Financial Planning & Analysis Manager – Bristol
Vacancy details
We have a permanent Financial Planning and Analyst Manager opportunity available within our established and successful Finance Team. As the FP&A Manager you will manage and lead a team of two and take the lead on generating accurate and timely information for the Firm. You will be the liaison between Finance and IT Development to ensure new reports and requirements are properly communicated and interpreted, managing the process and progress from the Finance side.
This is a rewarding role that offers a competitive salary and benefits package that includes private healthcare, income protection, company pension, life assurance, 26 days holiday (rising to 29 days after 2 years) + bank holidays and additional Christmas leave.
We value work-life balance, this position is a hybrid role that will require occasional attendance to our brand-new Bristol office, based within the centre of the city. We welcome applications from candidates who desire full time hours (37.5 hours per week) or part time hours (30 hours per week).
Role: Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Location: Bristol
Hours: Full-time or Part-time
Term: Permanent
Vacancy Reference: 1236-BBL
Who we are
You’ll be joining a national law firm that enjoys a strong reputation, made possible by our exceptional people – each chosen for their industry knowledge and passion for their field. We want to help you to reach your full potential, love the work you do and deliver the best results for your clients. It’s our goal to make you feel great about working with us, and we work hard to cultivate a culture that makes it easy for you to stay with us for many years.
We work flexibly and you’ll be empowered to work where you do your best work, balancing your individual needs with the need for us to engage as teams and deliver excellent client service.
Most of our people choose to work in a hybrid fashion, working from home and attending our offices on occasion. Our offices are in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton, and Taunton.
Day to day, you’ll be successful in this role by:
Key Tasks and Responsibilities (including but not limited to):
Financial Planning & Analysis
• Working with the Financial Controller and Head of Commercial Finance to continue to revamp, standardise and mechanise the output of our monthly reporting cycle, with the assistance of the Finance Analysts.
• Responding to reporting requests from the business and finance management and taking the lead on the production of statutory and other returns.
• Performing ad-hoc analyses with the aim of driving profitability and improving the financial hygiene of the business.
• Supporting Finance Manager on the completion of surveys and other financial benchmarking against other firms across several areas, reviewing and taking forward any learning points as appropriate.
Monthly Reporting Cycle and Statutory Accounts
• Constant review and further refinement of the recently revamped Management Accounts process in collaboration with the Finance Manager and Financial Controller, recommending and implementing changes to the structure and accuracy of all aspects of the management accounts ensuring adherence to relevant GAAP and with a focus on detail and streamlining the process.
• With the assistance of the Finance Analysts, contributing to the overall completion of the month end process to tight deadlines, specifically responsible for the completion & analysis of Total Product and Revenue – but with other support on costs as directed by the Financial Controller.
• Production of detailed variance analysis, creating team P&Ls and KPI analysis for review by the Financial Controller.
• Taking the lead with year-end preparations including production of the annual Financial Statements, and production of bonus calculations.
Other tasks
• Overview of intranet front page financials to include maintenance of fee earner budgets (hours and fees) including adjustments for starters/leavers to ensure team fee budgets remain constant.
• Supporting the Head of Commercial Finance in the preparation of key Firm information to feed into the fee earner budget process – and supporting the Finance Manager on the production of the cost elements of the firm’s annual budget and regular forecasts.
PMS & Financial Reporting
• Being the key ‘bridge’ between Finance and the IT development team, ensuring new reports required are delivered. Managing this process, translating the requirements into a more technical specification, project managing the process and performing testing with the FP&A team to ensure the reports are accurate and ready for dissemination. Responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of the report stack.
• Supporting the Head of Centralised Operations as necessary for any future upgrades to the PMS.
Other systems
• One of the points of contact for the firm’s internet banking and other systems used within the finance team including HSBCnet, the software used for our supplier payments.
• Review & authorisation of regular payments generated by AP/cashiers through online banking and cheque runs.
This role is right for you if:
• You have an honours degree and are ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified.
• have a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a qualified accountant (ACA or similar)
• You can quickly understand and roll forward spreadsheet driven processes and have excellent attention to detail.
• You have Advanced Excel skills (Essential)
• You will be a self-starter who is able to take responsibility and ownership for your work.
• You will have good communication skills, both oral and written, with the confidence to liaise with personnel at all levels of the Firm and with external contacts.
• You can prioritise workloads and work closely to deadlines with minimum supervision and under pressure.
• You will need to demonstrate from experience that you are exceptionally organised and proactive.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, and advanced Excel skills will be crucial to succeed in this role.
• You have SQL experience (desirable, but not essential for this role)
If you have 75% of the experience outlined in the job description above, we welcome your application.
What we can offer you:
A career at Clarke Willmott will feel different to other law firms. We thrive on our individual differences and diversity because as a team, we are united by our shared values and mutual respect. Working with us you will feel empowered, valued and free to be yourself in a safe and supportive environment.
Our mission is to help you realise your full potential whilst maintaining a positive work-life balance. We provide a comprehensive learning and development programme and a range of wellbeing initiatives to support your career journey.
There’s no doubt we expect the best from our people and even the occasional extra mile. In return, your dedication and commitment to the continued success of the firm will be rewarded with a comprehensive range of flexible benefits.
Listen to what a few members of our team have to say about what life here at Clarke Willmott is really like, to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Apply
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please send us your CV and covering letter using the form below.
(If you have any difficulties with the form, you can email your application to us at careers@clarkewillmott.com)
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