About the job

Senior Finance Manager - BlackBay Lawyers

Sydney CBD | Senior High-Autonomy Role

BlackBay Lawyers is a specialist litigation firm scaling deliberately and fast. We are on pace to double year-on-year, and we are building a finance function to match.

We act for ASX-listed companies, founders, boards and senior executives in complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution. We were named Boutique Law Firm of the Year 2024 and are finalists again in 2025.

We are seeking a Senior Finance Manager to take full ownership of the firm's finance function, reporting directly to the Senior Management team. The title is Senior Finance Manager; the scope and authority sit closer to Financial Controller - and for the right person, that is where this role is heading, fast.

The Role

At BlackBay, this role is trusted with meaningful responsibility from day one.

You will:

• Own the finance function end-to-end as the most senior finance person in the business
• Act as a direct commercial adviser to the management team on performance, profitability and cash
• Run management reporting, cashflow forecasting, budgeting and board-ready financial packs
• Take full responsibility for the trust account and compliance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law
• Own debtors, lockup and WIP - including the partner conversations that come with it
• Manage payroll, BAS, IAS, supplier payments and bank reconciliations
• Manage the relationship with our external accountants, bank and insurers
• Supervise our existing finance administrator and shape how that role evolves
• Bring judgement to matter profitability, pricing and partner performance reporting
• Support the firm's AML/CTF compliance program (Tranche 2) through trust account monitoring, transaction reporting and source of funds verification, working closely with the Chief of Staff as AML/CTF Compliance Officer
• Build the finance function alongside the firm - systems, processes and team

This is not a steady-state role. The firm is growing quickly, and the role will grow with it. The right person will be running a function several times this size within a few years.

Who This Role Is For

This role is designed for ambitious finance professionals who want to grow with a firm rather than slot into something already built.

• Qualified accountants (CA or CPA) with approximately 6–8+ years post-qualification experience
• Prior law firm or professional services experience - trust accounting under the Uniform Law is preferred
• Familiarity with AML/CTF obligations is highly regarded
• People who want to build, not maintain
• are comfortable being the senior decision-maker on financial matters
• who want their seniority and compensation to track the firm's growth
• expect progression and reward to follow performance, not tenure

What You Get

• Genuine ownership of the firm's finance function from day one
• Direct access to the decision-makers
• A clear runway from Finance Manager to Financial Controller and beyond as the firm scales
• Compensation that grows commensurate with ability, seniority and the size of the function you're running
• The opportunity to build something - systems, team, reporting, commercial influence
• A collegiate, ego-free culture with high standards
• A long-term career path in a firm growing deliberately and sustainably at pace

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining BlackBay Lawyers, please apply via Seek or send your CV to team@blackbaylawyers.com.

Confidential conversations are welcome - not all strong candidates are actively looking.