Location: Oxford
Hours: Part-time 22.5 hours
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Senior Finance Manager to join our Finance team, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
This is a pivotal leadership role, acting as the primary link between the CFO and the wider Finance team. The successful candidate will take responsibility for financial control, statutory reporting and partnership tax matters, whilst leading the team's day-to-day activities and driving a programme of continuous improvement and modernisation across Finance operations.
This role is ideally suited to a practice-trained accountant who thrives in a technically demanding professional services environment and who is genuinely excited by the opportunity to shape the future of Finance through process improvement, systems development and intelligent automation.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting and Control
Oversee the preparation and delivery of accurate and timely monthly management accounts for the Group and its constituent entities.
Lead the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring robust controls and adherence to reporting timetables.
Maintain the integrity of balance sheet reconciliations and continually enhance financial reporting processes.
Statutory Accounts and External Audit
Coordinate the preparation of statutory financial statements for the Group and all relevant UK and European entities.
Lead the annual external audit process from planning through to completion, acting as the primary point of contact for external auditors.
Monitor developments in accounting standards and assess their implications for the firm.
Group Tax Compliance
Oversee the preparation and submission of Group tax returns across all relevant jurisdictions.
Manage relationships with external tax advisers and ensure compliance with UK and international tax obligations.
Monitor changes in tax legislation and provide technical guidance on their potential impact.
Partnership Tax and Partner Support
Manage Partners' tax reserve arrangements and oversee the calculation, maintenance and reporting of reserve positions.
Coordinate the preparation and submission of Partners' annual tax returns through external advisers.
Act as a trusted point of contact for Partners on matters relating to tax reserves, tax payments and profit allocations.
Finance Transformation, Systems and AI Enablement
Identify and deliver opportunities to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and scalability of Finance processes.
Lead or support finance transformation initiatives, including systems implementations and optimisation projects.
Evaluate and implement automation solutions, and responsibly adopt AI-enabled tools to streamline reporting, reconciliation, forecasting and routine Finance activities.
Finance Team Leadership
Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and oversight to the Finance team.
Deputise for the CFO during periods of absence.
Develop the technical capability of team members through coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing.
Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and high performance.
Governance and Risk Management
Maintain a robust financial control framework appropriate for an international professional services partnership.
Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory and internal requirements.
Maintain and update key Finance policies, procedures and documentation.
Experience and Qualifications
Essential
Qualified accountant with a practice-trained background and significant post-qualification experience.
Strong technical accounting expertise, including statutory reporting and external audit management.
Extensive experience of corporate and partnership tax compliance.
Experience operating within complex, multi-entity organisations.
Demonstrable experience leading systems implementations, process redesign or finance transformation initiatives.
Proven experience leading and developing finance professionals.
A genuine interest in how technology, automation and AI can enhance Finance operations.
Desirable
Experience within a professional services partnership environment.
Knowledge of UK LLP structures and partner taxation.
Experience overseeing European entities and cross-border compliance requirements.
Exposure to treasury, funding and liquidity management activities.
Experience implementing ERP, planning or reporting solutions.
Experience evaluating or deploying AI-enabled finance tools, workflow automation or advanced analytics capabilities.
Oxera is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity at all levels of the organisation. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
