Finance Manager

Practice Group / Department:

COO Office - GermanyJob Description

We're Norton Rose Fulbright - a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide. We provide the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. At Norton Rose Fulbright, our strategy and our culture are closely entwined. We know that our expansion will mean little unless it is underpinned by truly global collaboration and we understand that pioneering work only takes place when our people have room to move and think beyond boundaries. As well as the relevant skills and experience, we're looking for people who are innovative, commercial and value the work that they do. 

The Role

The Finance Manager Italy is a key role and oversee the offices financial operations in Italy, including accounting, cost budgeting, internal and external financial reporting and financial compliance. Leading a capable local team, the role is critical for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information, supporting decision-making, and improving EMEA's financial performance.  In doing so the Finance Manager Italy will work collaboratively with peers and other finance team members across EMEA offices. Reporting into the COO Italy and the Head of Office Italy and working closely with the Italian partnership, the role provides financial insights to help drive business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Oversee all aspects of the office’s financial operations, including accounting, payroll and financial reporting
• Work closely with accounts payable, billing and other working capital management teams to provide a holistic and joined up financial service to the office
• Develop and implement NRF financial policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure compliance and efficiency

Team and leadership

• Work closely with the local team, Head of Office, COO Italy and Italian partnership to shape and achieve strategic business goals
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional development within finance
• Role model leadership behaviours by working with peers across NRF to share best practice

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead the annual cost budgeting process and provide ongoing forecasts for the office in line with centrally determined timelines
• Support office leadership to monitor and analyze office financial performance against budgets and forecasts

Financial Reporting

• Coordinate the month and year end close
• Responsible for Balance Sheet reconciliations and control
• Prepare accurate and timely external financial statements, internal financial reports, and analysis for local management, partners and other stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements and accounting standards

Audit and Tax Compliance

• Coordinate annual audits and work with external auditors 
• Ensure timely and accurate tax filings and compliance with tax regulations

Technology and systems

• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of any local financial systems
• Ensure that NRF global and EMEA systems meet local legal and regulatory requirements
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology to improve financial processes and reporting

Skills and Experience Required

• Qualified accountant with several years of relevant work experience
• Experience of working within a large professional services organization, ideally law firm
• Strong leadership skills and well-versed in stakeholder management
• Self-motivated and self-disciplined in meeting key deadlines
• Strong numerical, analytical and reporting skills; good problem solver and methodical approach
• Very good written and verbal communication skills
• Experienced with accounting systems like SAP, Aderant or Elite
• Fluent in English

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

To attract the best people, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, have a sense of belonging, and realize their full career potential. 
Our new enabled work model allows our people to have more flexibility in the way they choose to work from both the office and a remote location, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of service. We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive employment policies and provide access to programmes and services aimed at nurturing our people’s health and overall wellbeing. Find more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. We strive to create an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any tailored adjustments or accommodations, please let us know here.