Financial Control Manager – UK

Overview of the Function

The Global Finance function ensures robust financial control across our global operations, whilst partnering with the firm as a valued commercial advisor, influencing strategic decision making and driving long term profitable growth for the firm.

We achieve our vision with all our people working collaboratively with a shared culture and identifying themselves as part of one inclusive Global Finance team.

Role summary/purpose of job

Reporting to the Senior Financial Control Manager and working closely with the Record to Report team in Bratislava, you will support the Global Head of Financial Control and UK COO in ensuring that all relevant Finance, Tax and Administrative activities of the UK and Ireland are carried out and managed in compliance with the Firm's policies and relevant legislation.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Month end close and reporting

• Responsible for the month end process to ensure a timely and accurate close for all UK and Ireland entities.
• Review of all UK and Ireland ledgers (management, IFRS, local GAAP where applicable) prior to close to ensure complete and accurate postings.
• Reporting and analysis for Global Head of Financial Control, UK COO, Regional Managing Partner and Partners, including financial performance summaries for the London Management Group and responding to ad hoc queries.
• Accountable for ensuring all balance sheet reconciliations are completed and reviewed according to accounts responsibility matrix.

Year end close and reporting

• Responsible for the year end process to ensure a timely and accurate close for all UK and Ireland entities.
• Responsible for reconciling ledger report and analysis for tax purposes.
• Responding the requests of external and internal auditors. Accountable for remediation of any relevant control/audit findings.

Working with Shared Service Centres

• Close collaboration with our 'Record to Report' team members in our Bratislava Shared Service Centre to support with all UK and Ireland activities.

Accounts rules compliance

• Close collaboration with the cashiers and auditors in UK and Ireland to monitor SRA accounts rules compliance.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Oversight of the annual budget process for the UK and Ireland. Accountable for preparation of the overheads budget, and tracking of spend across the UK overheads cost centres through the year. Working closely with Commercial Finance who are accountable for the Practice Group budget and with the Global FP&A team who are accountable for the Business Services budgets.
• Oversight of full year re-forecasts as requested by Global Finance.

Partners, Partner Taxes and Partnership Accounting

• Close collaboration with the Partnership Accounting and Global Tax team on any UK and Ireland matters.

Cash, Banking and Bank relationships

• Preparation of 13 week cash flow liquidity forecast and 12 month rolling cashflow for the UK and Ireland.

Other Finance tasks

• Approving expenses and payments as required.
• Preparation of UK statistical returns/surveys as required.

Taxes

• Responsible for ensuring UK and Ireland VAT returns are completed accurately and submitted on a timely basis.
• Responsible for ensuring payroll tax returns are completed accurately and submitted on a timely basis.
• Responding to any VAT or payroll tax audit requests.
• Liaison with Global Tax team on managing HMRC and other regulatory authorities as appropriate.

Risk management and compliance

• Ensure compliance with global management accounts policies
• Ensure adequate controls are designed, implemented and operating effectively across relevant finance processes
• Ensure filing of all statutory and statistical returns as required by local laws and regulations

Innovation and continuous improvement

• Driving technology and other advancements in all processes
• Applying a continuous improvement mindset and driving further automation and other initiatives which improve efficiency and control
• Identify and implement further automation
• Local Subject Matter Expert for Firmwide strategic projects

Key requirements

Essential

• A qualified accountant with experience of statutory and regulatory frameworks and obligations
• Proven ability to communicate and influence across all levels, including developing effective relationships with external stakeholders

Desirable

• Strong knowledge of the legal sector or professional services.
• Experience of working closely with Shared Services teams.
• A basic understanding of a Legal and Finance Systems, ideally the IntApp suite and Elite 3e.
• Written and spoken European language skills

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.