At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide financial insight and support strategic decisions across the firm.
- Company: Join a leading professional services firm with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and ongoing professional development.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping financial strategies in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in finance business partnering or FP&A.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
This role sits at the heart of strengthening financial insight, planning capability and decision support across Shoosmiths’ Business Services functions, combining core FP&A with change, systems improvement and strategic analysis in a complex professional services environment. Working as a trusted finance partner within FP&A, the role helps shape investment, resource and performance decisions across the firm, bringing sharper analysis, clearer challenge and stronger financial discipline to support Shoosmiths’ strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Insight, Analysis & Decision Support
- Provide clear, decision-ready analysis of Business Services performance against budget, forecast and strategic plan.
- Prepare concise management information, dashboards and insight packs that support sharper performance oversight and executive decision-making.
- Deliver financial modelling, scenario analysis and investment appraisal to inform business cases, prioritisation and strategic choices.
- Identify financial risks, opportunities and emerging trends, translating complex data into commercially relevant insight and action.
- Lead budgeting and forecasting for assigned Business Services functions, partnering closely with Directors and senior managers on priorities, risks and trade-offs.
- Develop robust assumptions, planning drivers and forward-looking views that align local plans to firm-wide financial priorities.
- Produce variance analysis with clear narrative, root-cause assessment and practical actions to improve performance.
- Drive cost discipline, efficiency opportunities and value-for-money assessment across Business Services, balancing control with strategic investment.
- Business Partnering & Strategic Stakeholder Support
- Act as the lead finance contact for Business Services Directors, providing commercial insight, constructive challenge and trusted support.
- Build strong relationships across Business Services, Finance, HR and Operations to enable joined-up planning and effective decision-making.
- Contribute actively to leadership discussions, bringing financial perspective, challenge and recommendations to shape priorities and outcomes.
- Partner on cross-functional initiatives and firm-wide strategic programmes, ensuring financial insight informs delivery and decision-making.
- Performance Management, Prioritisation & Value Creation
- Develop and monitor KPIs and financial metrics that strengthen visibility of Business Services performance and value.
- Provide insight into performance drivers and track progress against financial, operational and strategic objectives.
- Support prioritisation of investment, resourcing and transformation initiatives through clear financial analysis and evidence-based recommendations.
- Projects, Improvement & Team Support
- Support the Head of FP&A and senior leadership on strategic projects, investment cases and complex financial analysis.
- Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting and planning capability across Business Services and FP&A.
- Develop and coach the FP&A Analyst, helping build a high-performing business services finance capability.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with a strong grounding in commercial finance, planning and performance management.
- Strong experience in Finance Business Partnering or FP&A, ideally within legal, professional services or another complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
- Advanced financial analysis, modelling and business case capability, with the ability to turn complex data into clear insight, recommendations and action.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with credibility and confidence with senior non-finance stakeholders.
- Strong commercial judgement, intellectual curiosity and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, work at pace and deliver high-quality output to deadlines in a dynamic environment.
- Experience supporting central or Business Services functions such as Finance, IT, HR, Business Development or Property, with an understanding of how these areas create value for the wider firm.
- Experience with financial planning, reporting and modelling tools such as SAP, TM1, Planful or similar, and confidence working with systems to improve insight and planning capability.
- Experience in legal or people-led professional services environments, including understanding of overhead leverage, investment prioritisation and service line economics, would be particularly valuable.
- Understanding of professional services or legal sector economics, including the commercial drivers that shape performance, investment and resource decisions.
Personal Attributes
- Credible, confident and collaborative partner to the business.
- Comfortable providing constructive challenge while maintaining strong relationships.
- Curious, analytical and continuously looking for ways to improve insight and outcomes.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism and attention to detail.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. We had been accredited as a two tick employer for many years – Disability Confident broadens and develops that original commitment, and demonstrates we have adopted a proactive approach to employing disabled people and developing their abilities. As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on Experienced.Hire@shoosmiths.com. We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.
Equal opportunities
Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.
Finance Business Partner employer: Shoosmiths LLP
Shoosmiths is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, offering flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance. With a strong commitment to employee growth through ongoing learning and professional development, the firm empowers its staff to thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful financial insights that drive strategic decisions. As a Disability Confident Employer, Shoosmiths prioritises diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employees feel valued and supported in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Business Partner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Shoosmiths on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Shoosmiths’ recent projects and financial strategies. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to our goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your financial analysis skills! Be ready to discuss how you would approach budgeting and forecasting for our Business Services functions. We want to see your thought process and how you tackle complex data.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Finance Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in financial analysis and business partnering, and show how your skills align with Shoosmiths’ strategic priorities.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to turn complex data into clear insights. Use examples from your past roles where you provided decision-ready analysis or contributed to performance management.
Demonstrate Stakeholder Management:We want to see how you've built strong relationships in previous roles. Share instances where you’ve successfully collaborated with non-finance stakeholders and influenced decision-making through your financial insights.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Shoosmiths LLP
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Business Partner, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how they relate to Shoosmiths’ strategic priorities. Prepare examples of how you've used financial analysis to drive decision-making in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
This role requires strong relationship-building skills. Think about times when you’ve successfully partnered with non-finance stakeholders. Be prepared to share specific examples that highlight your ability to influence and provide constructive challenge while maintaining strong relationships.
✨Prepare for Scenario Analysis
Expect questions around financial modelling and scenario analysis. Familiarise yourself with common financial scenarios relevant to professional services. Practice explaining complex data in simple terms, as this will showcase your ability to translate numbers into actionable insights.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Shoosmiths values innovation and efficiency. Come prepared with ideas on how you’ve driven continuous improvement in financial processes or reporting in the past. Highlight your proactive approach and curiosity in seeking better ways to deliver financial insight.
