Assistant Financial Controller

A full time, permanent role based in Cambridge, with occasional travel to other offices and hybrid working

The role

Reporting to the firm’s Financial Controller, this is a key role supporting the business in achieving the firm’s 2025 strategy to be a leader in client experience and drive profitable growth through effective and insightful financial reporting.  This is a great opportunity to join a high performing finance team and further your career in an ambitious and growing top 50 national law firm.

The person

This role requires someone who has experience of working in a high performing finance team ideally at another law or professional services firm and has a proven track record of management and statutory reporting, budgeting, forecasting and analysis.  It is likely that your background and experience will include the following areas of expertise:

• Strong previous experience in a management accounting or similar role e.g. professional practice
• Extensive experience in monthly management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and preparation of financial statements
• Extensive experience in the analysis of financial data and preparation of concise, insightful reports to support decision makers
• Ability to manage a small team, ensuring review of information and appropriate delegation, whilst developing our key talent
• A sound knowledge of VAT and managing submissions
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and multi-task
• High level of numerical and computer literacy, with emphasis on excellent Excel knowledge
• Strong track record of building effective relationships at all levels.  Ability to build rapport, gain respect and influence stakeholders
• Qualification in ACA / CIMA / ACCA

The role requires someone who

• is proactive and adaptable
• has an excellent attention to detail
• is energetic and delivery focused, with resilience to deal with challenging situations and deadlines
• has a consultative and collaborative working style
• is logical and systematic in their approach

In addition, you will need to:

• be willing to travel to the firm’s other offices as required
• be flexible on when you take your annual leave depending on the demands at certain points in the monthly and annual reporting cycles; and
• be flexible and able to work longer hours as the role demands

The activities

Management reporting

• Lead on production of the monthly management accounts to tight reporting deadlines
• Work with the Commercial Managers to produce a firm and business unit level forecast each month
• Preparation and review of month end balance sheet reconciliations and control accounts across the Group, ensuring that all balances are correct, and variances investigated
• Working with the Assistant Management Account (AMA) to post key journals including accruals and prepayments
• With support from the AMA, prepare monthly KPI reporting as agreed with the FC/CFO and in line with reporting deadlines to include Firm level variance and trend analysis
• Manage investment fund budget with the support of your team and operational directors
• Review and provide guidance for the accurate maintenance of the fixed asset register
• Manage the support provided to operational directors on their actual spend versus plan and their monthly forecasts
• Drive improvements to month-end procedures to streamline and automate where possible
• Maintain subsidiary company books and provide intercompany reconciliations as needed
• Manage the import of the monthly salary data from the payroll system, reconciling the resulting control accounts with assistance as needed from the Payroll Manager

Year end reporting

• Lead the annual financial audit, with the support of the FC, by preparing the year end file and answering external auditors’ queries, discussing issues as they arise.
• Prepare a first draft of the group consolidation
• Prepare a first draft of the financial statements for Group, LLP and subsidiary companies
• Perform intercompany reconciliations to ensure all transactions are properly accounted for
• Support the FC in producing the annual report for distribution to partners
• Prepare various analyses to support the year end process and reporting

Annual planning

• Support the Financial Controller in leading the 3 year planning cycle process day to day and taking the lead in collating data and producing first draft P&Ls, balance sheet and cash flow, using our reporting and planning software to its full potential
• Work with the operational directors, with your team, to prepare their proposed budgets, ensuring they are submitting on time and are fully developed
• Support the FC to produce the final annual plan report, providing supplementary analysis as required

Treasury management

• Prepare a monthly rolling cashflow forecast, ensuring that any funding gaps are identified and proposed actions are discussed and agreed
• Monitor cash levels throughout the month, with the support of the Finance Operations Manager and FC, to identify if external borrowing / overdraft is required
• Track bank interest rates to maximise our returns, seeking authorisation to move balances as required
• Keep track of FX rates to maximise returns on our foreign currency balances

VAT & tax

• Manage the submission of VAT returns and VAT payments to ensure all deadlines are met and no fines are incurred
• Supporting the Senior Tax Manager with queries and analysis as required, particularly in relation to partner accounts

Other responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining and improving internal controls and processes to ensure compliance with the Group’s accounting policies. Develop robust processes and controls to ensure risks are managed appropriately in line with Group requirements
• Develop a sound knowledge of our partner accounting and reporting
• Ensure that benchmarking surveys are completed to deadline and are accurate
• Ensure you develop a sound knowledge of key finance systems and metrics to support your role
• Perform other work as necessary to assist in meeting firm objectives as delegated by the FC and CFO

The Mills & Reeve Business services career structure

We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework.  Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels.  For the purposes of the framework, this role is at a Manager level and the role profile that details the outcomes and activities expected of across the firm is included with this job description.  Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure is available from the HR team.

The package

As you would expect, the firm offers a generous salary and benefits.  The firm’s standard benefits are detailed in the following link:

http://www.mills-reeve.com/benefits/

The firm

What really sets Mills & Reeve apart from other law firms is the way we work with our clients. We understand that clients, in the 21st century, no longer want a traditional law firm – they want one that embraces forward thinking approaches to service, billing, commercial know-how, innovation, people management and community engagement.

Why not find out more about what it’s like to work at Mills & Reeve by taking two minutes to watch our video?

https://player.vimeo.com/video/157575542  

And finally..

Mills & Reeve is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements and endeavour to achieve the right balance for both our people and the business. This attitude to flexible working ensures we continue to provide outstanding service to our clients, whilst allowing our people to develop their careers in the knowledge that personal priorities will remain just that.

Mills & Reeve is committed to promoting equality, diversity and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment. Please  click here to find further information regarding our diversity policy.

If you would like any more information about Mills & Reeve, you can visit our website by clicking on the following link:

http://www.mills-reeve.com/