The opportunity
The Role

The Finance Assistant will provide support to the Finance Manager in the provision of timely and accurate financial information to all business stakeholders to allow informed decision making. The Finance Assistant will maintain financial records, process invoices for payment, submit payroll information, and assist in the preparation of annual budgets.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation of the monthly management P&Ls for the Belfast office. Input of monthly journals, followed by a detailed variance analysis of actual results versus plan. Working closely with the Belfast Finance Manager to ensure accurate financial reporting for the Belfast office.
• Weekly and monthly KPI reporting for the Belfast office.
• Overseeing the payroll process of our part-time permanent employees in the Belfast office (Respond), ensuring accurate records of overtime hours worked and overtime by permanent full time employees.
• Liaising with Payroll to ensure the timely and accurate submission of monthly payroll information.
• Responsibility for the Belfast Accounts Payable process, processing of all Belfast invoices and liaising with the London accounts payable and banking team to ensure timely payment of creditors.
• Managing the Belfast expenses process, including coding of expenses (petty cash and other) and disbursement costs prior to submission of expenses to the London team or posting Expert.
• Assist in the preparation of annual budgets.
• Fixed asset reporting, including updating the Belfast fixed asset register on a monthly basis.
• Supporting the fee earning team with financial management of legal matters.

The responsibilities outlined above cannot totally encompass or define all tasks that may be required of the post-holder. The outline of responsibilities given above may, therefore, vary from time to time without materially changing either the character or level of responsibility or grade.

Skills, experience and qualifications

• Part-qualified accountant or an equivalent proven track record in a financial assistant role.
• Proven track record of working as a financial assistant role within a fast-paced environment, preferably within professional services.
• Demonstrate a high level of computer literacy, in particular Excel.
• Excellent communication skills and strong organisation skills

Competencies

Personal Leadership

• Positively impacts those around them, makes quality decisions and develops themselves both personally and professionally
• Demonstrates sound knowledge in their field
• Anticipates potential problems and identifies a range of possible solutions
• Adapts their interpersonal style to suit different audiences in a genuine way

Connects and Collaborates with others

• Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results
• Builds and maintains genuine relationships and their network across the firm
• Engages people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice and assist with tasks
• Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others' success

Contributes to the Success of Others

• Proactively supports others to excel and achieve success in the workplace
• Maintains an awareness of the firm's purpose, objectives and structure
• Identifies opportunities to assist others and readily volunteer their help

Enhances the Client Experience

• Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm's clients through their daily tasks
• Behaves consistently with the firm's values in their interactions with others
• Conducts themselves in a way that reflects positively on the firm's brand, both inside and outside the firm

Achieves Results

• Maintains focus and drive to achieve quality outcomes
• Focuses their time and efforts on issues that will have the greatest impact on agreed objectives
• Anticipates responses and plans their approach accordingly
• Looks for the most effective way to achieve outcomes
• Maintains perspective and optimism when faced with setbacks

Please note the closing date for applications is Friday 2nd December 17:00
Group / Team description
The Alternative Legal Services business delivers high quality, cost-efficient legal services for document or information intensive, defined process work.
The team works in a complementary and seamless way, offering a combination of legal expertise, process efficiency and client technology solutions to our clients.
The key products and services of our Alternative Legal Services business include document review, regulatory claims assessment, due diligence, verification commercial contracts, funds' repapering, client technology services (including advisory and document review software) and asset management for real estate clients.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.

We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.
This employer is a corporate member of myGwork - LGBTQ+ professionals, the business community for LGBTQ+ professionals, students, inclusive employers & anyone who believes in workplace equality.