Head/Director of Finance

Head/Director of Finance CEL Solicitors is looking for a highly capable and commercially minded Head/Director of Finance who will combine strategic oversight with hands‑on financial control. The successful candidate will have a strong background in financial control, forecasting and operational finance, and be a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with experience in law firms or professional services. Location Liverpool Reports to Managing Partner / CEO Industry Legal Services Salary £55,000 – £70,000 per annum Key Responsibilities Lead the firm’s financial strategy, ensuring strong financial governance and long‑term sustainability. Provide expert financial insight to Partners and senior leadership to support decision‑making. Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning for the firm. Identify opportunities for financial improvement, efficiency, and growth. Act as a robust Financial Controller, ensuring accurate, timely production of monthly management accounts and year‑end financial statements. Maintain strong financial controls, internal processes, and compliance procedures. Manage cashflow, working capital, and treasury functions. Oversee SRA Accounts Rules compliance and coordinate annual audits. Build and maintain advanced forecasting models in Excel, including revenue, cost, and cashflow projections. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide actionable insight. Deliver variance analysis and recommendations to support strategic planning. Oversee billing, credit control, and financial operations, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Work closely with department heads to monitor financial performance and profitability. Support pricing strategies, fee‑earner performance analysis, and matter‑level profitability. Manage and mentor the finance team, providing guidance and developing capabilities. Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement. Key Skills & Experience Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) – strongly preferred. Experience working within a law firm or other regulated professional services environment. Robust financial controller background with strong technical accounting skills. Advanced Excel skills including financial modelling, pivot tables, and complex formulas. Strong forecasting and analytical capability. Excellent communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly. Experience managing finance teams and implementing improved processes. Knowledge of SRA Accounts Rules – desirable. Personal Attributes Detail oriented, diligent, and highly organised. Commercially minded with a proactive, problem‑solving approach. Able to balance hands‑on tasks with strategic leadership responsibilities. Confident working with senior stakeholders in a professional, fast‑paced environment. Benefits Private Health Care Enhanced Sickness Entitlement Enhanced Maternity / Paternity Leave Death in Service from day one of employment Bike 2 Work Company Bar Paid Exam Leave Paid Company Parties Birthday Day Off 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays Christmas Closure (on top of your annual leave allowance) Early Finish Fridays Work from Home days Recruitment Agencies To all Recruitment Agencies: At CEL Solicitors, agency resumes are strictly prohibited. Do not submit agency resumes or forward them to our job advertisements or CEL Solicitors employees. Be aware that CEL Solicitors will not assume any responsibility for fees incurred due to unsolicited resumes. All candidates are requested to submit applications directly through the advertised platform. Please refrain from contacting the company or its employees via email, LinkedIn, or any other communication channels for inquiries or updates. Attempts to contact us through these channels will not receive a response. #J-18808-Ljbffr