Chief Financial Officer

The Role

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of our firm’s executive leadership team and will be a standing member of our UK, Ireland & Middle East (UKIME) Board.

This critical role requires you to work with the CEO, Managing Partner, COO, and Heads Of within our Finance team to oversee our financial strategy, lead the finance function across our UKIME region, optimise profitability, and ensure robust financial governance. The role carries significant influence and authority and is crucial to running our firm efficiently and effectively.

Reporting directly to the UKIME CEO, you will work in close partnership with the UKIME Managing Partner and COO to ensure that the firm’s strategy is effectively implemented through the Finance function.

As CFO, you will take a leadership role as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. You will be a strategic leader who can navigate the complexities of the changing landscape in the legal sector to ensure that the Finance team delivers excellence that drives our firm’s strategic direction. This includes delivering solid financial management and forward planning; robust financial data and reporting; actively managing costs across our firm; and building adaptable, future-proofed capability in the Finance function. You are expected to contribute to discussions on our UKIME strategy, including by providing insights into profitability, financial resilience, key financial change/transformation programmes, and implementing improvements in the delivery of our financial operations.

Your role involves oversight of the Finance team, including the Head of Finance Operations, Head of Commercial Analysis, and the teams delivering financial transformation programmes such as the Firmwide Finance Transformation. You will support, guide, and inspire direct reports and the wider Finance team to adopt an ambitious, client-focused (internal and external), accountable, and results-driven approach. You will also be responsible for ensuring collaboration across Finance groups and alignment with other Business Services functions, coordinating a cohesive approach while maintaining accountability for team performance.

In conjunction with the COO, you will oversee key finance transformation projects and manage the financial aspects of other projects, including possible mergers, acquisitions, significant team hires, or business disposals.

It will be vital for you to gain the trust of Partners and Business Services colleagues, including spending time with Partners and other key stakeholders to understand their perspectives and needs. You will exemplify confidence, strategic insight, commercial acumen, enthusiasm, and determination. You will also promote a culture within the Finance team that values engagement, supports innovation, and implements changes effectively.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement financial strategies to support the firm’s growth objectives and provide expert financial advice to the Executive Committee, guiding decisions that impact the firm’s health and growth.
2. Oversee all financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes.
3. Ensure accurate and timely financial information is provided in a user-friendly, actionable format to bring clarity to informed decision-making and assist alignment with our strategic goals.
4. Develop and implement financial risk management policies and practices. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, including SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) and other relevant legal and financial regulations.
5. Optimise cash flow, manage working capital, and maintain appropriate liquidity levels to support the firm’s operations and strategic goals.
6. Provide insights and analysis on the firm’s profitability, identifying opportunities to improve margins and efficiency across all practice areas.
7. Oversee initiatives to manage costs effectively, improve operational efficiencies, and maximise profitability.
8. Maintain and enhance financial controls, policies, and procedures to ensure sound governance and mitigate risks, including maintaining risk registers and preparing risk reports.
9. Act as a key liaison with external stakeholders, including banks, auditors, regulatory bodies, and partners.
10. Build established relationships with partners, Divisional Leaders, Practice Group Leaders and Office Heads to align financial strategy with the firm’s overall goals.
11. Guide and develop the regional finance team, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Required experience, skills, and attributes

1. Possess ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent.
2. Established experience as a CFO, Finance Director, or similar role within a professional services environment, preferably in a law firm or related sector.
3. Comprehensive understanding of financial regulations, SRA compliance, and knowledge of UK, Ireland, and Middle East legal services markets.
4. Strategic thinker with significant financial modelling and practical strategic planning skills. Proficient in financial management software and tools.
5. A track record of effective leadership experience with the ability to inspire and develop a high performing team.
6. Effective interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders and an ability to influence and drive change at all levels of the organisation.
7. Able to build good relationships at all levels of the organisation and ability to work seamlessly with colleagues, stakeholders, and teams across different departments and regions.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. & Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons on our website.

Equal Opportunities

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurodiversity, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We also offer flexible working hours.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand please email – Enquiries only please, applications will not be accepted via email.#J-18808-Ljbffr