Senior Finance Manager

ABOUT THE COMPANY

DLA Piper Africa ( Kenya ) -Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates (IKM) is a leading law firm based in Nairobi, Kenya. We are the DLA Piper Africa member firm in Kenya, one of the 20 member firms across Africa, offering unrivalled coverage.

JOB SUMMARY

Role Purpose:Manage financial operations to ensure the firm's financial health and compliance with regulatory standards.Collaborate closely with partners, lawyers, and business support services to support financial processes, procedures and optimize financial performance.Reports To: Associate Director- Finance and Operations SupportDirect Reports: Deputy Finance Manager, Head of Accounts Receivables & Head of Accounts Payables

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Financial Planning and AnalysisDevelop and maintain financial forecasts, budgets, and projections.Conduct variance analysis and provide insights into financial performance.Conduct financial analysis to evaluate the performance of practice areas, clients, and specific matters.2. Financial ReportingPrepare timely and accurate financial reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.Ensure compliance with accounting principles and regulatory requirements.Present financial reports to management and partners, highlighting key metrics and trends.Conduct variance analysis and provide insights to support decision-making processes.3. Cash Flow ManagementMonitor cash flows and liquidity position.Manage billing and collections processes to optimize cash flow.Treasury managementImplement strategies to mitigate financial risks and optimize working capital.4. Financial ComplianceEnsure compliance with tax regulations, accounting standards, and legal requirements.Collaborate with external auditors, internal auditors and tax advisors during audits and filings.Stay updated on regulatory changes and implement necessary adjustments to financial processes.Develop and maintain internal controls to safeguard firm assets and ensure financial integrity.Provide guidance and advice on financial procedures, policies at PG and department level.5. Budgeting and Expense ManagementAssist in the development of annual budgets and financial forecasts, working closely with Practice Group Heads and Business Support Heads.Monitor budget performance and provide regular updates to management.Identify opportunities for cost savings and revenue enhancement.6. Financial Systems and ProcessesOptimize financial systems and processes to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.Identify opportunities for automation and integration of financial systems.Train staff on financial procedures and ensure compliance with established policies andprocedures.7. Stakeholder CommunicationCommunicate financial results, trends, and forecasts to partners and other stakeholders.Collaborate with lawyers and practice group leaders to provide financial insights and support.Serve as a resource for financial inquiries and provide guidance on financial matters.8. PayrollPreparation of monthly firm and client related payrollsAuto emailing of monthly payslips and partners withdrawal schedules9. MiscellaneousSupport the HOD finance to effectively discharge the functions of the finance department.Undertake any other tasks as may be allocated by the HOD finance and relevant partners.Attributes Strong financial acumenBe objective in assessing and dealing with situations.Be reliable, professional, and efficient with a high client service orientation.Be solutions focused.Commitment to ongoing learning and professional developmentConsistently positive attitude with a "can-do" approach as well as being able to work well on own initiative and as part of a wider team a collaborative working style.Experienced in dealing with demanding workloads and conflicting priorities.Must be able to multi-task and work to deadlines, be methodical and logical as well as thrive in a robust and fast-paced environment.Take pride in own work with strong attention to detail and follow through.Ability to stay calm and composed in stressful and demanding situationsGreat interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and empathy.Ability to deal effectively with people at all levels.Proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive informationTechnical skillsUnderstanding of financial reporting standards and regulations applicable to the legal industry, including familiarity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and specialized reporting requirements for law firms.Strong consulting, stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.Strong level of commercial awareness, financial, and business acumen.Expertise in cash flow management techniques such as forecasting cash flows, monitoring cash balances, and implementing cash management strategies.Proven leadership capabilities.Sound knowledge and understanding of global best practices in Accounting and Finance.Proficiency in using legal billing software and systems essential for managing client billing, tracking billable hours, and generating invoices. Familiarity with platforms such as Clio, Elite, Aderant, or ProLaw is advantageous.Mastery of financial analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel crucial for conducting in-depth financial analysis, creating financial models, and generating reports.Strong organizational skills including project management, attention to detail, and multi-tasking.Solution-oriented with the ability to simplify complex matters.Good problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.IT proficient.Qualification A degree specializing in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (MBA preferred).Full CPA or ACCA qualification.Minimum of 10 years' experience in a finance role, with at least 5 years at a senior management level, preferably in a law firm or professional services environment.Membership in the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), ACCA, or any other internationally recognized accounting body.Proficiency in financial analysis tools and software, with at least 4 years of ERP experience.Excellent analytical, business writing, and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines effectively in a fast-paced environment.Knowledge of legal industry trends and regulations is advantageous.Competence in data analysis and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Python.Essential Competencies CollaborationOne team working: Develops the firm as a globally integrated law firm and champions collaboration, creates policies and practices based on global best practices and standards, fosters a culture where people feel comfortable raising ideas, issues, and challenges, and holds others accountable for their behaviors.Leading & developing others: As part of the leadership team for their function, generates loyalty and commitment from large groups of people, cultivates a culture of learning, development, and self-improvement, sets and communicates performance standards, and establishes a clear and shared sense of purpose and direction for the team.Communication: Leads by example and models the message they are communicating, builds supportive networks of senior contacts both externally and internally, shapes firmwide communications strategy and plans, and reviews, creates, and/or delivers strategic communications on behalf of the Executive.Client Centricity Commercial acumen: Creates and delivers strategies that improve the competitiveness and long-term performance of the firm, influences the long-term vision, goals, and strategy of the firm, and develops long-term functional and sub-functional strategies.Client service: Injects the client voice into functional and/or firm-wide strategy, creates strategies that support and enhance the long-term capability and performance of clients, develops and measures a strategy to enhance client satisfaction and service quality, and participates in the executive and/or senior-level client decision-making process.Influencing & negotiating: Able to generate excitement and emotion around their ideas, handles difficult on-the-spot questions (e.g., from senior executives), and represents the firm in high-risk and unpredictable situations.Service DeliveryData and insight: Implements initiatives to drive a focus on data and analytics across the firm, builds the firm's capability in relation to data and insight, utilizes data and insight to identify ways to improve the long-term performance of the firm.Anticipating and resolving issues: Makes complex decisions that benefit clients/the firm in the long term, delivers long-term solutions to improve the firm’s capability in problem identification and issue resolution, and fosters a culture of robust problem-solving and issue resolution.Project management: Acts as a project sponsor for large and complex programs, champions large-scale projects and builds engagement and uptake across the firm, addresses behavioral and cultural changes required for delivery, and provides resources and expertise to overcome complex obstacles to delivery.InnovationInnovation: Demonstrates breakthrough thinking that has delivered benefits to the firm, challenges implicit assumptions or current paradigms and presents alternative viewpoints, fosters a culture that celebrates and nurtures innovation, and creates new ways of working.Managing change: Creates a shared vision and sense of ownership for change, champions change and leads by example, generates buy-in at the highest level of the organization, addresses cultural barriers to change, and effectively deals with the root causes of deep resistance.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Budgeting, financial planning, Accounting, Cost tracking, analysis, Financial analysis, Financial reporting, Financial controlling

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree