A major international law firm is seeking a Head of Finance & Operations to focus on the London office, leading its UK finance function and play a central role on the London Management Team.
This is a broad, influential position that goes far beyond traditional financial control. It’s ideally suited to a senior finance leader who combines strong commercial acumen with people leadership, partner/stakeholder management and operational oversight.
This is not a technical accounting hire. Those capabilities already sit within the team. Instead, they are seeking someone who can:
*Provide confident leadership and direction to the UK finance function.
*Shape culture, bring the team together and articulate a clear commercial strategy.
*Strengthen financial insight and challenge across the London office.
*Influence partners and senior leaders to drive performance and commercial discipline.
*Ensure financial and operational decisions align with broader business strategy.
You’ll need to be an experienced adviser to senior leadership, a strong relationship-builder and someone who thrives in a fast-moving, partnership-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Leadership
*Lead and develop the UK finance function, shaping culture, capability and long-term strategic direction.
*Partner with the London Management Team (LMT) to define and drive the financial strategy of the London office.
*Lead commercial finance activity including pricing, profitability, performance analysis and strategic financial decision-making.
*Oversee monthly P&L and balance sheet reviews, providing insightful, forward-looking analysis and constructive challenge.
*Work closely with global commercial accounting and pricing teams to align priorities and enhance financial decision support.
*Contribute to decisions regarding the financial shape, size and structural planning of the London office.
*Oversee UK finance teams, including cashiers, accounts payable and management accounting (with statutory accounting managed centrally).
Strategic Partnering & Influence
*Partner with senior leaders to challenge, shape and support high-quality decision making.
*Build strong, trusted relationships across the partnership, influencing behaviours and driving commercial discipline.
Operational Leadership
*Act as a core member of the LMT, working alongside senior partners and HR leadership.
*Support operational oversight across facilities, IT, space planning and office services, ensuring efficient, well-coordinated processes.
*Reduce reliance on partner time by providing structure, clarity and consistent operational coordination.
*Help embed stronger governance, consistency and effective decision-making across the London operations environment.
*Help embed clarity, consistency and effective decision-making across London operations.
Experience needed:
*A proven senior finance leader from a partnership or professional services environment.
*Commercial, energetic and influential, with the ability to challenge constructively.
*Comfortable operating across both finance and broader operational work.
*Flexible, pragmatic and relationship-driven rather than rigid or technical-only.
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