Head of Operational Finance

Fieldfisher is a European law firm with market‑leading practices in technology, financial services, energy & natural resources, and life sciences. With 28 offices across Europe, China, and the US, we are known for our collaborative culture, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to delivering exceptional client service. Following significant double‑digit growth, there continues to be a need to modernise and adapt the finance function and to introduce more expertise into the firm to continue to deliver efficiency in our processes and commercial analysis to the growing firm. In that respect we are now seeking an experienced and commercially focused Head of Operational Finance to join our London office. The role will report into the Chief Financial Officer.

This is a senior role in our finance department and will encompass managing the operational finance function and supporting the Chief Financial Officer in all aspects of operational finance matters. The role will work alongside two other key roles in the finance team, the Head of Commercial Finance and the Head of Pricing, to support the CFO in driving and delivering a sustained transition programme to modernise our processes and systems, to better support a dynamic partnership and to introduce greater technological and efficiency changes across the whole European finance function. The role will manage our Financial Controller, our Group Accounting Team, our Finance Projects team and operational finance teams that support these roles. The Operational finance team is primarily located in Belfast following the creation of a business service centre with senior management roles in London.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounting and Reporting
• Working with the Financial Controller to manage the preparation of the monthly management accounts for the Fieldfisher group including P&L’s, cash‑flow forecasts and balance sheets, liaising with UK and International colleagues as necessary.
• Working with the Head of Commercial Finance to review Management Accounts and key variance reports and be able to present the information to budget holders, Partners and business streams.
• Manage the preparation of the firm's annual consolidated financial statements and the audit process with attendance at Audit Committee meetings.
• Ensure all control accounts are reconciled regularly.
• Ensure all Intercompany accounts are reconciled and agreed regularly.
• Develop better management reporting and better dissemination of reporting including automation with key focus on KPIs and “actionable insights”.
• Provide analytical support for strategic decision‑making and performance tracking.
• Working with the Head of Commercial Finance to manage Budget and Forecast preparation.
• Support the firm’s Commercial Finance team and Pricing teams to supply client specific analysis on a timely basis.
• Drive adoption of best practices across finance and operational teams.
• Partnership Accounting
• Manage the firm's partner accounting team, managing partner capital, partner monthly drawings and partner current account statements.
• Working closely with the Senior Partnership Tax Manager to ensure partner current account information is reflected accordingly in partner tax reserve and payments.
• Finance Systems
• Key finance liaison with the Finance Systems Team in relation to driving forward process efficiencies and ongoing improvements in our Microsoft Dynamics (Evergreen) financial system and within Power BI reporting.
• Work with the finance project team and with IT teams to improve data quality, reporting capabilities, and dashboard development.
• Responsibility for identifying areas of functionality which would benefit from technology, such as AI, to improve internal processes.
• Management of operational financial system integration and process integration in new office openings.
• Support the rollout of new financial systems, tools, and automation initiatives.
• Team Responsibility
• For managing operational finance teams and so the role will involve regular visits to Belfast.
• Responsible for building key relationships with European finance staff as we aim to move to a European Finance function.
• Running regular European finance meetings to share best practice.
• Responsible for training.
• Can lead in putting ESG at the heart of what we do.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Work closely with finance leadership and other legal services support teams across the firm in relation to operational finance matters.
• Work closely with the CFO on firmwide strategic projects and attend board meetings when required.
• Ensure finance goals align with firm‑wide goals and compliance requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in a strong financial role within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of financial operations, systems, and reporting.
• Experience of seeking and implementing ways to improve on current practice.
• An ability to develop and enhance management reporting to meet business needs.
• Must have drive and dynamism to take on and proactively challenge processes.
• Must be conscientious, accurate and have a methodical approach to work.
• A highly developed understanding of business strategy.
• Line management skills, with experience in developing and leading effective teams in a complex business environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral).
• Excellent commercial judgement.
• A team player with a flexible and pro‑active approach to work with the ability to work autonomously.
• Excellent organisation, and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more.
• 60:40 rule for office versus WFH balance.
• A culture that encourages diverse perspectives and collaboration.
• Training and development opportunities across the firm.
• Access to social and pro‑bono initiatives.