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Job Title Business Manager, Transactions - EMEA+
Job Location London
Job Category Business Services
Practice Group N/A
Support Department European Business Development Unit
Description

Role purpose

To coordinate and support business operations for the Transactions Practice Group across the EMEA+ region with the aim of driving and enhancing practice performance and decision-making in line with the global practice strategy and the overall strategy of the Firm.

Main responsibilities

  • Advise and support the Associate Director of Business Management and the Practice Group Leaders on strategic, business, and operational matters across the EMEA+ Alliance
  • Develop, update, and monitor the business plan of the practice with a responsibility to help achieve the PG targets within. In addition, help set and manage the budget proactively to ensure the effective implementation of the Firm's strategy
  • Drive improvements in operational and financial performance by monitoring and analyzing key performance indicators at practice and service line levels, ensuring alignment with planned targets (including cost management, working capital, staffing, productivity, and margin contribution). On occasion, provide pricing support for significant mandates or pitches within the practice, and support secondment requests where needed
  • Ensure cross-practice and cross-functional initiatives implementation at the Practice Group level and coordinate resources from other Business Professional functions supporting the same Practice Group to ensure proper coverage and effective strategy execution
  • Capture efficiency and innovation opportunities for the main service lines by leading and participating in initiatives, aligned within the global practice and with other Practice Groups
  • Ensure appropriate resourcing model, headcount planning, staffing, and talent pipeline (including training and performance management) leveraging support from, and in coordination with, other Business Professional functions
  • Advise and support the Practice Group Leaders about key investment decisions, such as lateral Partner hires, exits, and promotions. Taking a leading role in coordinating the relevant Business Services functions and managing the projects
  • Monitor and ensure effective implementation of client and business development plans leveraging support from other Business Professional functions
  • Coordinate and lead internal Practice Group engagement activities and meetings fostering positive and open communication
  • Leverage services provided by shared service centers and specialist functions within the Business Professional organization to drive excellence and efficiency

Travel requirements

This role requires regional travel to join in-person Practice Group meetings, some of the regional and annual meetings, and other internal and external events related to the Practice Group.

Function

The Firm's Operations function works closely with our Partners and fee-earners to deliver comprehensive, high-quality, and high-value services to our clients. It is geared toward improving operational and financial performance, and constantly rethinking the services we offer, as well as developing new innovative solutions and platforms. The core teams within Operations are:

  • Practice Operations / Practice Business Managers
  • Pricing Strategy
  • Service Design

The Business Management team works together with Practice Group leaders and steering committees to develop strategy and manage business operations.

  • Ensures cross-practice, cross-industry, and cross-functional alignment, to achieve proper coverage and effective strategy execution.
  • Drives improvement of operational and financial performance, identifying opportunities to enhance the service offering

You will report to - Associate Director Business Manager, Transactions

Your direct reports, if any - N/A

Key relationships

  • EMEA+ Practice Group Leaders and Local Practice Group Heads
  • Business Managers covering other Practice Groups
  • EMEA COOs & EMEA Chief of Staff
  • Director of Practice Management covering the same Transactional Practice Groups
  • In-Market Business Partners from other PBS functions providing support to the same Practice Group and at an office level
  • Specialist functions and Shared Service Centers within Business Professional Functions

Technical skills, qualifications and experience

  • Relevant undergraduate degree required
  • Good professional management experience in a global setting, ideally in a professional services environment
  • Proficiency in law firm operations, legal accounting, and finance
  • Proficiency in using MS Office applications, including PowerPoint and advanced functions of Excel
  • An understanding of the elements of law firm profitability at practice group, service line, client, matter, and attorney level
  • Strong business sense and good judgment in problem-solving
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Effective communication at all organizational levels
  • Experience with business management, including an understanding of the challenges of operating in different markets regionally
  • Able to manage multiple complex operations with continual attention to detail (including accuracy with numbers)
  • Experience conducting complex qualitative and quantitative analyses, interpreting results, and suggesting action plans
  • Experience coordinating people in different locations and cultures
  • Able to work effectively in informal teams and collaborate cross-practice and cross-function in a global organization

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, Recruiter, Recruitment Manager, on email

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Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please click here 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.