Global Finance Manager - Cashiers in Manchester

Freshfields' Global Finance function underpins the firm's success by ensuring robust financial control across our international operations, while partnering with the business as a trusted commercial advisor supporting strategic decision-making and long-term, sustainable growth.

The role involves being an exceptional and experienced leader as Manager, Global Cashiers. This high-profile role has accountability for the operational excellence and regulatory compliance of the firm's global cash application and client money handling activities. Based in Manchester, you will lead a multi-jurisdictional team (across Manchester, Bratislava, Frankfurt and Raleigh) responsible for the accurate and timely processing of all incoming client and office receipts. Beyond day-to-day leadership, you will be our subject matter expert on the SRA Accounts Rules as they relate to cash management, ensuring absolute compliance while championing continuous improvement, automation and best-in-class service delivery.

What you'll do

• Leadership & team management: Provide inclusive, supportive line management to the Global Cashiers team across multiple locations. Set, monitor and continuously improve KPIs to drive accuracy, efficiency and delivery against agreed SLAs. Lead resource planning, recruitment and performance management to build and sustain a high-performing, motivated team. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement within Global Finance and with wider stakeholders.
• Compliance & risk management: Act as the firm’s expert on the SRA Accounts Rules for cash handling and client money processes, ensuring controls are consistently applied. Oversee daily client money reconciliations, ensuring discrepancies are identified, investigated and resolved without delay. Design, implement and maintain a robust control environment, including segregation of duties, to mitigate fraud and error risk. Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors on all matters relating to cashiering and client money. Manage the identification and resolution of residual client balances.
• Operational excellence & process improvement: Oversee end-to-end cash application across multiple currencies and jurisdictions, ensuring receipts are processed accurately and promptly. Lead automation and transformation initiatives (e.g., auto-matching rules, AI, RPA) to reduce manual intervention and improve quality and speed. Develop and maintain global policies, procedures and training documentation for cash handling activities. Act as a senior escalation point for complex cash application matters, driving swift and effective resolution.
• Stakeholder management & reporting: Partner closely with Credit Control, Billing and Treasury to enable seamless end-to-end Order-to-Cash operations. Advise Partners, fee-earners and business leaders on client money and receipt handling, providing clear guidance and pragmatic solutions. Deliver insightful reporting to senior leadership on performance, compliance metrics and operational risk.

What you'll bring

• Expert-level knowledge and extensive practical experience of the SRA Accounts Rules.
• Significant experience in a comparable role within a large, global law firm.
• Deep, hands-on experience of end-to-end cash application in a high-volume, multi-currency environment.
• Experience using a major legal ERP (e.g., Elite 3E or Aderant Expert).
• Evidence of leading process improvement, transformation and/or automation initiatives within a finance function.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgement, and a consistent commitment to compliance, quality and service.

You'll thrive in this role if you…

• Lead with clarity, empathy and high standards, creating an environment where people can do their best work.
• Enjoy partnering with stakeholders and translating technical requirements into practical, workable processes.
• Bring a continuous improvement mindset and are energised by using technology to simplify and strengthen controls.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.