Finance Analyst

We are looking for a Finance Analyst to join our team in London! This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual who wants to be part of a progressive, customer-centric team which works closely with the business to provide budget assurance and performance improvement whilst challenging and influencing the leadership teams in managing their areas. 

About us 

CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 80 offices in over 45 countries and 5,800+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in. We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working. Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive. 

About the role 

This role sits within the Finance Business Partner team which supports CMS leadership teams with accurate, timely, insightful and relevant financial planning advice to ensure the business is making informed business decisions to support its strategic growth plans. We aim to be an effective and efficient business partnering service, working in conjunction with other colleagues across the professional leadership team to drive strategy and deliver operational excellence.

The Business Partnering team are very visible across the firm, and as such the successful candidate should expect to also be visible and engaged with the Partners and Lawyers across the firm, as well as building and maintaining key relationships across key business services teams.

You can expect to be involved in, and drive a wide variety of work including:

• Compiling and assessing financial data to support complex business requests including, but not limited to, partner and fee earner appraisals, profitability and trend reporting.

• Assisting in the preparation of, and in some cases, the delivery of, high quality financial presentations to the business (practice, sector and key client specific) and providing analysis and recommendations as and when required. The Finance Analyst will also provide support to resolve any follow up actions which result from business engagements.

• Managing the production of routine deliverables required by the Finance Business Partner team, such as the monthly reporting packs, with business relevant commentaty and analysis provided, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Providing direct Business Partnering support to regional leads or alternative fee earning teams.

• Becoming a SME for the suite of finance systems and models used by the Department, working with the Finance Leadership Team and outsourced partners to ensure systems and models remain accurate, relevant and fit for purpose. The Finance Analyst should proactively look for ways to improve the efficiency of data generation.

• Liaising with the Finance Reporting Team to ensure consistent and accurate information is provided.

• Assisting in the delivery of the financial education agenda by supporting training initiatives to newly promoted partners / laterals / promotion candidates / new firm joiners. Helping to maintain training materials on behalf of the Department.

• Providing assistance to the Finance Business Partners with the annual budget process and quarterly reforecast exercises.

• Working with the Finance and HR teams (both locally and remotely) to ensure integrity and accuracy of data used by the Finance Business Partner team, e.g. headcount, fee earner cost rates.

• Assisting the Financial Planning & Decision Support department with other adhoc tasks as required Financial Planning.

• Annual planning and budgeting.

• Quarterly reforecasting.

• Developing longer term 3-5 year plans with the relevant Partners and Senior Finance Business Partner.

• Preparation of Executive Reporting to Senior Management in the Firm at regular Business Review Meetings.

• Longer term strategic reviews of offices and teams to support profitable growth Business Partnering.

 • Assisting Fee Earners with both routine and ad-hoc queries, including supporting them through the SADC.

• Attending and providing cover at Partner and Team meetings for the areas being supported Financial Analysis.

• Enabling the practice group and regions to achieve their objectives, make decisions and plan appropriately through the effective understanding and application of financial analysis.

• Supporting the delivery of monthly finance MI which contains insightful commentary and analysis. Monitoring performance against long-term strategic and short-term operational plans to achieve agreed financial targets.

 • In conjunction with Finance Business Partner colleagues, supporting the Financial Planning and Decision Support team in the overall financial management of the practice areas.

 • Advanced ad-hoc analysis as required to help maximise profitability across the group around realisation, fee earner utilisation and working capital.

• Assisting in the design and evolution of Dashboards/MI.

• Being the Finance lead on non-finance initiatives/projects.

• Key part of recruitment process for all hires in your areas. 

About you  

We will invest in your ongoing training and development to support your professional goals and help you to thrive in your role from day one. Our opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants, so to be considered for this role, you must meet the following skills and experience:  

• Fully-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, ICAS or equivalent).

• Strong Financial modelling skills. 

 • Advanced MS Office suite user (particularly strong in Excel).

 • Curiousity and openness to explore new technologies and utilise AI and other developments to build efficiencies and improve quality of work.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  

• The ability to remain calm and focussed under pressure.  

• 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 who is transparent and has a collaborative, supportive approach.  

• Organised and proactive in dealing with work.  

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)

• Flexible, hybrid working policy

• Generous bonus scheme

• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)

• Holiday exchange scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Enhanced parental leave

• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.