Group Financial Manager at Bowmans (Law Firm)

Purpose:

Responsible for the management, control and supervision for the South African Group Financial Management activities and oversight of the Africa offices’ financial management activities, to ensure the effective financial management of the Firm and performing the role of 2IC for CFO when required.

Qualification & Experience:

• CA (SA) with articles at one of the big 4 audit firms
• 10 years post articles financial management experience in a medium to large professional services environment
• Must be able to communicate at executive level

Job Accountabilities & Activities

Africa:

• Communicate best practice, processes, controls and procedures with Bowmans offices in Africa to ensure that best practice internal controls to ensure that the relevant information is available for adoption
• Oversee Africa office’s staff in conjunction with Africa Financial Manager and respective Manager’s on site
• Management Accounts
• Ad hoc support for Africa i.e. building financial models etc.

GL and sub ledger for Group:

• Overall responsibility for GL – ensure appropriate, best practice controls are in place to ensure that amounts are valid, accurate and complete
• Ensure procedures are in place and maintained to ensure that information is captured by staff timeously
• Liaise with Finance IT staff (3E Innovations Team) to ensure full functioning of systems

Year End for Group:

• Manage the execution of the annual audit process and ensure that appropriate/detailed work plans are in place to complete the audit on time
• Draft financial statement for all companies that fall within Bowmans in accordance with IFRS
• Other ad hoc year end duties as required

Trust Account Management (South Africa):

• Ensure appropriate controls are in place to safeguard client funds
• Report, under supervision, to the various law societies
• Perform quarterly reviews on trust accounts ensuring that we are not in breach of any legislation or rule

Banking Treasury (South Africa):

• Ensure appropriate relationships are formed with our bankers
• Ensure that all approval lists are maintained and updated
• Review on a regular basis if best banking practices are followed from a controls perspective
• Ensure that all unallocated funds are recorded and appropriate lists are maintained
• Provide support to Africa offices to develop relationships with the banks

Tax (Bowmans SA)

• Initiate and manage regular internal reviews to ensure that documentation is in line with revenue requirements
• Conduct and review provisional, year end and dividend tax computations
• Facilitate the resolution of all SARS/ relevant Africa country Revenue of Services related queries timeously

Monthly Management Accounts for the Group:

• Review all analytical analysis performed on management accounts and ensure reasonableness thereof
• Review cash forecasts and ensure the appropriateness of the assumptions applied
• Review monthly profitability reports and ensure reasonableness thereof

Monthly Management Accounts for the Group:

• Develop strong relationships with Managing Partners and Finance Teams within BGAG with a view to be regarded as a trusted advisor
• Develop and maintain relationships with Partners, Executive and Business Services Management as a trusted advisor
• Develop and maintain relationships with all individuals below management level as a trusted advisor
• Maintain strong working relationships with and have open and transparent communication between all members of the team
• Develop and maintain relationships with external vendors to ensure service delivery of a high quality.
• Building key relationships to ensure the efficient management of the firm’s finances e.g. Law Societies, Banks, auditors,
• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with other law firms, clients, think tanks and professional services firms

Management and Leadership:

• Manages own teams’ performance to ensure delivery of the approved Finance strategy across designated departments (7 direct reports, up to 11 indirect reports)
• Gives regular, comprehensive and constructive feedback to team and conducts their performance appraisals
• Proactively seeks feedback from team members and deals constructively with any criticism
• Adjusts management style to get the best from the individuals within the team
• Delegates work to team members taking into account their capacity, level of skill and exposure to different types of work and complexity; provides clear instructions and direction, with reasonable deadlines

Strategy:

• Provides input to the Bowmans Finance strategy.

Budget:

• Contribute to overall Finance budget
• Administer and track costs relating to the budget with oversight from the Chief Financial Officer

"Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan. All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives”

Closing date for Applications is Friday 12 June 2020.

Please include a copy of your CV with your application for it to be considered.