Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.
We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.
Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that’s a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That’s why they choose us.
Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients’ trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.
Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.
The Team
The team is responsible for the development and overall control of all matters relating to the firm’s financial policies, financial affairs and administration.
Scope
Working alongside the Financial Controller and the CFO the Finance Manager is responsible for the production of monthly management accounts, annual budgets and forecasts, delivering insightful analysis of financial performance across the firm and providing commercial support to partners and fee earners to support effective and profitable delivery of their matters.

Responsibilities

• Reporting - Preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts including monthly written commentary and various supporting schedules in accordance with the agreed timetable.
• Planning and Budgeting - Evaluate budget drivers and assumptions with the fee earning and Business Service teams and prepare consolidated plans and annual budgets for the firm. Responsibility for maintaining budgets and other KPI (key performance indicator) targets on the financial systems. Calculation of updated profit forecasts in the run up to each year end.
• Overheads – Provide Business Services Directors with regular expenditure reports and supporting analysis as required to enable them to effectively manage their respective financial and contractual commitments.
• Commercial Analysis – Support Departmental and Practice Area Managers with insightful analysis of their teams’ financial performance and provide relevant information to support their business planning, periodic promotions and delivery of profitable and sustainable growth over time.
• Provide pricing and pitch planning advice to Partners and the BD team to support scoping and estimating significant new matter proposals. Co-ordinate the annual review of hourly rates, maintain both standard and client-specific rate tables as agreed with Partners and provide analysis of trends and client profitability to maximise available income.
• Training and presentations – deliver basic training to all new joiners in the use of financial reporting tools and interpretation of that data. Work with the Financial Controller and CFO, and KL&D team to prepare and deliver periodic wider financial and commercial awareness training sessions to groups of staff at different seniority levels.
• Report development – Maintain oversight of weekly and monthly management KPI reports to ensure data accuracy and relevance. Work with the Financial Controller and CFO to develop and improve reporting tools over time to ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose.
• Supervise the Finance Assistant to maintain and update fee earner personal targets in Aderant, liaising with HR to obtain relevant data and explaining adjustments to fee earners where necessary.
• Maintain oversight of external survey submissions by the Finance Assistant (legal industry benchmarks and ONS statutory requirements) and client reporting requirements where committed.
• Support the Financial Controller and CFO with ad-hoc requests for financial analysis or attendance to represent Finance at certain Partner meetings and provide financial expertise to Business Services projects.

Skills and Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA) preferred or exam finalist would be considered.
• Experience of working in professional services, particularly legal industry would be a strong advantage.
• Confident in using MS Office tools, particularly Excel but beneficial to be conversant with Powerpoint, Word and PowerBI.
• Excellent organisational skills and able to effectively manage workloads particularly in times of conflicting deadlines and busy periods.
• Diligence and attention to detail are crucial as the post-holder is required to review their own work critically as well as that of peers and juniors.
• Ability to work without supervision, proactive and prepared to use initiative.
• Confident, with excellent communication skills and a sensitive approach to confidential information where necessary.

Special aspects
The normal hours of work are 9.30am – 5.30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand.
Farrer & Co operates an agile working framework under which members of the firm are expected to spend at least 40% of their working hours in the office. This is a minimum expectation: individuals may elect or be asked or expected to work more frequently in the office, depending on circumstance.
Farrer & Co is an equal opportunity employer which welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We look to employ the best candidates regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.
We are keen to ensure candidates have the best interview experience possible. If you require any adjustments during the interview or application process, please let the recruitment team know.
Comments
Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which includes a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.

• Reporting - Preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts including monthly written commentary and various supporting schedules in accordance with the agreed timetable.
• Planning and Budgeting - Evaluate budget drivers and assumptions with the fee earning and Business Service teams and prepare consolidated plans and annual budgets for the firm. Responsibility for maintaining budgets and other KPI (key performance indicator) targets on the financial systems. Calculation of updated profit forecasts in the run up to each year end.
• Overheads – Provide Business Services Directors with regular expenditure reports and supporting analysis as required to enable them to effectively manage their respective financial and contractual commitments.
• Commercial Analysis – Support Departmental and Practice Area Managers with insightful analysis of their teams’ financial performance and provide relevant information to support their business planning, periodic promotions and delivery of profitable and sustainable growth over time.
• Provide pricing and pitch planning advice to Partners and the BD team to support scoping and estimating significant new matter proposals. Co-ordinate the annual review of hourly rates, maintain both standard and client-specific rate tables as agreed with Partners and provide analysis of trends and client profitability to maximise available income.
• Training and presentations – deliver basic training to all new joiners in the use of financial reporting tools and interpretation of that data. Work with the Financial Controller and CFO, and KL&D team to prepare and deliver periodic wider financial and commercial awareness training sessions to groups of staff at different seniority levels.
• Report development – Maintain oversight of weekly and monthly management KPI reports to ensure data accuracy and relevance. Work with the Financial Controller and CFO to develop and improve reporting tools over time to ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose.
• Supervise the Finance Assistant to maintain and update fee earner personal targets in Aderant, liaising with HR to obtain relevant data and explaining adjustments to fee earners where necessary.
• Maintain oversight of external survey submissions by the Finance Assistant (legal industry benchmarks and ONS statutory requirements) and client reporting requirements where committed.
• Support the Financial Controller and CFO with ad-hoc requests for financial analysis or attendance to represent Finance at certain Partner meetings and provide financial expertise to Business Services projects