Practice Director position now available in boutique law firm in London.
The firm is looking for a dedicated and capable finance and management professional who will provide the senior expertise to guide the firm's continued development as a business.
The Practice Director role combines the responsibilities of a finance manager and a business manager, with further scope and executive responsibility
Duties & Responsibilities include:
Finance:
- Manage the firm's bookkeeper. Responsible for billing and collections. As directed, create financial projections and firm budgets.
- Manage the relationship with the firm's external accountants & assist the office manager in the financial year-end process.
- Provide finance analysis support for work tenders, staffing and client matter management.
- Provide support for the finance committee.
- Take over the role of COFA and ensure adequate accounting control systems exist and are operated to comply with Solicitors Accounts rules and best accounting practice.
- Provide relevant and good-quality management and financial information to partners.
- Assist partners in finance-related discussions and enable well informed decision making.
- Report weekly to the managing partner on finances and monthly to all partners.
- Prepare reports on business strategy, management and financial information for discussion and decision-making at partner meetings.
Administration:
- Maintenance of the library, online subscriptions, book purchases; administer the outsourced HR and IT provider relationships (for the latter, see below);
- Supervise the firm's BD and recruitment/continuing education functions; organise the monthly lawyer practice meetings; organise the annual staff appraisals and the mid-year associate review.
Management:
- Manage the firm's bookkeeper, the recruitment/continuing education coordinator, the BD team. Work in coordination with the Office Manager and the partnership secretary (responsible for the premises, office supplies, the secretaries, the office clerk, the cleaning staff, the relationship with the firm's bank, inductions, employment contracts, various insurance, partner meetings and partnership data).
- Provide leadership and direction for the support team, ensure their performance is monitored and an efficient level of service is provided to the fee earners.
- Knowledge, risk and compliance management: Be responsible for knowledge management. Work with the COLP to ensure risk management and SRA compliance, policies and reporting.
- Information and Communications Technology: Be responsible for day to day IT tasks, working with the firm's outsourced IT support and IT vendors to ensure IT functions are running efficiently, that IT support is timely and effective.
- Ensure and that the team is set up with appropriate IT to execute client work effectively and cost-efficiently.
Experience required includes:
- Experience in a high-end law firm, ideally as Director to a Managing Partner, Practice Manager, Operations Officer or similar
- Experience in strategic development of a law firm
- Experience in planning and implementation with strong business acumen.
- Finance credentials and experience in budget creation/financial management (accountancy qualification preferred but not essential)
- Must be willing to work 5 days a week in their London office
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