Group Finance Manager in Woking

We have an exciting opportunity for a Group Finance Manager to join our Finance team, based in A&O Shearman's Belfast office. Achieving the firm’s strategy requires a world-class Finance department to work with the decision makers. Our teams add value through the services provided, managing compliance and providing information and insight. This is achieved by having a collaborative and high-performing team that builds relationships with the Partners and other decision-makers in the firm so that they trust us to advise them on commercial, financial, and technical matters.

What you will do

• Lead the delivery of high-quality financial control and reporting across the Group, supporting decision-making through robust analysis and insight.
• Maintain best practice and standards across the finance function, driving continuous improvement, and acting as a trusted adviser to the global finance community.
• Lead the preparation and delivery of financial information to management and the partnership, ensuring accuracy and timeliness against tight deadlines, and providing high-quality analysis and insight to support decision-making, including commentary on key trends and variances.
• Oversee key areas of the month-end and year-end close processes, including journals, review of reconciliations, and Group reporting outputs, ensuring the integrity of the balances through oversight of critical judgements and complex accounting areas.
• Manage delivery of elements of the Group year-end process, including financial statements for UK entities and supporting disclosures.
• Prepare and review technical accounting papers, assessing the impact of new and emerging accounting standards on the Group, and supporting implementation through training to the global finance network.
• Oversee the management of cross-border intra-group balances and funding on a multi-currency basis, ensuring compliance with UK and international requirements, and ensuring timely reconciliation and settlement of balances across the global network.
• Review and enhance financial processes, documentation, and internal controls to ensure accuracy, consistency, and efficiency, supporting the development and maintenance of Group accounting policies and identifying control gaps to drive continuous improvement.
• Partner with Finance Systems and Business Analysts to support the development and optimisation of finance systems and reporting tools, driving improvements in reporting capability and automation.
• Build and maintain relationships with Finance staff across all A&O Shearman offices, acting as a trusted adviser on accounting, intercompany, and policy matters, and supporting the global finance network on process and technical queries.
• Lead and deliver ad hoc projects, including implementation of new reporting or analytical capabilities.
• Lead, develop, and mentor junior team members, providing ongoing coaching, performance management, and technical guidance, and fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.

What you will have

• Member of recognised accounting body as a qualified accountant.
• Significant post-qualified experience in a finance function.
• Experience in a Big 4 accountancy practice or in an international environment is an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex financial and technical issues to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Ability to influence at a senior level as a credible subject-matter expert, adapting style to different audiences and demonstrating strong emotional intelligence.
• Strong leadership capability, with the ability to motivate, develop, and manage individuals, and contribute effectively within a high-performing global team environment.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to develop meaningful, well-reasoned insights and apply a proactive, solution-driven approach.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS, with the ability to discuss complex issues with senior group management, alongside a thorough understanding of financial accounting principles, currency accounting, financial systems, and group structures.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage multiple deliverables, and perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Ability to produce high-quality documentation, reports, and training materials, and to support, mentor, and develop finance colleagues across a global network.

What we can offer you

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, online discounts and lifestyle management services. We recognise the value of flexible working and embrace hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do, however, remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required. We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.