To be responsible for a team of 33 across the Baker McKenzie offices
in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, and Rome. This is a challenging yet
rewarding opportunity to lead the finance function in a vital region.
The role-holder will support a leading Global Law Firm with a diverse
and prestigious client base. The Firm offers a supportive and
inclusive work environment, along with numerous opportunities for
learning and development.
Main responsibilities
Financial Planning,
Reporting, and Analysis:
Manage the financial planning, reporting, and analysis for the
region, ensuring compliance with global and local standards and regulations
Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial
statements and reports to local management highlighting key
performance indicators, variances, and trends
Analyze and monitor the financial performance and profitability of
the region, identifying risks and opportunities, and providing
recommendations for improvement
Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the financial data and
systems, and implement internal controls and policies
Strategic Financial Advice and Guidance
Provide strategic financial advice and guidance to the local
leadership teams, supporting business development and growth initiatives
Conduct financial modelling and scenario analysis to support
decision-making and investment proposals
Evaluate and advise on the financial implications and feasibility
of new business opportunities, client agreements, and projects
Budgeting, Forecasting, and
Performance Management:
Oversee the budgeting, forecasting, and performance management
processes, ensuring alignment with the firm's objectives and targets
Coordinate and consolidate the annual budget and quarterly
forecasts for the region, and communicate them to the regional
finance leadership
Establish and monitor the key performance metrics and financial
targets for the region, and provide regular feedback and coaching to
the finance team and the business leaders
Financial Hygiene:
Manage the Firm's lock-up to targeted levels and ensure an
efficient cash conversion cycle
Manage billing and collections to their monthly phased targets,
liaising with fee earners, business professional colleagues, and
clients as appropriate
Ensure the regional billing and collections teams are utilizing
all relevant systems and tools to their maximum potential
Monitor time recording statistics and ensure fee earners are
recording their time in line with internal guidelines
Review current working practices across the regional offices and
provide recommendations for improvements
Team Leadership and Development:
Lead and develop a team of finance professionals across the
region, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and innovation
Define and communicate the vision, mission, and goals of the
finance function, and align them with the firm's values and strategy
Provide direction, guidance, and support to the finance team, and
ensure they have the necessary skills, resources, and tools to
perform their roles effectively
Promote a learning and development culture within the finance
team, and provide opportunities for training, coaching, and mentoring
Facilitate the annual performance review and compensation process
for the finance team, and provide input and feedback to the regional
leadership team
Continuous Improvement and Efficiency:
Drive continuous improvement and efficiency in the finance
function, leveraging best practices and technology solutions
Review and streamline the finance processes and workflows, and
implement automation and standardization where possible
Identify and implement best practices and benchmarks for the
finance function, and ensure alignment and consistency with the
global finance team and the other regions
Support the rollout of new technology solutions and systems that
enhance the finance function's capabilities and performance
Travel requirements: Some requirements for travel to
other offices in the region.
About the team
Function
The Finance function provides the following services to the Firm:
Supports strategic decision-making from a financial and business perspective
Manages cash flow, including accounts payable, credit checks,
billing, and collections
Ensures Firm-wide purchasing excellence and efficiency
Provides financial reporting, budgets, and forecasts
Secures financing across the global Firm
You will report to: Chief Financial Officer, EMEA
Your direct reports, if any: Senior Finance staff
across the Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Milan offices.
Key relationships: Partners across the Southern
European offices, Regional Finance leadership, all Finance staff, and
other senior business support colleagues across the Southern European offices.
About the candidate
Technical skills, qualifications and experience:
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field; A
professional qualification such as CPA, CMA, or ACCA or their
equivalent would be beneficial
Strong progressive experience in finance roles, preferably in the
legal or professional services sector
Experience in a senior finance leadership role, managing a
regional or multi-country finance function
Experience in financial planning, reporting, and analysis,
budgeting, forecasting, and performance management, and business partnering
Experience in leading and developing finance teams, and driving
continuous improvement and efficiency in the finance function
Strong business acumen and analytical skills, with the ability to
provide strategic insights and recommendations
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability
to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and
external partners
Fluency in English and Spanish required, working knowledge of
Italian an advantage
Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, and other finance
software and systems
High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
Flexible working in place with the option to work remotely, but
with a requirement to be in the office for the majority of the
working week
Personal qualities
These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high
performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.
Know how
Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to
anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distills a range
of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
Has the capacity to take on new ideas and develop knowledge and
think holistically about business and address media, analyst,
employee, and client audiences
Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different
approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with the agility of mind and
capacity for analysis and synthesis
Dedication
Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds
exemplary quality standards
Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is
self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
Personal Impact
Uses complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies,
adapted to people, organizations, and/or the situation, e.g. networks
Leverages direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration
across the organization
Builds partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges
individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root
belief large-scale
Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships
through collaboration and reciprocity
Negotiates to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes; shows good
judgment on when to stand strong and when to compromise
Invests in, nurtures, and builds a network of productive relationships
Humanity
Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the
respect of others by being transparent
Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others
as people
Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.
Why Join Us?
Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise
many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations
through our 13,200 people in 74 offices in 45 countries. Yet big does
not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their
role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest
standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave
in a collaborative and fulfilling way.
In London you will be part of a 1,000 person office, which is also
our largest office globally. Originally opened in 1961, Baker McKenzie
London is well established in the UK as a leading international law
firm and is regularly involved in some of the country's most
high-profile legal matters. We can offer you the work, pride and
experience of being part of a leading law firm but in a local office
environment that is hardworking, friendly and supportive.
The strength of the firm and our culture is evidenced by a number of
recent awards, including:
Thomson Reuters (formerly Acritas' Sharplegal) Global Elite Law
Firm Brand Index, 2010- 2022 - ranked 1st
The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2021-2022: currently ranked 52nd
Thomson Reuters ranked the Firm No. 1 for cross-border deals for
the last 12 years. More than 70% of our deals are cross-border.
For the 14th consecutive year, the Firm was ranked first for deals
with emerging market involvement, by both number of announced and
completed deals.
Law360 ranked the Firm as one of the 400 Largest US Law Firms in
in its annual survey in 2020.
Identified as one of the Hall of Fame for best law firms for women
by Working Mother magazine, 2011-2021.
Received a a Gold Award in Stonewall's Global Workplace Equality
Index of Top Global Employers for LGBTQ+ Inclusion.
Ranked as one of the Top 20 Employers in the 2023 Social Mobility
Employer Index.
Received Double Certification for earning top marks in the 2022
Corporate Equality Index and Equidad MX of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Winner of the Europe Mentorship Programme - International Firm
award in the Euromoney Women in Business Law Europe Awards 2021
Winner of the Gender Diversity International Firm, Talent
Management International Firm, and Work-Life Balance International
Firm awards in the Euromoney
Women in Business Law Asia Awards 2021
Have a look at our YouTube
channel to find out more about us!
To Apply
Please click on the Apply icon to start the online application
process for this role. We will then be in touch with you once we have
reviewed your application.
For more information about this position or to discuss any
adjustments you may require during the process please contact in
confidence, David Roberts, Recruitment Manager, on David.Roberts@bakermckenzie.com
Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please clickhere
for details of our Agency Policy and commitment to sourcing directly.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
As the first truly global law firm, diversity and inclusion are
foundational to our culture and strategic vision. We are a Firm of
individuals from across the globe with different backgrounds, ideas,
and points of view who collegially work together to solve complex
problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple
perspectives come from many sources, including the diverse ethnicity,
culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, disability, parental status, education,
social background and life experience of our people.
Our global strategy is focused on our people, our culture, our
clients and the communities where we operate. In 2019 we enacted
ambitious new targets related to gender, racial and ethnic diversity
at the Firm. These targets are viewed as a floor, not a ceiling, to
advancing underrepresented groups, and they are backed by a variety of
strategic initiatives aimed at achieving our goals. Our strategic
vision is supported in London by six active employee led networks
which champion diversity, lead on a number of internal campaigns and
deliver a range of activity to celebrate differences in identity,
inclusion, and key dates throughout the year including: LGBT+ History
Month, International Women's Day, International Trans Day of
Visibility, Mental Health Awareness Week, Pride, Black History Month,
Social Mobility Week, International Day of Disabled Persons and many more!
Baker McKenzie London has been accredited by Disability Confident,
joining over 18,000 organisations that have signed up to help change
behaviours and cultures in businesses, networks and communities and
reap the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
