Finance Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Responsibility for the effective operation of the Cayman finance function, ensuring all core finance processes (including billing, credit control, cashiering, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, client payments and expenses) are executed accurately, efficiently and on a timely basis.
• Ensure appropriate prioritisation of all financial activities, balancing day-to-day operational requirements with time-critical client transactions, including Real Estate completions.
• Work collaboratively with the Real Estate team to ensure the smooth execution of the financial elements of completion processes, including the accurate and timely receipt, reconciliation and disbursement of completion monies.
• Monitor financial performance, working collaboratively with the central Finance team to provide analysis and insights to support decision-making.
• Lead regular reviews of Aged WIP, Aged Debt and other matter balances, including client monies, working with Partners and their teams to drive timely action, reduce lock-up and optimise cash flow.
• Encourage and promote positive financial behaviours, ensuring financial best practices are embedded across the office.
• Provide training and support to staff to improve financial awareness and responsibility.
• Contribute to the annual business planning and budgeting process, including providing updates for financial forecasting.
• Line management of a Finance Administrator (based in Cayman), providing guidance, training, and support.

• Ensure the effective delivery of all operational finance activities in Cayman, including billing, credit control, cashiering, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, client payments, staff expenses and financial investigations, maintaining high standards of accuracy, control and timeliness.
• Act as the key finance contact for the Cayman office, providing support and guidance to fee earners and business support teams.
• Monitor workloads and workflows across finance processes, proactively identifying and resolving issues to maintain service levels and operational efficiency.
• Provide hands-on oversight of completion-related cash flows, ensuring clear visibility of incoming and outgoing funds, proactive issue resolution, and seamless coordination with fee earners and stakeholders to meet transaction timelines.
• Ensure finance activities associated with Real Estate completions (including client money handling, reconciliation, bookkeeping and billing) are completed accurately and within required timeframes.
• Manage the local Cayman banking relationships, including maintenance of bank mandates, online platforms and the opening of new accounts.

• Proactively identify and implement improvements to financial processes to enhance efficiency, control and service delivery.
• Establish and maintain robust, scalable processes across all areas of finance operations, ensuring consistency, efficiency and strong internal controls.
• Strengthen and maintain control frameworks around client money and completion processes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while enabling efficient turnaround of high-volume, time-sensitive transactions.
• Collaborate with the central Finance team to align and standardise financial processes and reporting.
• Support the development and enforcement of finance policies.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and professional rules, including AML and client accounting requirements.
• Assist in financial investigations and the successful delivery of audits for the Cayman Bedell Cristin in house entities, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of findings.

Qualifications • Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or equivalent experience.

• Proven experience in a finance management role, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of financial operations, reporting, and compliance requirements in the Cayman Islands.
• Experience in improving financial processes and driving positive financial behaviours across teams.
• Strong business partnering skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with legal finance systems and practice management software (preferably Aderant).

Competencies

• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide effective financial guidance to non-finance staff.
•  Strong IT skills in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel, with an eye for detail and diligence to ensure accuracy of system, process and output

• Adhere to all policies, procedures and regulations including those around anti-money laundering and terrorist financing
• Have a willingness to continually develop your skills and knowledge
• Act in accordance with our values and core behaviours
• Flexibility, as occasionally you may be asked to work beyond your contracted hours to support urgent transactional work