FINANCE BUSINESS MANAGER

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified accountant to join one of the UK’s largest law firms as a Business Manager. Based in Dubai and reporting into the senior finance management team, the purpose of the role is to act as a finance business partner, providing hands on support and guidance to the Partners in the region.

The primary responsibilities in the role is assisting the EMEA management teams and partners with the following;

The financial management of the businesses in the region with a strong focus on improving profitability;

In-depth analytical support on regional profitability by office, team, matter and client including but not limited to reviewing the resourcing model and regional cost bases to optimise service delivery and utilisation levels;

Budgeting, re-forecasting, financial analysis and reporting within the Firm's matrix reporting structure;

Local support and advice on the pricing of bids, tenders and client proposals;

Implementation of the firm's strategy and local business plans;

The preparation of information necessary to support proposals for new partners, team hires and fee earner promotions;

Assistance and support with ad hoc projects as directed by the Head of Finance, Director of Finance or Head of Decision Support, such as analysis to support office expansion/ office moves.

Alongside these duties the successful individual will also be involved in the following;

Working as part of the business management/decision support team within finance, ensuring consistency of approach and the appropriate use of data;

Assisting in the development of firm-wide business solutions and processes to meet the current and future requirements of the firm's clients; to adapt those solutions and processes to meet changing market conditions and to ensure a consistently high quality of service throughout the firm;

Working closely with the practice group business managers on practice group initiatives or firm wide programmes to ensure co-ordination between practice group objectives, sectors, the region and the firm's strategy and to establish best practice decision support across the firm and the facilitation of cross group, cross office and cross geography working to contribute to, and support the development of, the operational structure in the region by providing insight into jurisdictional specific requirements for business and operational processes;

Promote connectivity across the business service functions to ensure efficient delivery of services to fee earners and the business;

Act as a point of escalation and support for regional business service managers;

Act as a point of contact for UK heads of business services;

This is a senior position within the finance function and requires a qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent) with a proven track record of operating as a finance business partner in a partnership environment in the corporate professional services world. The ability to communicate effectively with Partners and heads of business services’ departments should be demonstrable as is the ability to facilitate behavioural and operational changes. Extensive experience of working in a branch office of a corporate law firm in Asia would be a distinct advantage.