Assistant Financial Controller

NEW Assistant Financial Controller role now available at Top Law firm, reporting into the EU Financial controller playing a lead role in the development of the growing finance team. This will be a broad role with the cashiering / treasury function reporting into it and will need someone who has a strong legal compliance/ SAR background to lead on their SRA audit and be the first POC for fee earners on questions about SRA compliance.

Specific duties include:

• Lead the annual SAR Accounts Rules audit, owning the relationship with the auditors and managing the audit from start to finish.
• Distribution to fee earners of annual declaration returns to ensure all necessary information is collected for the SAR Accounts Rules audit. Follow up with secretaries and fee earners to ensure completion.
• Develop strong relationships with senior directors of the Business Services function and partners of the Firm. Provide financial assistance and guidance to the budget holders, particularly as part of the budgeting process.
• Cash flow management and preparation of cash flow forecasts for London, including proposed draw downs on the borrowing facilities.
• Liaising with all offices to understand their cash flow forecasts and ensure that their operating costs are met and that borrowing costs are minimised, by transferring funds to and from the offices.
• Preparation of monthly and quarterly management information and covenant packs for bank reporting, including a global cash flow forecast and integrated balance sheet.
• Review of European bank reconciliations and providing the information needed for the COFA to review and sign off the monthly client account bank reconciliations.
• Reconciliation of partner capital accounts and any associated partner capital loans, including arranging repayments of these loans where applicable.
• Monthly, quarterly and annual preparation of commission calculations in respect of consultancy agreements.
• Day-to-day managerial responsibility of the London Cashiering and Accounts Payable teams, including recruitment, training and appraisals (interim and annual).
• Represent Finance on project teams formed to ensure the smooth financial integration of new areas of operation, both in the UK and globally.

For this role, experience required includes:

• An Accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA)
• Legal sector experience to be able to support on their SAR audit
• Excellent communicator and people manager with high levels of interpersonal skills and the ability to lead & inspire others