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- Tasks: Lead the UK finance function and shape the financial strategy for the London office.
- Company: Major international law firm with a dynamic and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a vibrant work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing financial decisions and driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Proven senior finance leader with strong commercial acumen and relationship-building skills.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced team with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
A major international law firm is seeking a Head of Finance & Operations to focus on the London office, leading its UK finance function and play a central role on the London Management Team. This is a broad, influential position that goes far beyond traditional financial control. It is ideally suited to a senior finance leader who combines strong commercial acumen with people leadership, partner/stakeholder management and operational oversight. This is not a technical accounting hire. Those capabilities already sit within the team. Instead, they are seeking someone who can:
- Provide confident leadership and direction to the UK finance function.
- Shape culture, bring the team together and articulate a clear commercial strategy.
- Strengthen financial insight and challenge across the London office.
- Influence partners and senior leaders to drive performance and commercial discipline.
- Ensure financial and operational decisions align with broader business strategy.
You will need to be an experienced adviser to senior leadership, a strong relationship builder and someone who thrives in a fast moving, partnership driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Finance Leadership
- Lead and develop the UK finance function, shaping culture, capability and long term strategic direction.
- Partner with the London Management Team (LMT) to define and drive the financial strategy of the London office.
- Lead commercial finance activity including pricing, profitability, performance analysis and strategic financial decision making.
- Oversee monthly P&L and balance sheet reviews, providing insightful, forward looking analysis and constructive challenge.
- Work closely with global commercial accounting and pricing teams to align priorities and enhance financial decision support.
- Contribute to decisions regarding the financial shape, size and structural planning of the London office.
- Oversee UK finance teams, including cashiers, accounts payable and management accounting (with statutory accounting managed centrally).
- Strategic Partnering & Influence
- Partner with senior leaders to challenge, shape and support high quality decision making.
- Build strong, trusted relationships across the partnership, influencing behaviours and driving commercial discipline.
- Operational Leadership
- Act as a core member of the LMT, working alongside senior partners and HR leadership.
- Support operational oversight across facilities, IT, space planning and office services, ensuring efficient, well coordinated processes.
- Reduce reliance on partner time by providing structure, clarity and consistent operational coordination.
- Help embed stronger governance, consistency and effective decision making across the London operations environment.
Experience needed
- A proven senior finance leader from a partnership or professional services environment.
- Commercial, energetic and influential, with the ability to challenge constructively.
- Comfortable operating across both finance and broader operational work.
- Flexible, pragmatic and relationship driven rather than rigid or technical only.
Head of Finance & Operations employer: Ambition
Contact Detail:
Ambition Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance & Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and operations space, especially those in law firms. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about unadvertised roles or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the firm’s culture and values. Tailor your responses to show how your leadership style aligns with their vision. We want you to shine as a confident leader who can drive performance!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your commercial acumen during discussions. Be ready to share examples of how you've influenced financial strategies and improved operational efficiency in previous roles. This is your chance to demonstrate your impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance & Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in leading finance teams. We want to see how you've shaped culture and driven strategic direction in previous roles. Use specific examples to demonstrate your confident leadership style.
Emphasise Commercial Acumen: This role is all about combining finance with commercial insight. Be sure to articulate your understanding of financial strategy and how it aligns with broader business goals. We’re looking for someone who can influence decisions, so share instances where you’ve done just that.
Build Relationships: Since this position involves partnering with senior leaders, it’s crucial to showcase your relationship-building skills. Talk about how you've successfully collaborated with stakeholders in the past and how you’ve influenced behaviours to drive performance.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure your application speaks directly to the job description. We want to see that you understand the unique challenges of a partnership-driven environment. Don’t forget to apply through our website – it’s the best way to get your application noticed!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ambition
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you’re well-versed in the financial metrics relevant to the role. Brush up on P&L statements, balance sheets, and key performance indicators. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the financial landscape of the firm.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, especially in a partnership or professional services environment. Highlight your ability to shape culture and bring teams together, as this is crucial for the Head of Finance & Operations role.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced senior leaders and partners in previous roles, as this will be key to driving performance and commercial discipline.
✨Align with Business Strategy
Understand the broader business strategy of the law firm and be prepared to discuss how financial and operational decisions can align with it. This shows that you’re not just focused on numbers but also on the overall success of the organisation.