Working Capital Manager
A newly created opportunity to shape working capital performance across a leading UK law firm.
As a Top 50 law firm with 13 offices across England and Wales, we continue to grow in scale and ambition. To support that growth, we have created the new role of Working Capital Manager: a high-profile opportunity to strengthen financial discipline, improve cash performance and modernise the way we manage working capital across the firm.
This is not a role with a fixed template. You will have the scope to make it your own: setting the working capital strategy, building trusted relationships with partners and senior colleagues, developing the Credit Control Team and introducing the systems, insight and controls needed to deliver lasting improvement.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Head of Finance and leading our Cheltenham-based Credit Control Team, you will take ownership of performance across debt, WIP and disbursements. Working closely with partners, Heads of Team, fee earners and Finance colleagues, you will turn financial information into clear action, bring greater consistency to the matter-to-cash cycle and ensure that commercial decisions protect both cash flow and valued client relationships.
A key part of your remit will be transformation. You will review our end-to-end approach, shape the use of credit control technology and automated workflows, strengthen reporting and escalation controls, and build a culture in which working capital is understood and actively managed throughout the matter lifecycle.
What you will do
- Set and deliver a firmwide working capital plan aligned with our financial and commercial objectives.
- Improve cash collection, reduce aged debt and WIP lock-up, and maintain disciplined focus on debtor days and cash conversion.
- Lead, coach and develop the Credit Control Team, setting clear priorities, targets and standards.
- Work directly with partners and fee earners to improve billing patterns, resolve slow-moving WIP and agree effective collection strategies.
- Oversee complex, sensitive and high-value debt matters, balancing commercial recovery with client, regulatory and reputational considerations.
- Strengthen financial management from matter inception through credit checks, money on account, clear payment terms and timely billing.
- Lead the selection and implementation of technology and workflow tools that reduce manual activity and improve control.
- Create clear dashboards and management information that identify risk, prompt action and strengthen accountability.
About You
About you
You will bring significant experience in working capital, revenue control, credit control or finance operations, ideally gained within a law firm or another partnership-led professional services environment. You will understand the relationship between WIP, billing, disbursements, debt ageing and cash flow, and will have a demonstrable record of turning that understanding into improved performance.
Commercially minded and confident in your judgement, you will be comfortable constructively challenging senior stakeholders and agreeing pragmatic ways forward. You will also be an engaging people leader who can build capability, create accountability and support a team to deliver a consistently high-quality service. Experience of improving processes, implementing systems or introducing automated workflows will be particularly valuable.
About Us
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
• Bonus scheme
• Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Life Assurance
• 1/3 gym membership contribution
• Flu vaccinations
Is HCR the smart move for you?
HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.
Why HCR people love their jobs
Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.
What career progression will HCR offer you?
HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.
What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for?
As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.
With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.
With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.
We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.
Working Capital Manager in Birmingham employer: Harrison Clark Rickerbys Legal LLP
HCR is an exceptional employer located in Worcester, offering a vibrant work culture where employees are valued and encouraged to thrive. With a strong focus on personal merit and career development, our team enjoys a range of benefits including generous annual leave, a bonus scheme, and opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of community while delivering top-notch legal services.
Contact Details:
Harrison Clark Rickerbys Legal LLP Recruitment Team
