Head of Finance Operations

Head of Finance Operations

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Jersey

Description

Are you an experienced finance operations professional with a passion for driving efficiency, enhancing financial processes, and leading high-performing teams?

We are looking for a Head of Finance Operations, who will be responsible for managing the financial operations across the Mourant Group, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and cash management.

As part of the Finance Leadership team, you will work closely with the CFO and Head of Finance to ensure that the Group's financial operations are streamlined, efficient and compliant with all internal policies and external regulations.

You'll provide support and leadership to the Finance Operations teams in Jersey, Guernsey, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg and Mauritius.

The role requires a proven operational finance background, excellent leadership and people management skills and a thorough understanding of financial operations within a law firm and / or trust and corporate services provider setting.

About the role

Finance Operations Leadership

• Lead the financial operations team, overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing and cash management.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of financial operations professionals, ensuring the team has the skills and resources to meet operational goals, and empowering the finance operations managers to effectively lead and develop their teams.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the Operations and wider group finance team, focusing on continuous improvement and professional development.
• Oversee the upgrade and implementation of financial management systems and tools, relating to finance operations.
• Ensure financial operations leverage technology to improve efficiency, reporting accuracy, and decision-making.

• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions in line with the firm's policies and approval limits.
• Develop and implement efficient processes and systems for financial operations, enhancing productivity, maintaining control and reducing errors.
• Ensure that cash received into the business meets all required policies and is accurately recorded on a timely basis.

• Oversee the firm's billing function, ensuring accurate and timely invoicing in line with client agreements and billing schedules.
• Work with the legal teams to ensure that WIP and debt are managed effectively, with bills issued and cash collected on a timely basis to optimise the firm's working capital "lock up" position.
• Set and monitor targets to support billing and cash collection.
• Lead efforts to streamline billing processes and improve the efficiency of timekeeping and invoicing practices across the firm.

• Oversee the reporting of the firm's cash positions on a daily basis and the management of liquidity to ensure the right amount of cash is in the right place at the right time.
• Work with the Head of Finance to develop treasury management practices to optimise the firm's use of cash, while meeting its ongoing liquidity needs.

• Ensure the firm's financial operations comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including client accounts rules (across all relevant jurisdictions) and any other applicable regulations.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls around financial operations, safeguarding the firm's assets.
• Collaborate with external auditors to ensure smooth and accurate audits.

• Proven experience in financial operations in a law firm or professional services environment at a senior level.
• "ACA", "ACCA" or "CIMA" qualification would be beneficial, but is not essential depending on relevant experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of financial operations with the ability to analyse and improve processes.
• Experience of managing accounts payable/receivable, billing and collections in professional services and of cash management and control.
• Understanding of law firm regulatory environment in respect of cash and client money handling would be beneficial.
• Good knowledge of technology and systems relevant to law and professional services (in particular, Elite and / or ViewPoint knowledge would be beneficial).
• Previous leadership experience, with the ability to manage, mentor and develop a team.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.