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. 

About Leigh Day

We are a top 100 law firm committed to claimant-only cases, ensuring that individuals have the same access to justice as the UK Government and large corporations. We're not afraid to take on difficult and challenging cases involving medical negligence, serious personal injuries, discrimination in the workplace, defective products and human rights abuses in this country and overseas.

Benefits 

29 days' holiday per annum inclusive of 4 days' compulsory leave to be taken during the Christmas office closure, plus all public and bank holidays; two weeks' of working elsewhere; contributory pension scheme; life assurance (4 times annual salary); private medical insurance; interest free season ticket loan; childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme; electric vehicle scheme. Our hybrid working policy for full-time employees is three days in the office and two at home, and we also offer free breakfast and lunch every day for those coming into to the office. 

We also have annual social activities and genuinely pride ourselves on having a supportive and friendly culture.

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Leigh Day is committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.  We value the diversity of our colleagues, our clients and the third parties with whom we work.  We seek to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued for their unique characteristics, skills and abilities and supported in their needs and responsibilities.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or recruitment process. There is an option to detail this on your application form, however, please just get in touch should you wish to discuss this prior to formally submitting an application. Please note all conversations or disclosures are treated in the strictest confidence.