Finance Systems Senior Manager

We are recruiting for a Finance Systems Senior Manager to join our Finance team in London.

Achieving the firm's vision requires a world class Finance department and our teams add value when the information we produce enables great decisions. Provide high quality advice and relevant, accurate information to the decision makers in A&O, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and delivering our service efficiently.

ROLE PURPOSE

Responsible for the management of the production finance systems. Leading the team that provides system support and accountability of system data integrity. Ownership of various finance systems, including stakeholder & vendor management.

ROLE & RESPONSBILITIES

Working closely with the Head of Finance Systems but with sole responsibility for a number of areas. Ultimate responsibility for the support and best practice use of our production finance systems, as well as responsibility for the data integrity and systems accountant activities. Expected to be a primary contributor to roadmaps, functional enhancements and design decisions. Recommend new software or software replacements to enhance finance's operations and keep our production systems up to date with the market.

• Management of Production Finance System and related Support Teams

Manage the Finance Systems Support and System Accountant teams that are responsible for:

• Providing day to day support to all users through a lens of excellent client service and a drive to improve things
• Resolving issues within the production finance systems and other solutions connected to them
• Managing the escalation of issues and informing stakeholders of any impact to key finance systems services
• Working closely with IT in identifying, diagnosing and resolving technical and performance issues
• System accounting checks and processes, reconciling and balancing, data integrity checks and administration processes to support system setups, security and configurations
• Manage and lead Finance Systems projects from a transition from project to go live support.
• Working as a key stakeholder in the Finance and IT controls audit annually

IT relationship & issue management

• Primary point of contact between finance and IT for the production finance systems
• Key finance contact for escalations, issues and major incidents
• Partnering with IT in agreeing resources and approaches needed to ensure reliable and robust solutions and services

Team leadership

• Providing strong leadership that drives delivery and innovation in the teams by empowering and developing others
• Setting strategic direction and priorities whilst having oversight of the tasks and planning for the group
• Responsible for the overall management and performance of the teams, developing staff via coaching / mentoring methods to meet their full potential
• Embedding continuous performance review and feedback into the teams via the direct reports and the displaying of a best practice approach

• Lead by using in-depth functional and operational experience, providing expertise and direction to the teams and their tasks and projects

• Ownership of additional systems related to finance processes (including Concur Expenses, eBilling Hub, Intapp Matter Workflow, Intapp Time, Basware)

• Manage vendor relationships or be the Finance Department representative for cross function vendors

• Understand software updates and changes and recommend frequency of update and impact on use
• Finance representative on cross department initiatives and work streams
• Identify areas for improved or wider use of solutions

• Make recommendations on improvements or replacement of systems

• Finance systems stakeholder management and engagement

• Design, organise and implement continuous finance systems learning across the firm via tutorials, tips and targeted training. Seek new methods and tools to deliver the content and messages

• Spend time with stakeholders from partners to finance staff to get feedback, understand their needs and to determine areas that need to feed into the finance systems roadmap
• Build feedback rich relationships with senior Finance team members globally to guide the review and improvement of the services the teams deliver
• Influences and persuades within the teams and across wider stakeholders with the ability to deliver difficult messages sensitively and able to resolve disputes

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• Accounting training or qualification is advantageous
• Excellent track record of working with senior management within a complex international organisation
• Strong technical/business acumen with the ability to influence strategic thinking/direction through creative and pragmatic issue resolution and solution review
• Comprehensive experience and understanding of legal finance systems, extensive 3E functional knowledge would be a clear advantage
• Experience of managing a high achieving and motivated team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the senior finance community
• Experience of delivering process change that is measurable and supports continuous improvement

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.