Accounts Manager

Overall Purpose

To ensure that all day-to-day transactions and cashiering duties, across all client and office accounts, are processed accurately and within appropriate deadlines.
To assist the Finance Director in ensuring that the firm’s policies and procedures comply with all appropriate standards, including SAR and AML regulations, as set out by the Law Society.
To ensure that the firm’s accounting procedures are adhered to and that fee earners are kept informed of relevant matters and receive information in a timely fashion.
To ensure that ongoing training and support is provided to all members of the firm on the firm’s accounting procedures and Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR).
To ensure that contact with clients or other external parties meet the firm’s standards of client care.

Main responsibilities and duties include:

The development and oversight of a cashiering team, including staff recruitment, reviewing staff levels, cashier training, development, and appraisal.
The implementation of existing and development of new processes, focusing on efficiency, identifying and applying process improvements where required.
Involvement in firmwide projects to review and improve processes which include a Finance function.
Legal cashiering and compliance to include recording client and office transactions accurately and adherence to the Firms SLA.
To ensure awareness of the Firm’s financial policies, procedures, and controls to all new starters.
The on-going provision of advice and training to fee earners and teams on procedure and best practice.
To ensure that a Senior member of accounts is represented at other departmental meetings.
Oversight of daily bank reconciliations.
Oversight of month end procedures.
Assistance with financial management reporting as required.
Support the preparatory work for the annual audit of accounts.

Other Tasks

Carrying out any other reasonable tasks as might be required from time to time.

Training

Leigh Day will provide training relating to

this role
office technology
IT

in order to enable you to offer- and deliver- a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service in cashiering and business support.

Performance Measured By

Timeliness of response to requests.
Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy in work produced. Ability to work on own initiative, maintaining a flexible, responsive and responsible attitude.
Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the Firm.
Good attendance and timekeeping.

Key requirements

The successful candidate will have extensive cashiering experience, ideally as an Accounts Manager, gained within a law firm and must be able to demonstrate:

Relevant accounting or Legal Finance qualifications. ACCA, CIMA or ILFM.
An in-depth knowledge of the Solicitors Accounts Rules to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Strong understanding of financial principles.
Proven experience in client account management, reconciliations and month-end closing.
Minimum experience of 3-5 years of work in a similar role within a law firm.
Excellent organisational and time management/efficiency skills.
Clear and concise written and oral communication.
Experience of managing a team effectively.
A track record of identifying, communicating and delivering process improvements.
Elite 3e experience would be beneficial.

Key competencies

A proactive approach with a can-do attitude.
Ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and work well under pressure.
The ability to work successfully as part of a team; sharing knowledge, liaising with and supporting members of the wider Accounts & Finance department to resolve queries and other matters that arise.
A flexible approach with adaptability to change and willingness to take on additional duties as the business evolves.
An analytical viewpoint with the ability to suggest enhancements or changes to current processes if needed.
Appetite and aptitude for continuous learning and improvement.