Job Description

About The Role

We are currently looking for an experienced Financial Controller to join our Bristol office.

You will be working closely with the financial director across a range of tasks including


developing, implementing and maintaining a robust financial control environment across the breadth of the Firm; driving financial performance through timely, insightful and accurate month end reporting and identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies through detailed analysis of the cost base; driving financial (and fiscal) compliance and supporting and implementing the wider business strategy.
The role is responsible for a number of key areas critical to the success of a finance function, including the management and shaping of the Management Accounts and the Central Reporting teams, budgeting and forecasting, monthly financial reporting, accounting and compliance, the improvement of processes / policies and ultimately the optimisation of business performance.


This is an exciting opportunity to own the day-to-day remit of the Management Accounts and Central Reporting teams, driving improvements for the business, working alongside the Finance Director, Operations Director and Head of Commercial Finance in reshaping all aspects of the finance function in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Day to day, you'll be successful in this role by:

Finance team
Management and development of the Management Accounts and Central Reporting team personnel to enhance the value-add contribution to the business, including target setting where appropriate; Assessing the shape and capacity of the Management Accounts and Central Reporting teams, taking steps to ensure it is appropriately sized, skilled, resilient and collaborative; Ensuring close collaboration with the Head of Commercial Finance to ensure that the Finance Analysts in the Central Reporting team, being a shared resource, are able to work seamlessly across the two finance areas with tasks correctly prioritised; Ensuring appropriate segregation of duties are in place between team members; Responsible for recruitment within the Management Accounts and Central Reporting team, supported by HR and the Head of Commercial Finance; and Coordination with other senior members of the finance team in achieving the strategic goals of the function (and the wider Firm).

The Monthly Reporting Cycle, Working Capital Management and Reporting


Responsibility for the month end accounting cycle, ensuring reporting deadlines are met and that processes are continually reviewed, in depth, to ensure they are optimised to improve efficiency and accuracy; Responsibility for production and ultimate dissemination of month end Firm-wide financial reporting (to both senior finance and wider business stakeholders) with a particular emphasis on interpreting results 'beyond the numbers' at the Firm level, developing methodologies to ensure detailed variance analysis where required - and adopting a 'right first time' approach throughout; Responsibility for ensuring that information is collated accurately and to deadlines for the Commercial Finance Team on a monthly basis; Responsibility for working capital management, including the production of both the daily and (long term) monthly integrated cash-flow, the setting of cash in-flow targets and the monitoring of daily cash against targets; Responsibility for the production of analyses to aid the business and management in targeting working capital improvement (i.e. the coordination of WIP / Debtor / Disbursement exercises); and Proactive treasury management, including organising the procurement of loan financing as and when necessary.
Financial Accounting, Compliance and Processes


Responsibility for ensuring that accounting is in line with relevant GAAP and SORP (currently FRS 102) (ensuring all supporting documentation is in place) and responsibility for the Firm balance sheet; Responsibility for the production of technical accounting and tax papers as required; Responsibility for ensuring indirect taxes (principally VAT) are accounted for correctly, both through implementing and maintaining appropriate finance processes - and in the production and review of the VAT return; ensuring all office payments are made accurately and on-time; Responsibility for a number of finance policies and ensuring finance team process notes are accurate and up to date; Responsibility for a number of monthly reviews and signoffs, including the office bank reconciliation, payroll and related payments, all detailed balance sheet reconciliations (including partner reserves) and other reviews as management deem appropriate; Proactive management of the statutory audit, being the first port of call for the auditors, adopting an exacting and 'zero-tolerance' approach to error / misstatement, liaising with the FD as appropriate. Responsible for the production of the statutory accounts of all LLP entities; Proactive management of the Member tax process from start to finish, with the support of a Partnership Accountant, including planning and being the first port of call for the Firm's tax advisors, taking responsibility for the production of accurate tax packs, subsequently taking the lead on the calculation of tax reserves and the production, review and ultimate dissemination of annual statements to the Members and dealing with any queries arising; Responsible for the organisation and maintenance of Member capital loans; Management of the annual review into drawings levels for Members and the maintenance of drawings levels throughout the year and the production of leaver statements for departing members; Ownership of all relevant finance policies and the authorisation matrix, performing an annual review and recommending amendments to the FD; and Responsibility for all other statutory and non-statutory financial reporting (e.g. payment practices, P11Ds, PSA, ONS).

Wider remit


First port of call for accounting and tax queries that arise within the business; Work alongside the Finance Director, Head of Central Operations and Head of Commercial Finance in devising, delivering and maintaining a 'law Firm finance' induction for joiners, focusing on management accounts and working capital, building this into the JLT process; and Responsibility for the accurate and timely production of statistics used annually by the Remuneration Committee and calculation of both Member and staff bonuses.

Budgeting and forecast cycles


Responsibility for the development and coordination of a KPI-based budgeting process and quarterly reforecasting cycles, liaising with the Commercial Finance Team who will provide detailed fees, hours and AI schedules by Team and Fee Earner to be amalgamated. Detailed review of the cost base alongside the Finance Manager. Responsibility for the production and maintenance of a Firm-wide detailed budgeted / forecast P&L, balance sheet and integrated cash-flow forecast for the Firm; and Responsibility for the production of the budget / forecasting reporting pack, presenting to the Finance Director on a quarterly basis, ultimately uploading the final budget for access by the business - and updating the intranet on an ad hoc basis for leavers / joiners etc.
Supporting the wider business strategy
Working alongside the Finance Director, Operations Director and Head of Commercial Finance in the anticipation of strategic risks and opportunities for the business; and Identification and delivery of strategic finance projects pertaining to Management Accounts, Fiscal Compliance and optimisation of profitability and the cost base.

The role is right for you if you can demonstrate the following:

An honours degree and a ACA, ACCA or CIMA Qualification Excellent Microsoft Office with Advanced Excel modelling skills. Confidence to take responsibility and fully own all aspects of the financial control environment; A real willingness to roll up sleeves and get into the nitty gritty of a task; A self-starter; able to operate using high level of autonomy; Excellent and productive line manager, driving change; Used to delivering high quality output to strict deadlines; Excellent communication skills, with an ability to build and maintain credible and successful relationships with stakeholders; Excellent technical ability with experience of translating this in to practical business solutions; Excellent Microsoft Office with Advanced Excel modelling skills This role will also require travel between our offices

About Us

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.

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.