In this position, you will oversee and coordinate commercial activities across all business service areas aligned with the Chief Operating Officer, International. This involves managing and delivering the annual budget submission, monitoring commercial expenditure against budget throughout the year, and providing analysis and quality assurance to the COO and other senior stakeholders. In addition to overseeing the COO areas, you will lead the commercial and financial oversight of the Corporate Project Portfolio. This entails preparing, analysing, and evaluating business cases, as well as developing a robust methodology for tracking value creation and benefit realisation. You will collaborate closely with finance and operations leads in each international business service directorate, while also maintaining a strong working relationship with the firm’s dedicated finance function.
In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and monthly reporting cycles for the business service areas under the purview of the COO, as well as leading and managing all facets of commercial and financial oversight for the Corporate Project Portfolio within this domain. This includes developing, analysing, and evaluating business cases to offer valuable insights and recommendations for strategic decision-making. Engaging in commercial modelling for long-term business planning, you will actively seek opportunities for efficiencies to align with business and financial objectives. Collaboration with cross-functional teams will be essential, ensuring seamless integration of commercial strategies with overall COO area objectives. You will continuously monitor performance against budgets and action plans, leading regular commercial review meetings with service areas, and providing insightful analysis and commentary to the COO. Additionally, identifying opportunities for revenue enhancement, cost optimization, and risk mitigation will be part of your proactive approach, including the preparation of management information, key performance indicators, and presentations for COO use at Executive and Board sessions.
Applicants for this role should hold ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualifications with a minimum of 5 years PQE within the legal or professional sector. Demonstrating the capacity to influence key business strategies and initiatives is essential, alongside the ability to adopt a strategic perspective on the business and assess the financial impact of costs on overall profitability, thereby providing a proactive service to the COO. A strong commercial acumen is imperative, encompassing experience in comprehending international, complex, and diverse business requirements. Proficiency in analytical and problem-solving skills is crucial, enabling the interpretation of data and trends to inform strategic decisions. Candidates must exhibit a service-oriented approach, with expertise in senior stakeholder management and the potential to swiftly establish a credible reputation within the business. Adaptability to dynamic and international business environments is essential, with a proven track record of leading successful commercial initiatives and contributing to project financial success.