control processes for practice groups including communicating to and advising budget holders or any other practice group stakeholders.

• Controller for PG spend including approval and sign-off of expenditure per agreed budgets. 

• Leads on areas of responsibility on the advice and guidance provided on resource management for local practice groups, providing analysis to determine appropriate size and shape of local practice and overall equity profile

• Collaborates with Finance and other Business Services teams to ensure service delivery and SLAs are delivered for the local Practice Group.

• Leads the commercial finance input to the design and delivery of Finance projects as required and champion continuous improvement to support the delivery of the firm and function strategy

Key requirements

Essential

• Significant experience of Finance business partnering at senior levels in a professional services firm

• Extensive knowledge of the legal market, products, and services

• Experience of working within a matrix structure and a Global Shared Services environment

• Proven ability to communicate and influence at a senior level

• Proven ability to manage and develop teams

Desirable

• Experience of working within a leading international professional services firm

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.