Head of Finance

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network.  We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.

The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people.  The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures.  We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.

The role

A key role overseeing the finance function for the Athens office, working closely with the Athens Office Head and the Global Finance Function and reporting to the firms Finance Director.

The role includes ensuring compliance with internal and external accounting requirements (including supervision of the Athens based finance team members) as well becoming a business partner to the Athens practice helping to improve its commercial success.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience in finance management within a professional practice. This includes the need to be the resident finance expert as well having the commercial mindset, working closely with all levels of members of the team in Athens.

Profitability modelling has recently become a key management tool and this role will require a commercially minded individual to train or coach partners in financial awareness. This position in conjunction with financially aware partners and the profitability model, will then lead to improvements in utilisation and rate management.

The team

The Athens accounts/finance team structure is attached. The team are responsible for ensuring that the global finance system and the local finance system are up-to-date on a daily basis. The local finance system connects to myDATA. All tax filings are prepared by the team.

Key Activities

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

Accounting:

• Maintaining and reviewing Athens trial balances including key control account reconciliations, in partnership with the Finance Manager in Athens as well as the Global Financial and Management Accounting teams. To include review and processing of management accounting journals (eg monthly accruals, prepayments and depreciation).
• Preparation of the annual office budget consulting with Global Management Accounting team, working closely with the Head of the Athens Office and other Heads of Business Functions, whether based in Athens or other offices. This includes creating both a year end forecast and budget.
• Support the Global Financial Accounting Team with all queries/requests resulting from the annual Global statutory audit.
• Working with the Finance Manager on the local audit.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance in relation to financial matters (including VAT, Tax and statutory accounting requirements)
• Treasury management, forecasting cash requirements per month.

Income and Indirect Tax:

• Reviewing the working papers prepared by the Finance Manager for all tax returns; annual income tax returns, VAT returns, EC sales and purchase list submissions and payroll related filings.
• Working with the Finance Manager and HR Manager on all payroll related processing and filing requirements.

Client and matter management including profitability and pricing:

• Work with the Head of the Athens Office and partners to develop robust and commercially driven processes, including training and coaching to improve profitability.

• Constant review of utilisation and achieved rate recoveries.

• Working with the partners and BD team to provide pricing and profitability advice on complex matters.
• Provide recommendations to the Global Finance Team, on the development of the firm’s profitability and pricing models and processes.

Other:

• Managing the day to day operations of the Athens based Finance team members, including identifying training needs, providing guidance and assistance in managing performance of team members.
• Ensuring that Global Finance practices and processes are adhered to.
• Assisting all initiatives for innovation.
• Chief liaison with the local bankers.
• Reviewing and approving client and office account payments.

Skills and experience

• Fluent English speaking.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and influence effectively at all levels.
• High levels of accuracy and numeracy and the ability to work to strict deadlines and high workloads including management of junior team members.
• Ability to analyse and interpret financial data, draw conclusions and make recommendations to the business.
• Ability to manage multiple teams.
• Strong IT skills including Excel (advanced) and PowerBI.
• Knowledge of myDATA 
• Knowledge of Aderant, SoftOne and Emburse preferred.
• Experience in a similar role in a legal or other professional services firm preferred.
• Qualified with a recognised professional accounting qualification (Class A).

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Respect for different backgrounds and perspectives is at the heart of our firm’s core values and we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. This is a key feature of our Global Code of Conduct, which places diversity and inclusion at the centre of our firm’s ways of working.

We believe that exceptional client service can only be delivered by exceptional people. For this reason, we aim to attract, retain and develop the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds. All decisions relating to employment will be objective and based on merit and ability.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are as inclusive and barrier-free as possible. This includes making adjustments for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition.  If you require adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, we’d encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team who would be happy to discuss options with you.