Overview of the Role

The Hong Kong Finance Manager will be responsible to lead the local finance team in the office to provide on the ground support to all practice groups and business functions in Hong Kong office.

• The role is to guide and drive the financial management of the Hong Kong office to achieve a heathy financial hygiene, an effective internal control and business efficiency.
• The role is to overall supervise the statutory compliance in HK office and ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Success in the role derives from being able to influence the development and implementation of all financial aspects of strategy, planning, financial management, business management, business development and people development.
• The role manages a team of 5 Advisors and 2 Assistants based in Hong Kong. The finance function is also supported by two shared service centres based in Warsaw and Singapore.
• The role is to lead the local finance team and to work closely with Greater China finance team, regional finance team, other business functions and senior management in the office on all finance related area.
• The role is to give a good education and influence to the whole office (including partners, fee earners, secretaries, business teams) on financial discipline and good working practice.

Key responsibilities and challenges

Financial management

• Manage and be fully accountable for quality of all services rendered by finance within the office including (but not limited to) matter management, credit control, financial reporting, AP and payroll, tax filing, banking, treasury and cash management.
• Continuously improve internal control and compliance within the office by developing and enforcing policies and procedures to ensure a good financial hygiene, to safeguard the assets of the firm, and to manage any financial and/or operational risks.
• Drive to improve business efficiency within the function and the practice. Lead the team to set best practice across each practice.
• Monitor financial related process to ensure the compliance to SRA rules and local statutory requirements.
• Responsible for the full set of accounts for all local Linklaters entities in Hong Kong.

Business Performance Management

• Driving the financial performance (e.g. profitability, pricing, shape, busyness level) through proactively providing and analysing management information, identifying any issues in the business, developing options and implementing solutions to improve performance.
• Be the key financial advisor to the partners and management of the office, develop partners' understanding of financial issues and encourage them to take financial responsibility. Inform and improve their financial decision making.
• Challenge and test the thinking of the partners to ensure strategic priorities are focused on the appropriate areas.
• Provision and interpretation of financial management information, variance and profitability analyses to interested parties in your office and propose changes when necessary.

Strategy & Business Planning

• Lead annual budget process in Hong Kong office by giving guidance and supports for advisors on the budget of each practice groups. Help the practice groups to understand the financial key drivers and how it relates to business assumptions. Work together with the Greater China Financial Controller to consolidate, analyse, moderate and communicate the budget for China offices.
• Support the strategic decisions and initiatives of the office and practice groups from finance perspective, which includes financial modelling and analysis, financial risk assessment, change related financial policies and procedures, monitor the process and measure the achievement.
• Proactively identify any business improvement opportunities from finance perspective, give the advice and proposal to the senior management, and drive the changes when appropriate.
• Involve in global and regional ad-hoc projects, which may not limited to finance area.

People and organisation management

• Influencing partners, lawyers, secretaries and other business team to develop good financial behaviours.
• Review and develop the structure of the Hong Kong finance team to ensure that an efficient and elastic structure has been designed to accommodate the business need.
• Manage, motivate and lead the HK local finance team to achieve the objectives of the function.
• Responsible for the supervision and development of the members of the team by on-job coaching, regular feedback, performance management and career conversations. Undertake appraisals and recruitment for the team.

Character

• Diplomatic with excellent communication and influencing skills
• Customer orientated attitude essential
• Strong leadership
• A team player and committed to provide quality performance
• Ability to deal with details and willing to be hands-on
• Able to work independently with minimum supervision
• High degree of initiative
• Flexible with ability to cope with changing priorities
• Remains calm under pressure
• Culturally sensitive and experienced in dealing with overseas offices

Education and Practical experience

• Degree in Accounting or related major.
• Formal professional qualification: CPA, ACCA or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years experience managing a sizeable team
• Experience of working directly with senior management in a commercial organization.
• Professional firm (law, accounting, consulting) experience is preferred

Technology / Office skills

• Solid Excel skills
• Proficient in use of PowerPoint
• General office systems
• SAP knowledge

Commercial Skills

• Ready to change and push for change
• Ability to manage conflict
• Ability to identify potential commercial issues

Language

• Fluent in English, strong verbal and writing skills
• Fluency in Cantonese and/or Mandarin will be advantageous

Technical Skills:

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.