Finance Business Partner

4w4 weeks ago

DLA Piper

London, GB · Full-time · £80,000 – £110,000

About this role

DLA Piper seeks a commercially minded professional to join as a Finance Business Partner, forming a key part of the Finance Business Partnering team within the Finance function. The role primarily supports an individual practice group while working across the matrix of countries and sectors. Candidates should gain an understanding of service area performance.

The firm operates across seven practice groups, each with an international presence and dedicated management structure. The Finance Business Partner team collaborates closely with the business to deliver budget assurance, performance improvement, strategic financial leadership, and proactive support to International Group Heads and Group Head of Operations. This ensures effective management of Practice Groups.

Day-to-day involves serving as the key financial interface between international practice group management and the Finance department. Professionals proactively engage with Practice Group Heads, leadership teams, and partners through presentations and initiatives to enhance profitability, working capital, and efficiency. Additional support includes mentoring lawyers and working with credit control teams on risks.

Growth opportunities include leading annual planning, budgeting, and reforecasting processes for practice groups. Contribute to firmwide budget reviews and presentations to Finance Leadership, Executive, and Board. The role fosters development as a trusted adviser with strong stakeholder relationships across the matrix.

Requirements

Experienced commercial finance professional
Commercially minded with understanding of service area performance
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Soft skills to work effectively with stakeholders
Ability to quickly develop trusted adviser status
Experience working across matrix of countries and sectors
Knowledge of law firm practice groups and management structures
Proven ability in budget assurance and performance improvement

Responsibilities

Serve as the key financial interface between the international practice group management and the Finance department
Proactively work with International Practice Group Heads, leadership teams and partners to provide financial expertise and support, including presentations at partner meetings and initiatives to improve profitability, working capital and financial efficiency
Work with colleagues across the Finance function to deliver the finance curriculum agenda for lawyers, including mentoring newly promoted partners and presenting at firmwide learning academies
Provide financial support to ensure strategic business development, client retention and increased client profitability within practice groups
Support the pricing team with presentations to stakeholders to increase use of pricing tools and encourage profitable pricing approaches
Work with credit control and local finance teams to ensure visibility of issues and articulate financial or business risks
Support and lead the annual planning and budgeting process for the practice group
Undertake reforecasting to monitor and manage financial risks and opportunities