COO

A prestigious commercial and private client law practice that covers business law and individual's legal affairs in London. They work extremely hard to nurture and foster a good working culture throughout the firm which is warm and inspiring. This is an excellent environment for the right candidate looking to grow professionally whilst being surrounded by a great team who are highly innovative, ambitious and results driven.

THE ROLE:

The firm has established a leadership team and is looking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced full time Chief Operating Officer. The position is a newly created one and has come about as part of the strategic plans of the partnership. The role will also enable the partners and largely, the Managing Partner to focus on fee income, nurturing existing client relationships and building new profitable relationships.

They are looking for a driven individual who is secure in their work, project driven and who embraces the firm's long-term strategy. The ideal person will have extensive financial experience in professional services (and specifically law firms) and have a solution-led approach. As the successful candidate, you will be joining a firm which has exciting growth plans where you will be involved with M&A transactions to grow the firm, working closely with the fee earners, whilst having full interaction with the wider team to help them grow.

The Chief Operations Officer will report directly to the Managing Partner in the first instance as well as the equity partners. The Chief Operating Officer will focus and deliver:
* Operational efficiencies.
* Expansion of the culture of innovation within this organisation.
* Embracing and advocating an all-improving and innovative culture.

The Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for the following key operational aspects of the business (please note - the following list is not exhaustive and may change).

• Improving billable hours and cash generation.
• Assisting the partners with running operational teams, providing direction and critical monitoring of team and employee performance.
• Assisting the partners with employee performance reviews and appraisal process, linking such to annual bonus reviews.
• Overseeing implementation of a staff training program.
• Taking prime responsibility for all staff issues.
• Supporting the growth strategy by way of assisting with interviewing and induction.
• Managing the resources available to meet the current demands of the business and planning to meet increase demand.
• Ongoing support and assistance with respect to operating function.
• Opening and staffing new offices (if any).
• Carrying out due diligence on candidates for all roles before an offer is made.
• Reviewing all internal systems and procedures for improvement - payments, expenses, HR, induction etc.
• Expanding on the culture of innovation within the firm.
• Assisting the internal compliance team all regulatory matters.
• Aged debt management.
• Improving the financial monthly reports and supporting and assisting general improvements in the operational financial reporting of key data with the Head of Finance.
• PROFILE OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
• Not afraid to challenge the status quo, in a positive and constructive manner.
• Previous experience within professional practice (preferably law firms) and working with entrepreneurs.
• Leadership skills, team player with excellent people skills.
• Highly organised and able to strategically forward plan.
• Innovative, analytical and commercial.
• Flexible and of an agile mindset.
• Consistent.
• Innovative, analytical and commercial
• Dynamic.
• Diplomatic.
• Consistent and disciplined.
• Trustworthy
• SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: The successful candidate will be able to show they have:
• Have a minimum of 2 to 5 years' experience of working within a regulatory environment.
• In a senior finance role employing a minimum of 25 staff and reporting directly to the partnership.
• Professional services environment.
• An excellent understanding of financial management, legal finance and cashering, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, SRA and other regulatory compliance, law firm organisation and management.
• Excellent commercial awareness and inter-personal / relational skills.
• Recognised accounting qualification.
• Excellent IT skills and experience in use of Office 365.
• RENUMERATION & REWARD:
• Agile Working Policy (contained in the staff handbook).
• The company offers a highly competitive benefits package.
• 10% of discretionary profit costs billed and paid in respect of introductions where the work is carried out by other fee earners (as set out in the Staff Handbook).
• Holiday entitlement: 23 days per annum in addition to the usual 8 bank holidays (which runs from 1st January to 31st December in any year).
• After you have completed two years continuous service you are entitled to an extra day's holiday for each additional year of service up to a maximum of five additional days).
• Pension Scheme: Auto enrolment into the firm's company pension scheme.
• Private Medical Health Scheme (including subsidised gym membership): Upon successful completion of probation, contribution towards individual membership of the firm's private healthcare scheme subject to there being no onerous underwriting conditions.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eyecare and Flu Vaccination voucher scheme.

Search is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age.