Are you a finance professional who thrives on driving operational excellence, leading teams, and improving processes?
We have an exciting opportunity for a Finance Operations Manager to join our collaborative Finance team. Working closely with the Head of Finance Operations and the Assistant Manager, you'll play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our finance operations function — including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank accounts, and cash management.
In this role, you'll have the chance to combine hands-on financial management with people leadership. You'll support and develop a high-performing team, identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, and contribute to the delivery of a first-class finance service across our business.
About the role
In this role, you will:
- Support the Head of Finance Operations, to ensure the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable teams are delivering services in line with the Finance strategy.
- Manage, coach and develop a team of financial operations professionals, ensuring the team has the skills and resources to meet operational goals.
- Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Provide expert guidance to the Assistant Manager in all aspects of their role, including the creation and implementation of development plans for the AP and AR teams.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes and leverage technology for efficiency gains.
- Support internal and external audits, providing accurate and timely information.
- Leading activities in relation to accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank account management.
- Ensure a cohesive working environment to ensure constantly high quality of service is delivered to internal and external clients.
- Act as escalation point for issues concerning financial operations transactions, ensuring solutions are identified promptly and preventative measures are delivered.
- Ensure effective training, procedures and policies are in place, and that the team adhere to them.
- Manage cash flow forecasting to ensure sufficient funding for operational needs.
- Provide high level review of regular cashflow and month end reporting
- Ensure any/all outstanding unreconciled entries are investigated and resolved in a timely manner
- Review existing and develop new procedures, that will benefit the Finance Team and our internal customers
- Support foreign currency management to reduce transaction costs and optimise cash flow across multiple currencies.
- Supervise the administration of client monies accounts (receipting of incoming funds, processing of outward payments, ensuring relevant due diligence in accordance with internal procedures)
- Be the go-to person in relation to any regulatory requirements relating to client monies accounts
About you – essential requirements
- Degree-level education and/or a professional qualification in finance is desirable.
- Proven track record of successfully operating at a manager level within a partnership culture and/or professional services environment.
- Demonstrable experience in managing and developing a team
- Experience of managing accounts payable/receivable in professional services
- Understanding of law firm regulatory environment in respect of cash and client money handling would be beneficial
- Good knowledge of technology and systems relevant to law and professional services (in particular, Elite and / or ViewPoint knowledge would be beneficial)
- Confident and effective communicator able to work effectively at all levels within an organisation.
- Collaborative team skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships with team members and wider stakeholders.
- Able to demonstrate high levels of initiative and decision-making capability and to be comfortable working within a results driven environment with accuracy and focus.
- Personal organisational and time management skills and the ability to understand and prioritise the workload of self and others.