Financial Accountant

The financial accounting and analysis team is responsible for reporting the firm’s results, including management accounts, statutory accounts, planning/budget/forecasting, key performance indicator data, WIP/debtor reporting, fee earner statistics and profitability information. This includes managing the reporting process throughout the firm to ensure consistent, high quality and timely data. The department also provides analysis and comment on our reported results, including highlighting exceptions and trends for discussion at Executive Committee and Partner Board meetings. The team also provides support to the global finance community by dedicating specific staff to respond to the needs of our regions. Key Dimensions Responsibility for the Linklaters LLP statutory accounts, involving consolidation of group accounts, preparation of statutory disclosures and liaison with external auditors. Production of year-end statutory accounts for other Linklaters statutory entities, including liaison with auditors and Company Secretariat to ensure timely sign-off and filing of accounts. Ensuring integrity and accuracy of monthly consolidated management financials and year end results. Responsibility for key processes and judgements impacting on management and year-end close. Project work to support Group Reporting, the CFO, Strategy and Process & Infrastructure. Act as the main Finance contact for queries from different regions of the firm Key responsibilities and challenges 1. Responsibility for the preparation of the annual LLP statutory accounts: Responsibility for year-end work-in-progress review, the results of which have a material impact on the financial ledgers of every income-generating office in Linklaters. Prepare guidance, co-ordinate offices’ responses, liaise with Technology on technical operation of model, liaise with CFO and Finance Managers on results of WIP review and review statutory postings. Review of statutory reporting packs for regions and assistance with the posting of tax and post-audit adjustments. Liaison with overseas offices on audit issues, interpretation of year-end guidance and statutory reporting requirements. Preparation of group consolidation and consolidation adjustments for LLP accounts. Preparation of statutory disclosures for inclusion in LLP accounts and liaison with overseas for relevant information. Liaison with external auditors to ensure LLP accounts and approved and filed. Assistance with the introduction of new International Accounting Standards. 2. Responsibility for the production of other Linklaters statutory accounts: Responsible for consolidation of the relevant office accounts to form the basis of the financial statements, including making the necessary consolidation adjustments. Prepare relevant statutory disclosures. Develop a close working relationship with Tax & Partnership in order to understand year-end journals and tax postings and to ensure Tax disclosures are prepared. Liaise with the external auditors and Company Secretariat in order to get the accounts approved and filed by the statutory deadline. 3. Ensuring integrity and accuracy of monthly consolidated management financials and year end results: Take responsibility for the monthly consolidation of management results, including ensuring accuracy and integrity of the data and key judgemental balances and interpretation of the results. Review each office’s bad debt provisions and liaise with same to provide more information to support the provisions. Understand key changes in business models/activity in order that exceptions can be brought out in commentaries to ExCom and the Partner Board. Consider ongoing ways in which the production of the management accounts can be improved through more fluid processes or enhanced reporting. 4. Project work to support other teams in the organisation: Examples of project work include integrity of data and results as a result of changes to SAP hierarchy, reporting changes etc, expenditure and trend analysis for discussion at ExCom/PB, implementation of updated/new accounting processes and ad-hoc reviews for the CFO/Strategy. 5. Act as the main Finance contact for queries from different regions of the firm: Develop a good working relationship with the Business and Finance Managers in the regions in order to gain a thorough understanding of the business model within each office. Support the month-end, year-end and budgeting processes. Ensure communication and guidance is fed through to Finance Managers on a timely basis to assist them in understanding requirements and meeting timetables. Be pro-active in support to Finance and Business Manager teams. Provide training to FMs/BMs and their teams. Responsible for dealing with ad hoc queries and requests for analysis as and when they arise. Characteristics, Skills & Experience required: Character Confident and self-assured manner Highly motivated and capable of working on own initiative Discreet Able to work well under pressure Ability to work within a team, giving support as necessary Education / Qualification Graduate Qualified accountant Practical experience Understanding of statutory accounting procedures and practical exposure to preparation of complex consolidations Sound book keeping and financial accounting skills with up-to-date knowledge of IFRS financial reporting standards and requirements Ability to understand business and perform analytical reviews Strong Excel skills Experience of LLP accounting. (desirable) Experience of external audit liaison. (desirable) Office skills Ability to communicate issues to other financial and non-financial personnel Extremely organised and able to prioritise and manage workload Excellent oral and written communication skills Commercial Skills Able to initiate and see through effective management of reporting routines Computer literate with experience of accounting packages Identification of more efficient reporting and accounting processes (desirable) Experience of SAP (desirable)