Senior Finance Business Analyst

The Firm

Payne Hicks Beach is a 46 partner firm of solicitors.  In total the firm comprises about 214 staff.  The firm provides specialist legal services to private and commercial clients.  We are best known for our family and private client work and are widely regarded as one of the very best of the small number of firms in the UK who provide these specialist services at the highest level.  We also have an excellent reputation in many other areas of law (rated in both Chambers and Legal 500).

Our offices are located at 10 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, one of the finest squares in London, a building which the firm has occupied since 1770.

More information about the departments and the work of the firm may be found on our website, the address of which is www.phb.co.uk

The Finance Team

Working with a team of nine including three Cashiers, a Credit Controller, a Billing Controller, a Billing and Credit Control Assistant and a Management Accountant, all reporting directly to the Financial Controller, and ultimately the CFO.

In addition to the use of Word and Excel, our accounts and document management system is SOS/iManage, for which training will be given, where necessary.

The Role

This role would be reporting to the CFO.

The ideal candidate should hold a degree in Finance or Accounting (ideally with ACCA certification) followed by at least 5+ years’ relevant post qualification experience. Knowledge of forecasting models and cost accounting processes are key requirements for this position.

Key responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Streamline our billing process, through automation and training.
• Improve SOS/PMS experience for Fee Earners and Finance, through optimising processes such as billing, expense management, and banking.
• Centralising dispatch of bills, and formalise credit control to ensure rigor in following up unpaid bills.
• Project manage implementation of Finance IT roadmap, driving improved user efficiency.
• Increase automation of our financial processes through technology.
• Upgrade our budgeting and forecasting process, providing a deeper insight into the levers available to us, and a more planned, and collaborative process with HODs and Budget Holders.
• Provide ad hoc analysis around business development focal points, as well as workforce planning initiatives, that lead to better Partner profitability.
• Upskilling the Finance Team, and legal support functions, modernising their way of working, and encouraging proactiveness, rather than reactiveness.
• Develop financial models through benchmarking and process analysis.
• Prepare ad hoc cost projections.
• Analyse and report on current financial status of projects.
• Conduct thorough research of historical financial data.
• Explore investment options and present risk and opportunities.
• Coordinate with the CFO and the executive team on long-term financial planning.
• Compare anticipated and actual results and identify areas of improvement.
• Establish financial policies where none exist, or require a refresh.
• Maintain confidentiality of financial information and investment decisions.
• Ad hoc training for staff.

 The Individual

Will have:

• Positive, solution driven attitude to their work.
• Proven work experience as a Business Analyst, or similar role in a professional services firm.
• Hands-on experience with implementing different technology software solutions.
• Advanced expertise in MS Excel (using PowerBI would be a bonus).
• Familiarity with finance databases.
• Up-to-date with accounting laws and regulations.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to present financial data using detailed reports and charts, to stakeholders.
• Demonstrable strategic thinking skills.
• Confidentiality in handling sensitive financial information.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics.
• ACCA qualified or equivalent, PQE 5+ years.