Commercial Finance Business Partner in Leeds

We are recruiting a Commercial Finance Business Partner for our Pricing and Profitability team based in the UK. The firm’s shift toward a client and sector focused growth strategy has driven greater demand for pricing expertise and profitability analysis. To meet this need, we’ve invested heavily, expanding resources and adopting advanced technology, so our function can deliver strategic support to Partners across the globe.

The role is both business and client facing and will require frequent collaboration with key stakeholders and senior colleagues within the finance department, the fee earning community and other business services functions.

• Support to drive the international pricing agenda, ensuring alignment across markets to optimise profitability and maintain competitive positioning.
• Work closely with partners to design and propose innovative, value-driven fee arrangements, leveraging AI insights to optimise pricing strategies that meet both client and business objectives, while confidently challenging assumptions and influencing stronger outcomes.
• Responsible for proactively following up on successful arrangements with partners at routine intervals in a consistent manner, assessing profitability and reviewing scope change against signed Terms of Business, and preparing concise actions to improve matter management and profitability.
• Ensure timely follow-up with relevant stakeholders to ensure that internal systems accurately reflect agreed rate arrangements, maintaining data integrity and supporting compliance with pricing policies.
• Interpret requirements within RFPs to prepare tactical pricing proposals, with a focus on client strategy, type of advice and firm targets with knowledge and experience in preparing innovative pricing proposals, understanding how to mitigate risk and assess profitability outcomes.
• Effectively manage and champion the use of internally developed matter budgeting tools, ensuring they are adopted across teams to improve financial planning and client transparency.
• Raise awareness of client profitability across the firm’s matrix, proactively engaging with stakeholders to drive greater levels of profitability internationally.
• Collaboration with both the wider Finance Business Partnering function and other client facing functions such as Pitch, Legal Project Management and Business Development amongst others.
• Work closely with International Sector Heads on client strategy initiatives. Ability to provide regular finance updates, key trends, and guidance on overall profitability whilst keeping abreast of industry trends to enhance the information we provide.
• Working closely with Finance Business Partners, Sector Leaders, Practice Group Leaders, business support teams and the general partnership to identify gaps in training and provide outreach and support across the entire Firm.

• A strong grounding and experience in Commercial Finance in a fast paced and dynamic professional services setting.
• Ability to analyse and model financial data and prepare concise “client ready” reporting and modelling to assist strategic discussions.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple and evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment, effectively balancing competing deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Advanced user of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with SAP and Power BI desirable, as is familiarity and experience with AI-driven tools such as Microsoft Copilot.
• A continuous improvement mentality to support development of self, colleagues and business processes and interactions.
• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
• Confident presence, and interpersonal skills that enable effective engagement and collaboration with the Firm's most senior Partners and Directors.
• Tenacity, resilience and patience when dealing with difficult and challenging issues and calmness under pressure.
• Flexibility and able to adapt readily to changing requirements and circumstances.
• Dynamic problem-solving abilities; finding creative, commercial and pragmatic solutions.
• The ability to work well and operate comfortably within a partnership structure / culture.
• Ability to flex working style to collaborate across functions and geographies and adapt to change.
• Ability to build relationships with, and influence, senior stakeholders to ensure our commercial perspective is clearly communicated.

We’re a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high-stakes disputes.

At DLA Piper, we understand that inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept. We embrace and celebrate the range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to our firm. By fostering a culture that welcomes and appreciates all aspects of our individuality, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre-engagement screening checks prior to your first day.

Agile Working: We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

Pre-Engagement Screening: In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability, and references from previous employers.

Our hiring approach enables us to learn about the professional and person you are, and gives you the opportunity to learn about us. Your recruitment experience can differ depending on the type of role you are interviewing for. You will always meet your direct Line Manager for your role, as well as peers and close collaborators for the position. For some of our roles we may also use assessment tools, practical exercises, and panel presentations. Your Recruitment Business Partner will inform you of the recruitment process at the start of any recruitment process, but please let us know if you have any questions prior to making an application.

We’re redefining what an international law firm can be. With a unique global network and an unparalleled range of expertise, this is where you’ll work on the cases that shape the world and will define your career.

Staying in touch with like-minded people is important to us. Our Talent Community provides unique access to our firm so you can discover why we are a different kind of law firm.

We pride ourselves on the extraordinary impact we make beyond the borders of traditional law. That’s only possible because of the skills our business professionals bring and the environment we create to let them thrive. See where your skills could take you.