Commercial Finance Analyst in London

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals. Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years. As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas. We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world. All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.

The Opportunity

Primary Responsibilities

• Own recurring and ad hoc reporting for the UK and EMEA Practice Groups, managing priorities and flagging delivery risks early.
• Analyse client and matter profitability, investigating the impact of rates, discounts, utilisation, realisation and resourcing, and explain opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.
• Support partners and fee earners in understanding financial performance, translating analysis into practical insight to inform commercial decisions.
• Validate and reconcile financial data, investigate discrepancies and resolve issues before circulation, clearly explaining any assumptions or limitations.
• Maintain and improve financial models and reporting, documenting assumptions and applying appropriate checks and version control.
• Manage the Commercial Finance team mailbox, prioritising requests, clarifying requirements, coordinating responses and following queries through to resolution.
• Support Commercial Finance Managers with budgeting and wider planning activities, developing the ability to understand key assumptions and financial drivers, and investigate and explain variances against plan.
• Help business services colleagues use financial systems and reporting tools effectively, sharing guidance and promoting consistent reporting practices.
• Use firm-approved AI and automation tools to streamline reporting, strengthen analysis and increase the value of commercial finance support, validating outputs and protecting confidential information.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions and formulas, with the ability to analyse large datasets and build clear, reliable financial models.
• Strong numerical and analytical capability, with an aptitude for learning new systems and developing commercial finance skills.

Desirable, but not essential

• Experience with reporting and data visualisation tools, such as Power BI.
• An interest in using AI and emerging technologies to improve analysis, reporting and ways of working. Previous practical experience with AI-enabled tools would be advantageous.
• Experience in an accounting or finance role. We would also welcome candidates with higher-level study in accounting or finance who are looking to develop their practical experience.
• An interest in working towards a professional accounting qualification. The firm is willing to sponsor the successful candidate towards ACA, ACCA or CIMA, and candidates do not need to have started studying or passed any professional examinations to apply.

Competencies

• Personal Leadership: Takes pride in their work and positively impacts those around them; Inspires confidence by consistently delivering quality work; Maintains composure under pressure; Behaves consistently with the firm's values and brand and inspires this in others.
• Connects and Collaborates with People: Takes an active interest in others and gets to know the people they interact with; Treats people with respect and in a fair and consistent way; Adopts a positive communication style, even when challenged by others.
• Contributes to the Success of Others: Maintains an awareness of the firm's purpose, objectives and structure; Recognises how their work contributes to and affects the work of others, and prioritises and communicates accordingly; Identifies opportunities to assist others and readily volunteers their help.
• Enhances the Client Experience: Finds ways to enhance the experience of the firm's clients through their daily tasks; Shows a willingness to go the extra mile to deliver great service.
• Achieves Results: Goes above and beyond to contribute to the success of the firm; Pays attention to the quality and accuracy of their work; Suggests new ideas or ways of doing things in a confident, constructive and sensitive way.

Team: Business Finance

Working Pattern: Full time

Location: London

Contract type: Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion: We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values - Human, Bold, and Outstanding.