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Head of Finance and Reporting

Finance

Work for a place that works for you…

At Stephens Scown, every day is what we make it. So we make it matter. Doing notable work for notable clients, building our skills with talented people and having a positive impact on our communities sits at the heart of everything we do.

We don’t just say it, we live it. Our commitment to our people, clients and communities runs through our DNA. We are employee-owned, we are a Certified B CorporationTM, and we are featured in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 list – ensuring our culture and ethos of going above and beyond for our people, our colleagues and our communities is recognised nationally.

 

The Role

The Head of Finance and Reporting will be responsible for the operational delivery of a best-in-class finance service alongside developing and maintaining a robust reporting suite fit for the future of the Firm. Leading the Finance team, the Head of Finance and Reporting will ensure that the Firm’s strategic financial aspirations are delivered through day-to-day pro-active and high-quality service delivery, overseeing the component aspects of working capital management, legal cashiering and regulatory compliance, financial modelling and forecasting, monitoring and coordination of practice finances. The role will also pro-actively engage with key stakeholders and act as point of contact in driving financial performance with internal and external stakeholders, external accountants and auditors and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

This role will be partnering with Business Leaders – specifically the Chief Operating Officer and Board Advisor – Finance and will be responsible for delivering the financial components of the Board’s business strategy. This will be achieved through direct contribution to the operational performance of the Finance team including overseeing the work of the Finance Manager and equivalent roles.

Primarily, the Head of Finance and Reporting will be responsible for:

  • Internal management accounting and reporting of firmwide performance.
  • Cashflow forecasting and producing regular reports on financial movement to the leadership team
  • Purchase Ledger, collections, billing and cashiering management
  • Supporting the business leaders in the monitoring and coordination of the Firm’s finances
  • Keeping the leadership teams informed of all financial matters, as needed and as required.
  • Executing the annual budgetary/forecasting process including preparation of year-end statutory accounts.
  • Ensuring that all information and communications taking place within the Finance team are in line with the regulatory requirements and are managed in line with GDPR, risk management frameworks and the Solicitors Accounts Rules
  • SAR Audits
  • Development of positive relationships to become a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team and key members of the finance team
  • Managing the relationship with external payroll supplier and overseeing monthly payroll and pensions processes
  • Leadership, management and development of the Finance team
  • Financial Process Management and Process Improvement

 

About You

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and experience:

  • You will be CCAB qualified Accountant with a minimum of 6 years of fully qualified work experience within a professional services or legal firm (essential)
  • Sound working knowledge of Solicitor Accounts Rules and the Solicitor Regulation Authority Guidance (essential)
  • Proven experience of liaison with company accountants, auditors and assessors (desirable)
  • Experience of financial risk management within a legal environment (highly desirable)
  • Up-to-date working knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering regulations and thorough understanding of the Firm’s HMRC obligations (including the Partnership tax regime) and their financial implications (essential)
  • Knowledge and understanding of GDPR (desirable)
  • Computer literate with strong Microsoft Office skills (particularly Excel) and direct experience of complex finance systems (essential)
  • Proven experience of use and development of legal Practice Management System (essential)
  • Knowledge of Aderant software (desirable)
  • Experience of extracting data from a database using SQL and/or Power BI (highly desirable)
  • Previous experience of managing large teams including coaching, training and mentoring (essential)
  • An ability to manage busy workload, multiple workstreams and demands, applying energy and focus to tasks regardless of owner to ensure progress is continually made (essential)
  • You will be flexible and adaptable and have the ability to critically assess ideas and approaches (essential)
  • You will have highly effective interpersonal and communication skills with people at all levels including the ability to use tact, diplomacy and persuasiveness (essential)

 

What we can offer you

  • We offer a competitive salary and an impressive array of benefits and rewards. Not least of these is through the Firm’s employee-ownership status, where every employee is listened to, helps to realise our vision and receives an equal share in our annual profit-share.
  • Our hybrid working model and approach to flexible working enables our people to share their working time between home and the office to support a healthy work / life balance.
  • View a full list of our benefits – including up to 28 days holiday (plus bank holidays and your birthday), private medical insurance, group life assurance, access to a comprehensive range of wellbeing support, and three additional days’ paid leave to support good causes.

 

Why Stephens Scown?

Being Great Matters…

Working here is something else entirely. It’s a place where we can step up to tough challenges with people so good they inspire us to be better. We proudly work in a beautiful part of the country, go beyond expectations and achieve things that matter.

Owning It Matters…

We’re the UK’s first major employee-owned law firm. But more than this, we’re people-centred, people-powered. We do what it takes to help each other overcome every challenge. Whatever’s happening in the world, empowering our people is what matters.

Doing Good Matters…

Our communities and colleagues give us a lot to be thankful for. So we try to make them feel as valued as our clients. Whether we’re digging deep and giving our time and money, picking up rubbish from our streets and beaches, at Stephens Scown, if it’s right, it matters.

Having Fun Matters…

We might have the expertise of a top city firm, but outside our offices there’s not a skyscraper in sight. Whether we’re getting to know our clients on our local beach or having fun in the park with colleagues, we’re all about living a life enriched by work. Making the fun matter.

Apply for this position

If this sounds like you and you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please send your application by email (quoting your current or last salary) enclosing an up to date CV to humanresources@stephens-scown.co.uk or by post to: HR Department, Stephens Scown LLP, Curzon House, Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1RS

Apply Now

At Stephens Scown, we believe that a diverse workforce delivers better results for our clients and creates a happier workplace where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Therefore we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, abilities and beliefs.

All offers of employment at Stephens Scown are subject to Basic level of Disclosure and Barring Service check. Any information gathered in relation to the DBS process is held in in accordance with all relevant data protection regulations. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences. At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment. We make every subject of a DBS Disclosure aware of the existence of the DBS Code of Practice. This is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-code-of-practice

For more information on how Stephens Scown process personal data please visit Stephens Scown Privacy Statement