Legal Finance Manager
Legal Finance Manager
Moreton-in-Marsh | £48,000 + discretionary bonus | Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
If you're an experienced legal finance professional looking for a role where you're more than just a number in a large finance department, this could be a really interesting opportunity.
This is an established, independent Cotswolds law firm with around 50 staff and almost 300 years of history. Despite that heritage, it has a very modern, forward-thinking approach and offers a working environment that feels much more like a close-knit independent business than a traditional corporate organisation.
The firm is now looking for an experienced Legal Finance Manager / Head of Accounts to take ownership of its day-to-day finance function.
Why this role?
This isn't a role where you'll be responsible for one small part of a huge finance operation.
You're joining an independent business where finance is close to the decision-makers and your contribution is actually visible.
You'll work closely with the Partners, Directors, COFA and fractional CFO, acting as the senior full-time finance presence within the firm. You'll have the autonomy to make decisions, identify issues and opportunities, and ensure the finance function runs effectively day to day.
The role combines hands-on legal finance, leadership, reporting and commercial involvement, so it would suit someone who enjoys having a broad remit and being genuinely involved in the business rather than simply processing figures.
You'll oversee a small accounts function, currently including a Legal Cashier, with the team expected to grow as the business continues to develop.
What you'll be doing
You'll take responsibility for the operational delivery of the firm's finance function, including:
SRA Accounts Rules and client money compliance
Client account reconciliations and breach management
Management accounts, budgeting and forecasting
Cash flow and banking relationships
WIP, lock-up, debtors and disbursements
VAT and HMRC compliance
Year-end accounts and liaison with external accountants and auditors
Oversight of legal cashiering, billing, credit control, payroll and purchase ledger
Financial reporting and analysis for Partners and Directors
Maintaining strong financial controls and fraud prevention measures
Supporting the CFO with financial modelling and strategic projects
Leading, developing and supporting the accounts team
Helping improve systems, processes and reporting as the firm continues to evolve
It's a varied role, and importantly, you'll be trusted to get on with it. With a fractional CFO in place, you'll be the person providing continuity and financial oversight within the business every day.
The environment
The firm has a genuinely small-business feel with the stability and heritage of an established business.
You'll have direct access to the Partners and Directors, build relationships across the firm and become a trusted point of contact for financial matters.
There isn't a huge corporate hierarchy or layers of management to navigate. It's an environment where people know each other, relationships matter and long-serving employees are very much part of the fabric of the business.
And then there's the setting - a beautiful Cotswold working environment, rather than a large city-centre corporate office.
What we're looking for
You'll need strong experience within legal finance, ideally having worked in an SRA-regulated law firm with responsibility for client money and the SRA Accounts Rules.
You'll also need experience across management accounts, budgeting, forecasting and supervising a legal accounts/cashiering function.
Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is confident, commercially aware and comfortable working autonomously. You need to be able to communicate financial information clearly to Partners and non-financial colleagues and have the judgement to know when something needs escalating.
A professional accounting qualification or ILFM qualification would be advantageous, but candidates who are strongly qualified by experience will also be considered.
The package
£48,000 + discretionary bonus
Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm (35 hours per week)
Based in Moreton-in-Marsh
If you're looking for a senior legal finance position where you can actually see the impact of what you do, work closely with the people running the business and become a key part of an established independent firm, this is well worth a conversation.
Location: Thurstan House, Oxford St, Moreton-In-Marsh | Salary: £48000 - £500000 per year | Job type: Permanent | Posted: 11/09/2026
