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Finance Business Partner
Job Description
Type: Full Time Time: Permanent Location: Manchester, London or Guildford Working Pattern: +2 days working from the office, 3 days remote Department: Finance Business Partnering
The Role
As a Finance Business Partner, you will play a critical role in enabling the department to achieve its objectives through high‑quality financial insight, analysis and decision support. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, you will drive effective planning, performance management and commercial outcomes across the department, supporting both short‑term delivery and longer‑term strategic goals.
The Team
You will be part of a high‑performing Finance Business Partnering and FP&A function, working closely with departmental leadership, partners, business development, HR and working capital teams. The role sits at the heart of the business, bridging finance and operational teams to ensure clear understanding, robust financial governance and commercially informed decision‑making.
Essential Skills & Experience
Financial Planning & Performance Management
- Lead the preparation of the department’s annual budget, providing insight into key commercial assumptions and ensuring accuracy of baseline budgets.
- Partner with BD and COOs to agree key dependencies and secure buy‑in across the business.
- Interpret, analyse and clearly communicate month‑end and forecast performance for the department.
- Produce regular performance forecasts, highlighting risks and opportunities and agreeing actions to mitigate or maximise outcomes.
- Challenge business assumptions in forecasting and planning using detailed analysis and post‑implementation review learnings.
- End‑to‑end ownership of group P&Ls, driving high‑quality, insightful commentary and commercial challenge.
- Review actual performance, draw conclusions and make recommendations for future action.
- Proactively engage with departments where performance gaps arise and support the development and execution of recovery plans.
Business & Commercial Support
- Act as the financial link between assigned practice group(s) and the wider finance function.
- Deliver advanced ad‑hoc analysis to maximise profitability, including partner and client portfolio reviews and key drivers such as realisation, utilisation, staffing ratios and working capital.
- Provide insight and recommendations to support income growth and identify operational efficiency opportunities.
- Support strategic business development initiatives, client retention and improved client profitability.
- Work closely with the working capital team to monitor issues, escalate risks and resolve challenges with internal and external stakeholders.
- Clearly articulate budget risks arising from significant working capital issues.
- Prepare scenario models and business cases for key initiatives, such as lateral partner recruitment, to support decision‑making.
- Support effective people management strategies, including capability development, succession planning and workforce planning.
- Ensure financial models and processes are regularly reviewed and improved to drive continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with BD managers on client bids, proposals, key client reviews and pricing support where finance‑led input adds value.
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What Sets This Role Apart
- High visibility role with regular exposure to senior leadership, partners and executive stakeholders.
- Opportunity to influence commercial outcomes across a complex, professional services environment.
- A broad remit combining financial planning, commercial insight, strategic decision support and stakeholder mentoring.
Requirements
Essential
- ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualified.
- Proven Finance Business Partnering experience with senior stakeholders, ideally within a professional services environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to present complex financial information clearly.
- Strong influencing skills and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
- Resilience and the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
- A continuous improvement mindset, focused on developing self, colleagues and business processes.
- Ability to balance attention to detail with a strong understanding of the broader commercial and strategic picture.
- Collaborative, transparent and pragmatic approach to working with others.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft products, particularly analysis and reporting tools.
What’s In It For You
- Modern, flexible working – a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and 3 days from home.
- Career progression and development through structured learning programmes, mentoring and internal mobility opportunities.
- A collaborative, inclusive environment with a strong focus on wellbeing, diversity and professional growth.
- A competitive benefits package including life assurance from day one, season ticket loans, lifestyle discounts, an annual Wellbeing Day and 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (eligibility may vary by location and length of service).
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Please note: eligibility for benefits may vary based on location and length of service. Full details will be confirmed upon joining.
The Firm
When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.
Our Commitment
Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.
A Note on Privacy
Please take a moment to read our privacy notice. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.
If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.
This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.
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