Senior Finance Business Partner
Liverpool
This role will involve being a key partner to one of our Business Groups to improve all aspects of financial management and profit improvement and to assist it to achieve its strategic objectives.
Key responsibilities:
Reporting to the Business Group Leader for the designated business group and the firm’s FD. Working alongside the BGL in driving financial performance and providing strategic support in the group. Effectively operating as Finance Director of the business group.
Close working relationship with and influence of many internal stakeholders - Business Group and Team Leaders, Partners, FEs, Exec, Board, Finance team, HR team, BDM team.
Lead monthly dashboard meetings on financial performance with the BGL, FD, CEO and COO.
Lead individual monthly financial review with Team Leaders.
Report on financial performance and key issues in monthly Team Leader meetings.
Report on financial performance and focus on key issues/topics in team meetings (incorporates all Partners and FEs).
Provide insight and analysis into key aspects of performance, to highlight issues and drive improved behaviours.
Provide analysis of client performance for both individual clients and groupings of clients
Take responsibility for financial information and its output within the business group and out to the wider business.
Develop and lead training project to improve financial awareness amongst Fee Earners. Develop and lead initiatives to improve revenue recovery and drive billing.
Support on client pitches and pricing by providing dynamic and insightful input. Advise on tender pricing.
Challenge performance, future plans and outlook.
Responsibility for driving desired behaviours with regards to lock up, through training, providing insight and analysis and reporting this to FEs, managing review processes.
Liaising with credit control to manage debt and promote best practice in the Group.
Lead budget process, salary reviews, bonus setting.
Support on strategic growth opportunities, including creating business cases for lateral hires and potential acquisitions/mergers.
Through liaison with the wider Finance team and embedded business group support, ensure day to day operational activities progress smoothly.
What are we looking for:
Essential
Experienced and Qualified Accountant - CIMA, ACA or ACCA
Advanced Excel skills
Management reporting - significant development experience or capability to be demonstrated of management information and KPIs
Management accounting - strong technical competence, familiarity and experience of KPIs, costing, pricing models specifically profitability analysis at all levels
Commercial orientation - involvement in commercial tenders, ability to react rapidly and flexible to assist win commercial opportunities
Team player / winner - demonstrable partnering business leaders, not just an accountant; must be a key part of the team
Bottom line focus - sharp focus on improving bottom line results; specific example of personal achievement to be shared
Client service focus - clear understanding of internal and external clients’ needs and the ability to add value
Communicator / influencer - proven experience of working alongside / influencing key management in a business unit, respected by colleagues in current and or previous roles
Demonstrable understanding of business and business objectives
Profitability analysis to levels of client, product and business units
Confident and competent presentation and report writing skills
Desirable
Demonstrable understanding of pricing models
Experience in process change and system implementation.