Finance Director

10575 - Finance Director Job Spec
Location: Northampton

Summary
Our Client, an established legal practice based in Northampton, is seeking to recruit a senior Finance Director on a full-time permanent basis. A growing SME who last year turned over £7m, the Client is looking for a highly experienced candidate who is self-driven, results-oriented with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high quality & business profit. The Finance Director is an important, strategic and senior member of the team. The role has come about by the current FD retiring.

The successful candidate will need to be an excellent communicator with experience of working with and influencing senior management, credible & comfortable in dealing with Partners of the Firm as well as external advisers such as banks and auditors, focused on sustainable and profitable investment, and have the ability to create sound financial forecasts and a willingness to get under the skin of, and become part of, the business is essential.

Responsibilities
*Financial management including reporting to Board of Management/Partners and cash management,
*Completion of the annual budget cycle & annual accounts preparation,
*Compliance with SRA & HMRC regulations including responsibilities as the Firm's Compliance Officer for Finance & Administration (COFA),
*Provision of financial & strategic management input in the role as a member of the Board of Management and to the Partnership generally,
*Improvement of financial disciplines throughout the firm.

Key Tasks
*Preparation of monthly management accounts pack,
*Liaising with auditors with regard to SAR audit, year-end accounts preparation and completion of information for AGM,
*Oversight of payroll processing,
*Attendance at Board and Heads of Teams meetings,
*Ad hoc financial and general management input as and when required,
*Meeting with fee earners to provide guidance to improving financial disciplines,
*Liaison with auditors and bankers to the firm,
*Supervision of Costs Recovery function including consulting with fee earners where appropriate over settlement of unpaid invoices,
*Input into the annual general and PI insurance renewal processes,
*To comply with any direction or instruction in the Firm's Practice Manual regarding client care.

Requirements
*5 to 10 years qualified Accountant and an experienced Manager of a Finance team,
*Experience of working in legal partnerships,
*Essential: the ability to take on COFA role together with an understanding of corporate & personal tax,
*The ability to think strategically & work pro-actively on behalf of the practice,
*An effective report writer who is adept at making presentations,
*Clean or near-clean driving licence.

The bulk of the role will be based at their Northampton office… however the successful candidate must be willing & able to spend time at any of the offices as needs dictate. An ability to commute reliably to the office base is essential as is an ability to work extended hours on occasions when required. For the right candidate and in exceptional circumstances, they would consider solutions that would allow the role to be fulfilled in less than the traditional 5 working days a week.

Package
*Salary: negotiable (circa £45k-£65k per annum, subject to experience)
*Hours: full-time Mon-Fri 9:00am to 5:00pm (45mins lunch)
*Holiday: TBC, increases with length of service
*Pension: 1:1 employee/employer ratio, matched up to 4%
*Childcare vouchers
*Private healthcare with the ability to add spouse and/or dependants
*Income protection (pays a percentage of salary after 6 months sickness absence)
*Health screening
*Death-in-service benefit (after 6 month qualifying period): 3x salary
*Discounted health club / gym membership