Commercial Finance Business Partner (12 month FTC)

Practice Group / Department:

We're Norton Rose Fulbright - a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide. We provide the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. At Norton Rose Fulbright, our strategy and our culture are closely entwined. We know that our expansion will mean little unless it is underpinned by truly global collaboration and we understand that pioneering work only takes place when our people have room to move and think beyond boundaries. As well as the relevant skills and experience, we're looking for people who are innovative, commercial and value the work that they do. 

The Role

The Commercial Finance Business Partners work closely with the business to provide budget assurance, performance improvement, strategic financial leadership and proactive financial support in managing their practices, teams and offices. You will be an enthusiastic and experienced commercial finance professional, who utilises strong communication and soft skills to work effectively with stakeholders. EMEA focus areas for this role include NRF’s offices across Germany, Benelux and the Middle East.

This role is a 12-month fixed-term contract.

The Team

Part of EMEA Group Finance and working very closely with the EMEA Chief Operating Officer, the Commercial Finance function encompasses Finance Business Partnering, Pricing and Commercial Insights, and Finance Business Information and Reporting. Commercial Finance supports NRF leadership and wider stakeholder groups by looking at ways to improve firm profitability, competitiveness and value for clients through financial leadership, timely insights and initiatives designed to improve commercial confidence and decision making.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering

• Serving as the financial link between assigned practices, teams, offices, the Finance department and wider business support teams.
• Proactively working with Practice and Team Leaders, Heads of Office, their leadership teams and partners to provide financial expertise and support, e.g. effective and regular presentations at partner meetings, identifying and leading initiatives to improve financial performance.
• Providing support with respect to underperforming partners within designated practice/office areas, producing structured turnaround plans which link into the partner appraisal framework
• Providing necessary financial support to ensure strategic business development, client retention and increased client profitability within the practice groups.
• Assist in the maintenance and delivery of finance training (in conjunction with Commercial Finance and LPM colleagues) to the following stakeholders:-
  • Procom
  • New joiners
  • Counsels
  • New Partners / lateral hires
  • International academy
  • Matter lifecycle training (cradle to grave)
• Identifying opportunities to cross-sell the advisory services provided by the Pricing and Commercial Insights team. Encouraging broader and better use of the Firm’s tools to develop more profitable and consistent pricing approaches
• In conjunction with the working capital teams, keep abreast of any issues within the practice group and assist in resolution. Being able to articulate any financial or business risks of significant working capital issues.

Financial Planning

• Annual planning and budgeting for selected EMEA practices, teams and offices. In conjunction with other business support professionals, leading on the delivery and maintenance of comprehensive three year plans for selected market groups.
• Quarterly reforecasting (two light touch exercises per year) to actively monitor and manage financial risks and opportunities across assigned EMEA teams and regions.

Financial analysis and decision support

• Enabling the practice group to achieve its objectives, make decisions and plan appropriately through the effective understanding and use of financial analysis.
• Preparation of high quality finance MI which contains insightful commentary, analysis, and articulation of required management actions. Monitoring performance against long-term strategic and short-term operational plans and assisting the partners formulate the necessary actions to be taken to achieve agreed financial targets.
• Supporting the practice groups in building business cases for required initiatives, such as lateral hires, fee earner promotions, practice area and geographic expansion.
• In conjunction with Commercial Finance Business Partner colleagues, supporting the Commercial Finance Director in the overall financial management of the practice.
• Working closely with People & Culture, HR and Resource Management colleagues to manage capacity and ensuring fee earner delivery models remain fit-for-purpose, optimising profitability and quality client service delivery
• Supporting the existing development framework for the Commercial Finance Analysts through structured mentoring and guidance

Projects

There will be a need to lead on various projects from time-to-time.

Key Skills and Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA) with 5+ years PQE
• Significant Finance Business Partnering experience with senior stakeholders, with a preference given to candidates with professional services sector experience
• A high degree of commercial acumen
• Excellent written and verbal communication. Emotionally resilient, and has strength of personality to ensure the perspective of ‘Finance’ is clearly communicated. The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
• Excellent soft skills including the ability to influence or challenge senior stakeholders when necessary
• A continuous improvement mentality to support development of self, colleagues and business processes and interactions
• Attention to detail as well as an ability to see the bigger picture which considers any cross-business implications
• A collaborative team-player with a “can-do” attitude who is transparent and has a straight forward approach
• Gravitas to succeed in a partnership environment and to gain respect as a trusted advisor
• Hard working and an ambition to grow professionally

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To attract the best people, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, have a sense of belonging, and realize their full career potential. 
Our new enabled work model allows our people to have more flexibility in the way they choose to work from both the office and a remote location, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of service. We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive employment policies and provide access to programmes and services aimed at nurturing our people’s health and overall wellbeing. Find more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. We strive to create an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any tailored adjustments or accommodations, please let us know here.