The role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Finance to lead the firm’s finance function. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role is responsible for financial strategy, operational finance, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the firm’s financial performance supports our strategic ambitions.

This is a key leadership role, partnering closely with senior stakeholders to drive profitability, improve financial insight, and support the firm’s continued growth.

The Head of Finance role has the following direct reports:

• Senior Financial Accountant

• Senior Management Accountant

• Head of Financial Systems

• Head Legal Cashier

• Senior Commercial Finance Manager

• Interim Billing Manage

• Credit Control Manager

Role responsibility

Leadership & Strategy

Set and clearly communicate the Finance team strategy, ensuring alignment of team objectives with the wider firm strategy

Lead, develop, and motivate a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement

Act as a trusted advisor to the COO, Partnership, and Executive Board

Financial Management & Reporting

Oversee all financial operations including management accounts, reporting, and year-end statutory accounts

Oversee the production of the annual budget and reforecasting processes

Deliver timely, accurate and insightful MI and KPIs to support decision-making

Review monthly cashflow projections and ensure effective working capital management

Financial Modelling & Insight

Develop and deliver advanced financial modelling to support business needs

Provide modelling and analysis across key areas including:

Lock-up and working capital reporting

Partner remuneration modelling

Business planning and strategic initiatives

Drive data-led insights to enhance firm performance

Commercial Finance & Business Partnering

Provide commercial support to the business, working closely with the Senior Commercial Finance Manager to drive profitability

Partner with Heads of Department on financial and operational performance

Support pricing, utilisation, and margin improvement initiatives

Systems & Transformation

Work closely with the Head of Financial Systems on system upgrades and enhancements

Ensure finance systems evolve in line with business needs and reporting requirements

Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency, and improved reporting capability

Operational Finance

Oversee billing, WIP, credit control, and working capital optimisation

Collaborate with the debt collections team, including understanding litigation-related recovery actions

Act as the point of contact for queries relating to changes in originations

Regulatory & Compliance

Oversee the statutory accounts process and SRA audit

Ensure compliance with SRA Accounts Rules and all regulatory obligations

Deputise for the COFA where required, including reviewing monthly bank reconciliations and ensuring robust financial controls

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Work collaboratively across Business Services Heads (BSH), contributing to and influencing firm-wide projects

Attend and actively contribute to BSH meetings, providing a strong financial perspective

Partner with other business services leaders to drive cross-functional initiatives

Other

Support the COO with ad hoc strategic and operational projects as required

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

An accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent)

Significant senior finance experience within a UK law firm or professional services environment

Strong understanding of SRA Accounts Rules and legal finance operations

Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability

Experience working with finance systems and driving system improvements

Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate within a partnership structure

Strong leadership experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams

The ability to think strategically, with a hands-on, delivery-focused approach

Commerciality with strong problem-solving skills

Strong collaboration skills with the ability to build strong relationships across the firm

Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic partnership environment

Clear communication skills with the ability to translate financial information for non-finance stakeholders

At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable— whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know. We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you.

Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy.com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual holiday

Permanent Health Insurance

Life Assurance

Interest free Season Ticket Loan

Private Healthcare

Pension Scheme

Staff Introductory Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.