Finance Analyst

About Us

CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 80 offices in over 45 countries and 5,800+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in. We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working. Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive.

About the Role

This role sits within the Finance Business Partner team which supports CMS leadership teams with accurate, timely, insightful and relevant financial planning advice to ensure the business is making informed business decisions to support its strategic growth plans. We aim to be an effective and efficient business partnering service, working in conjunction with other colleagues across the professional leadership team to drive strategy and deliver operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Compiling and assessing financial data to support complex business requests including, but not limited to, partner and fee earner appraisals, profitability and trend reporting.
• Assisting in the preparation of high quality financial presentations to the business (practice, sector and key client specific) and providing analysis and recommendations as and when required.
• Providing support to resolve any follow up actions which result from business engagements.
• Managing the production of routine deliverables required by the Finance Business Partner team, such as the monthly reporting packs, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Providing direct Business Partnering support to regional leads or alternative fee earning teams.
• Becoming a SME for the suite of finance systems and models used by the Department, working with the Finance Leadership Team and outsourced partners to ensure systems and models remain accurate, relevant and fit for purpose.
• Proactively looking for ways to improve the efficiency of data generation.
• Liaising with the Finance Reporting Team to ensure consistent and accurate information is provided.
• Assisting in the delivery of the financial education agenda by supporting training initiatives to newly promoted partners, laterals, promotion candidates, and new firm joiners.
• Helping to maintain training materials on behalf of the Department.
• Providing assistance to the Finance Business Partners with the annual budget process and quarterly reforecast exercises.
• Working with the Finance and HR teams (both locally and remotely) to ensure integrity and accuracy of data used by the Finance Business Partner team, e.g. headcount, fee earner cost rates.
• Assisting the Financial Planning & Decision Support department with other ad hoc tasks as required.
• Annual planning and budgeting.
• Quarterly reforecasting.
• Developing longer term 3-5 year plans with the relevant Partners and Senior Finance Business Partner.
• Preparation of Executive Reporting to Senior Management in the Firm at regular Business Review Meetings.
• Longer term strategic reviews of offices and teams to support profitable growth.
• Assisting Fee Earners with both routine and ad-hoc queries, including supporting them through the SADC.
• Attending and providing cover at Partner and Team meetings for the areas being supported.
• Enabling the practice group and regions to achieve their objectives,