We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose‑led. So although the world is fast‑moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.
What To Expect
For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast‑moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too.
Role And Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Financial Control, heading up a team of 7, and working closely with all areas of Finance including teams in the international offices, this is a critical global senior role in the Group central finance team of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP. The Group Finance team are responsible for Global Financial Control including group reporting, month end and year end results, ensuring integrity of all balance sheets within Eversheds Sutherland and leading the audit of the Group accounts.
The role is responsible for overseeing financial management, control and reporting across the international business. The role ensures the delivery of accurate, compliant, and timely financial information while driving high standards of financial governance and efficiency. This position plays a critical part in supporting the firm’s medium and long‑term plans and growth in a complex international partnership environment.
This role will specifically take responsibility for overseeing the more technical and complex areas of financial control and will include embedding appropriate oversight of accounting policies, reserves reconciliations, accounting for disposals and acquisitions, managing FX and intercompany across legal entities and will require strong liaison with the partnership accounting and tax team, international financial control team members and external auditors.
Key Responsibilities
- Line manager responsibility for the financial control team including objective setting and performance management.
- Lead, motivate and develop a high‑performing team promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement and championing best practices and consistency in financial processes across the international firm.
- Mentor emerging talent and support succession planning across the team and the wider finance team.
- Identify efficiencies and lead initiatives to optimise technology automation opportunities to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort.
- Drive global process harmonisation and consistency of policies.
- Lead the year end process, including production of the group financial statements and management of the audit process and timetable, liaising with relevant teams as appropriate to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting and a clean year end close.
- Provision of technical advice and guidance to finance and the wider business covering but not limited to acquisitions and disposals, Property and IT capitalisation in accordance with FRS102 and any changes in accounting standards including the implementation of accounting for revenue and leases in the year ending 30 April 2027.
- Oversee annual filings and annual audit process (where relevant) for subsidiary entities, working with local finance teams and the Group auditors to the agreed timetable.
- Maintain and enhance the firm’s financial governance framework, ensuring strong internal controls across all offices to support key control reviews including liaison with overseas offices as required to ensure integrity of management accounts and statutory entity records.
- Work with the Tax and Partner Accounting teams to ensure partner accounting records (capital, current and tax accounts) are maintained to the highest standards.
- Reconciliation of reserves by legal entity and at a group level ensuring all statutory adjustments are accounted for correctly.
- Lead the production of the monthly management accounts reporting and presentation to finance leadership team.
- Oversee group-level balance sheet reconciliations and balance sheet review to ensure robust financial control and accuracy, plus identification and management of risks and opportunities across the Group.
- Other ad hoc projects as required.
Skills and Experience
- Professionally qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) with a broad range of experience.
- Experience of leading and developing high‑performing teams.
- Experience of managing production of group financial statements and managing annual group audit process.
- Strong technical knowledge of FRS102 demonstrated by excellent Financial Control experience.
- Demonstrable expertise in financial reporting, controls, and multi‑jurisdiction accounting including consolidation and foreign currency.
- Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with a commercial mindset.
- Experience of process improvement and designing and executing improvement plans.
- Must be able to work effectively, build strong relationships and be able to influence and work across complex entities, systems and countries.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Professional Services partnership and international experience preferred, but not essential.
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness in both approach and delivery.
- Collaborative approach and ability to build strong relationships quickly with both the existing team, international teams and key stakeholders.
- Strong diplomacy, influencing and persuasion skills.
- Confident and credible in dealing with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Leadership style that empowers teams and models inclusive, high‑performance behaviours.
- Adaptable and thrives in a fast‑paced international environment with changing priorities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with high attention to detail.
- Pragmatic, robust and resourceful, with the ability to adapt quickly to different situations and personalities.
- Strong project management skills and the ability to manage conflicting timescales and multiple projects.
- Organised and efficient with a ‘right first time’ approach to quality of work.
What’s in It for You?
At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
- We’re fair, transparent and equitable.
- We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance.
- We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working.
- We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support.
- We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs.
- We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross‑function exposure.
- We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement.
- We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together. We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.
Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.
We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.
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