Job Description

About Us

Our Global Finance function plays a critical role in supporting the firm’s long‑term success. We provide robust financial control across our international operations while acting as strategic commercial partners—enhancing decision‑making and driving sustainable, profitable growth.
United by a collaborative, inclusive culture, our people identify as part of one Global Finance team.

About the Role

The Partnership Finance team oversees all elements of partner remuneration and partner funding across the firm. This includes profit share calculations, partner drawings and distributions, capital management, annuity schemes, and maintenance of partner and annuitant data.

As our Global Partner Finance Senior Manager, you will play a pivotal leadership role—mentoring and developing a team of partnership accountants, driving process excellence, and ensuring high‑quality financial management for our global partnership. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, offering expert insight and ensuring our processes and systems evolve to support a complex, multi‑jurisdictional environment.

Key Responsibilities

Partner Remuneration

• Oversee allocation and distribution of partner profit shares, ensuring adherence to partnership agreements and firm policies.

• Lead monthly partner drawings, tax reserving (in partnership with the Partner Tax team), and insurance/capital deductions.

• Manage all aspects of the retired partners’ annuity scheme, including calculations, payments, quarterly statements, and liaison with actuaries.

• Own and develop partner equity forecasting.

Partner Capital Management

• Maintain accurate partner capital account records.

• Manage partner loan facilities, including relationships with banking partners, interest calculations, and capital repayment schedules.

• Monitor partner capital requirements and advise on appropriate funding strategies.

Financial Control & Audit

• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards (IFRS, GAAP), multi‑jurisdictional tax regulations, and internal governance frameworks.

• Embed strong balance sheet reconciliation processes.

• Act as a key contact for external auditors on partnership finance matters.

• Oversee preparation and submission of partner tax information (e.g., R185 forms).

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify and implement process efficiencies across the partnership finance function.

• Strengthen internal controls and formalise process documentation.

• Serve as a key stakeholder in the implementation and ongoing enhancement of Partnership Finance software, including ownership of partner and annuitant data.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of three partnership accountants.

• Foster a culture of accuracy, continuous improvement, and professional development.

• Conduct performance reviews and support career progression.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a primary point of contact for partners regarding profit share, capital, and related financial matters.

• Build strong working relationships with internal teams—including Tax, Treasury, Reporting, HR, and Legal.

• Deliver ad‑hoc analysis and support to senior management as needed.

About You

• Qualified accountant with strong knowledge of statutory and regulatory frameworks.

• Confident communicator with the ability to influence at all levels, including external stakeholders.

• Experience within the legal or wider professional services sector.

• Demonstrated understanding of Partnership Finance.

• Highly organised, results‑focused, and skilled at managing expectations and meeting deadlines.

• A continuous improvement mindset with the ability to drive meaningful change.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.