Accounts Manager

Overall Purpose 

• To ensure that all day-to-day transactions and cashiering duties, across all client and office accounts, are processed accurately and within appropriate deadlines. 
• To assist the Finance Director in ensuring that the firm's policies and procedures comply with all appropriate standards, including SAR and AML regulations, as set out by the Law Society.
• To ensure that the firm's accounting procedures are adhered to and that fee earners are kept informed of relevant matters and receive information in a timely fashion. 
• To ensure that ongoing training and support is provided to all members of the firm on the firm's accounting procedures and Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR). 
• To ensure that contact with clients or other external parties meet the firm's standards of client care. 

Main responsibilities and duties include: 

• The development and oversight of a cashiering team, including staff recruitment, reviewing staff levels, cashier training, development, and appraisal. 
• The implementation of existing and development of new processes, focusing on efficiency, identifying and applying process improvements where required. 
• Involvement in firmwide projects to review and improve processes which include a Finance function. 
• Legal cashiering and compliance to include recording client and office transactions accurately and adherence to the Firms SLA. 
• To ensure awareness of the Firm's financial policies, procedures, and controls to all new starters. 
• The on-going provision of advice and training to fee earners and teams on procedure and best practice. 
• To ensure that a Senior member of accounts is represented at other departmental meetings. 
• Oversight of daily bank reconciliations. 
• Oversight of month end procedures. 
• Assistance with financial management reporting as required. 
• Support the preparatory work for the annual audit of accounts. 

Other Tasks 

• Carrying out any other reasonable tasks as might be required from time to time. 

Training 

Leigh Day will provide training relating to 

• this role 
• office technology 
• IT 

in order to enable you to offer- and deliver- a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service in cashiering and business support. 

 Performance Measured By 

• Timeliness of response to requests. 
• Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy in work produced. Ability to work on own initiative, maintaining a flexible, responsive and responsible attitude. 
• Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the Firm. 
• Good attendance and timekeeping. 

Key requirements 

The successful candidate will have extensive cashiering experience, ideally as an Accounts Manager, gained within a law firm and must be able to demonstrate: 

• Relevant accounting or Legal Finance qualifications. ACCA, CIMA or ILFM. 
• An in-depth knowledge of the Solicitors Accounts Rules to ensure compliance with the regulations. 
• Strong understanding of financial principles. 
• Proven experience in client account management, reconciliations and month-end closing. 
• Minimum experience of 3-5 years of work in a similar role within a law firm. 
• Excellent organisational and time management/efficiency skills. 
• Clear and concise written and oral communication. 
• Experience of managing a team effectively. 
• A track record of identifying, communicating and delivering process improvements. 
• Elite 3e experience would be beneficial. 

Key competencies 

• A proactive approach with a can-do attitude. 
• Ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and work well under pressure. 
• The ability to work successfully as part of a team; sharing knowledge, liaising with and supporting members of the wider Accounts & Finance department to resolve queries and other matters that arise. 
• A flexible approach with adaptability to change and willingness to take on additional duties as the business evolves. 
• An analytical viewpoint with the ability to suggest enhancements or changes to current processes if needed. 
• Appetite and aptitude for continuous learning and improvement.