Finance Manager

• Job type: Full-time
• Salary: Competitive
• Seniority: Minimum 8 years' finance experience within a Law Firm
• Department: Finance/Business Support
• Office: Hertford/Ware/Loughton

Are you looking to advance your legal career whilst enjoying a healthy work/life balance? Do you want to join a firm that is as interested in your career progression as you are? Are you searching for a fulfilling role where what you get out is considered just as important as what you put in? And where the only ceiling is your ambition?

Then Attwaters Solicitors could be the firm for you. Come and find out what makes us one of the Sunday Times Best Places to work in 2024, 2025 (Top 10 for medium organisations in the UK) and 2026

With five offices spanning Hertfordshire, Essex and London, Attwaters Solicitors is a respected regional law firm with origins dating back well over a century. Our vision is to be the ‘go to’ private wealth legal practice in our region, through our commitment to excellent client care, integrity, teamwork, innovation, quality and respect.

In order to achieve our vision, we need people who are committed to excellence. We are experts at what we do and we’re looking for people with the ambition, dedication and work ethic required to become leaders in their field.

But we also know that our people have a right to expect excellence from us. That’s why we are dedicated to providing our staff with a nurturing environment, a structured career path that offers clear opportunities for progression, and all the support they need to thrive.

The role:

To lead and manage the finance function of the firm and team of 4, ensuring the delivery of accurate financial reporting, effective cash flow management, regulatory compliance, and efficient financial operations. The Finance Manager will oversee all day-to-day accounting activities and ensure compliance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Accounts Rules and other relevant legal sector requirements. You should have a minimum 8 years' finance experience within a Law Firm and be AAT qualified, ACCA, ACA, CIMA or have equivalent accounting qualification. Previous management experience an experience of holding the position of COFA prefered.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Experience working within a law firm or other professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of the SRA Accounts Rules.
• Experience preparing management accounts.
• Budget preparation and financial forecasting experience.
• Cash flow management experience.
• Experience managing finance teams.
• Knowledge of VAT and payroll requirements.
• Experience using legal accounting software/CMS
• Ability to manage and motivate teams.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Manage the firm's day-to-day financial operations.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Monitor profitability, budgets and departmental performance.
• Produce variance analysis against budgets and forecasts.
• Assist partners in understanding financial performance and key metrics.
• Prepare annual budgets and financial forecasts.
• Monitor lock-up, including WIP, debtors and disbursements.
• Oversee billing processes and revenue recognition.

In addition to the above, to report on and manage, alongside Partners and Management Board:-

• Fee income and billing performance.
• Departmental profitability.
• Recovery rates.
• Matter balances.
• Residual client account balances.
• Partner drawings.
• Forecast cash requirements.
• Compliance with lender covenants where applicable
• Negotiate borrowing as and when needed

Cash Flow and Banking

• Manage the firm's cash flow position.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts.
• Monitor and manage client and office account balances.
• Liaise with bankers and financial institutions.
• Ensure adequate controls exist over all payments and receipts.
• Authorise payments in accordance with delegated authorities.

SRA Accounts Rules Compliance

• Ensure compliance with SRA Accounts Rules.
• Oversee reconciliations of client accounts.
• Monitor residual client balances.
• Prepare information required for annual accountant's reports.
• Assist with inspections, compliance reviews and audits.
• Work closely with the firm's COLP where applicable
• Be appointed to the role of COFA

Financial Reporting

• Produce monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.
• Prepare statutory accounts information for external accountants.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of financial records.
• Provide financial analysis and KPI reporting to management.
• Monitor departmental performance against agreed targets.

Team Management

• Manage and develop members of the finance team.
• Conduct performance reviews and training.
• Ensure adequate cover and succession planning within the department.
• Promote high standards of customer service to internal stakeholders.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Maintain and improve financial systems and controls.
• Review accounting procedures to enhance efficiency.
• Support implementation of new finance software and reporting tools.
• Develop reporting dashboards and management information alongside the IT department.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with VAT, PAYE and other tax obligations.
• Oversee payroll processes alongside the HR team.
• Maintain appropriate financial controls.
• Support anti-money laundering (AML) compliance requirements where relevant.
• Monitor professional indemnity insurance and regulatory payments.

What we expect from you:

• You’re dedicated to providing excellent client service in line with our Service Pledge.
• You’re somebody who takes pride in their work and of whom we can be proud.
• You’re interested in promoting the firm’s good name both internally and externally.
• You’re a team player who will always go the extra mile.
• You have a positive attitude and always look to lift spirits, not lower them.
• You show good judgement and maturity.
• You’re risk-aware – you know what you don’t know.
• You’re a hard worker with a ‘can-do’ attitude.

What you can expect from us:

• A structured career path that provides all the information you need to develop and progress.
• A supportive and nurturing working environment with monthly one-to-ones, department meetings and a six-monthly appraisal scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Firm-wide and fee-earner bonus schemes.
• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per year, rising by one day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
• Automatic enrolment to our contributory corporate pension scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Automatic enrolment to our Employee Assistance Programme, which helps staff members experiencing personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and wellbeing.
• Enrolment to our Healthcare Cash Plan after the probationary period. Cover includes dependant children and may be extended to partners or spouses at the employee’s expense.
• Access to Mintago, a comprehensive employee financial wellbeing platform.
• Each office has its own designated Social and Wellbeing champion, who is there to help promote good mental and physical health with a range of initiatives including social walks, book clubs, charitable activities and out-of-hours get-togethers and events.
• Annual staff events including summer and Christmas events, quarterly office lunches and our annual online Staff Quiz!
• And so much more! Click the button below for our full list of employee benefits.

Click ‘Apply’ to complete and submit your application – we can’t wait to hear from you!

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