At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial insight and influence decision-making across the firm’s practice groups.
- Company: Join a collaborative and innovative team at Simmons & Simmons in London.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, private medical insurance, and a global skills academy.
- Other info: Embrace a dynamic culture that values diversity, inclusion, and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping business performance with your financial expertise.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong financial planning and analysis experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
The role: We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to join our Finance department in London. This role is a true business partnering position, responsible for driving financial insight, influencing decision-making, and delivering forward-looking analysis across the firm’s practice groups. The Finance Business Partner will work closely with Practice Group Heads, partners and senior stakeholders to translate financial data into actionable insight, challenge assumptions, and support strategic and operational decisions. The role goes beyond traditional reporting and analysis, with a strong emphasis on proactivity, commerciality, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring finance plays a central role in shaping business performance.
What will you do:
- Business Partnering & Stakeholder Influence
- Act as a trusted advisor to Practice Group Heads and partners, providing clear, commercially focused financial insight.
- Proactively identify risks and opportunities, challenging and influencing decision-making where appropriate.
- Financial Performance & Insight
- Deliver forward-looking, insight-led analysis to support revenue growth, profitability and strategic priorities.
- Provide analysis across key drivers including utilisation, realisation, pricing, working capital and cost performance.
- Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead financial planning cycles, including budgets, forecasts and long-term plans.
- Partner with stakeholders to ensure plans are robust, aligned to strategy and grounded in commercial reality.
- Continuously improve forecasting accuracy and scenario planning capability.
- Strategic Analysis & Business Cases
- Develop and challenge business cases for investments, lateral hires and strategic initiatives.
- Support post-investment reviews and tracking of returns.
- Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to senior stakeholders and committees.
- Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Drive improvements in reporting, focusing on automation, efficiency and clarity of insight.
- Ensure data integrity, consistency and usability across reporting outputs.
- Embedding AI & Advanced Analytics
- Leverage AI and advanced analytics tools to automate routine reporting and data preparation; generate deeper, faster insights from large datasets; and enhance forecasting, scenario modelling and trend analysis.
- Identify opportunities to embed AI into finance processes and decision-making.
What we are looking for:
- Experience & Qualifications:
- Qualified accountant (ACA/ ACCA/ CIMA or equivalent).
- Strong experience in financial planning, analysis and modelling.
- Experience in a professional services environment preferred.
- Technical skills:
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability.
- Strong ability to analyse complex datasets and translate into insight.
- Experience with financial systems and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI).
- Interest in, and willingness to adopt, AI and data tools to enhance finance outputs.
- Core Competencies:
- Highly proactive and self-driven – identifies issues and opportunities without prompting.
- Outstanding communication skills – able to clearly explain financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal skills – confident engaging with senior stakeholders and partners and building new relationships.
- Commercially minded with a strong understanding of how financial drivers link together.
- Detail-orientated with high standards of accuracy.
- Collaborative and team-oriented, while also able to work independently.
Career Level: The career level assigned to this role is level 4. The career level framework provides a formal structure for the business services functions at the firm. The framework, which ranges from level 1 to level 7, clearly defines the responsibilities, skills and competencies required at each level.
Here at Simmons & Simmons: At Simmons, we are proud of our collaborative, open and non-hierarchical culture, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and the wellbeing of our people is paramount. Our dynamic minds work as one integrated team, partnering with leading organisations on inspirational and thought-provoking projects that matter. From day one, irrespective of job title, qualification or background, everyone’s voice is heard, and you are encouraged to have an enquiring mind and share ideas that drive the firm forward. Through innovative learning and development opportunities, you will have a platform to excel, exceed your career ambitions, and achieve things you never thought possible.
Some key information: We offer a competitive package including bonuses dependant on role/level, private medical insurance and pension contribution. Our global skills academy provides our people, regardless of their role and location, with excellent learning opportunities (including live workshops, podcasts, short videos and practical learning experiences). We have adopted a hybrid working approach with a requirement for a minimum of three days in the office with flexibility dependant on role/team/client demands.
We are proud to rank as a Times Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality, a Stonewall Top Global Employer, and a Top 75 Employer for Social Mobility. We have a range of social and sports committees, summer and winter parties and monthly get togethers. We have a range of diversity networks to connect people and celebrate our differences which is integral to our inclusive culture. All UK offices have their own artwork collections – including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin pieces in the London office. We have a long-standing history in supporting the art community especially up-and-coming artists.
We have recently introduced a Strategic Advisory Council which is a mix of associates and business services who will propose strategic initiatives that align with our firm's mission and support the delivery of our business plan, shaping the future of our next-generation law firm. Our in-house generative AI tool, Percy, won the ‘Innovation in Automation and AI Tools’ category at the 2024 FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards. This achievement highlights our commitment to technological innovation and client service. We have been commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2026 across three categories: construction, employment, and intellectual property. Our profile is highly positive, highlighting our sector specialisms and notable case and transactional work.
Equal opportunities: We are committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion within our firm and to ensuring equal employment opportunities. We believe that this commitment creates a vibrant and rewarding work environment. We are therefore committed to: Upholding equal opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity, marital status, or pregnancy, including maternity and paternity. This commitment extends to addressing any instances of perceived or associative discrimination and harassment. We also ensure fair treatment during recruitment and selection processes for those who are serving or have served in the armed forces, along with their families. Accommodating requests for flexible working arrangements whenever possible. We encourage you to discuss your needs with us if this is something you require. Making our roles accessible to individuals with diverse abilities. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know so we can meet your needs. We offer a range of employee networks to support our colleagues. More information about these networks can be found in the D&I Information booklet that candidates are sent when invited to interview.
We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We are looking for individuals who are passionate and eager to learn and grow with us. Your unique experiences and perspectives could be a great addition to our team. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. If you’re interested in finding out more about this position, please contact the Recruitment Team. To apply for the role, click on the link at the top of the page or visit our careers page for more details.
Finance Business Partner employer: Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where legal professionals can engage with high-profile clients and complex competition law issues. The firm prioritises employee growth through mentorship from experienced partners and provides a supportive culture that values collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding legal careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Business Partner
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Simmons & Simmons. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Simmons & Simmons.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Simmons & Simmons's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Simmons & Simmons
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Simmons & Simmons.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Simmons & Simmons will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Simmons & Simmons employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
