The Head of Finance is a key role in our finance management team supporting the firm’s partners, fee earners, directors of the corporate services entities and generally taking responsibility for the group financial accounting function.

Our client is an offshore law firm with offices in multiple locations abroad. The firm works with associated trust, corporate and fiduciary service businesses.

Overall responsibility for the entire finance function across multiple legal entities within the group to include:

Main Legal Entity

• Preparation of quarterly management accounts for the group and departmental analysis. Maintenance of inter-company loan accounts and reconciliation of balance sheet control accounts.
• Preparation of annual statutory accounts for regulatory filing purposes. Liaising with service providers in various jurisdictions to ensure compliance with local requirements.
• Cash flow management and responsibility for ensuring that all offices are sufficiently funded to ensure they can settle their expenses as they arise.
• Day to day point of contact in finance department for multiple fee earners and assistance with billing /receipt queries as they arise.
• Management of finance support staff (x2) in overseas offices.
• Management of 4 client accounts and responsibility for moving funds to and from client accounts in line with instructions received.
• Management of supplier relationships and responsibility for ensuring that they are paid on a timely basis in line with contractual obligations.
• Preparation of monthly payroll for 3 offices (approximately 50 employees), paying employees/consultants and ensuring that all required deductions (PAYE/NIC/Workplace pensions) are paid over to the relevant authorities on a timely basis.
• Basic daily bookkeeping and bank reconciliations for 4 offices within the group to include preparation and submission of quarterly VAT and GST returns.
• Approval of expenses claims submitted by fee earners and support staff.
• Calculation of various re-charges of fees and expenses across the group.

Corporate Services Businesses

• Preparation of quarterly management accounts and analysis/commentary for inclusion in board meeting packs. To include journal entries, accruals, deferred income adjustments.
• Responsibility for preparing statutory accounts for external auditors and sole responsibility for preparing all supporting documentation and managing the entire audit process each year.
• Review and management of accounts receivable, WIP and responsibility for following up on old debts as required. High level of client contact as a result of this role.
• Responsibility for settling annual recurring fees and preparation of annual invoicing runs at the beginning of the calendar year.
• Recording all bank payments and quarterly bank reconciliations for 4 banks
• Responsibility for paying over annual license fees for entities as they are received.
• Maintenance of database of entities on Viewpoint system
• Assistance with completion of regulatory reports
• Inter-company account journals and reconciliation of all inter-group loan accounts

Ad-hoc tasks and projects as and when they arise

• Taking over responsibility for the ongoing implementation of a new software system (Viewpoint) for the Corporate Service Businesses. One business has been migrated over to date but there are still 2 businesses which need to be migrated over the next 12 months and the candidate would be involved with migration of the accounting aspects of these businesses.
• The firm is planning to implement a new billing/accounting system within the next 12 months so the candidate would be required to assist with this.

• An ACCA or ACA qualified person with at least 5 years post qualification experience is necessary.
• Experience of working in the offshore financial services industry and/or a law firm.
• Experience working with Viewpoint software would be an advantage.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience having implemented a new billing system would be an advantage.
• The ability to handle dealing with the finance department on a basic transactional basis (I.e.. making bookkeeping entries), making bank payments, dealing with clients all the way through to reporting and strategic planning. 
• The candidate must be enthusiastic, driven, organised and able to prioritise workloads to ensure that turnaround times and deadlines are all met.