Finance Manager

About the Role

Bird & Bird is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join their Finance team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves ensuring accurate financial reporting, maintaining effective financial controls, and complying with local accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will coordinate budgeting, cash flow management, and the annual audit process, aligning with the firm’s global finance policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the KSA Finance function, ensuring operational effectiveness and adherence to global policies.
• Oversee the general ledger, balance sheet reconciliations, and preparation of monthly management accounts, statutory financial statements, and local/group reporting.
• Manage budgeting and forecasting, providing analysis on performance, profitability, and target achievement.
• Advise the Managing Partner and leadership on business planning, investment decisions, and strategic initiatives.
• Support partners with proposals, pricing, and financial management of client matters to enhance profitability.
• Oversee billing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable processes, ensuring timely and accurate invoicing, payments, and cash allocation.
• Ensure invoice compliance with firm policies, fee arrangements, client guidelines, and e-billing requirements.
• Manage working capital by reviewing work in progress, billing, debt, and lock-up with partners, driving collections.
• Prepare WIP and billing forecasts, client and matter budgets, and portfolio analysis.
• Manage cash flow, funding requirements, banking relationships, and cash forecasts.
• Coordinate monthly payroll with HR and service providers.
• Maintain effective internal controls, financial system access, and approval procedures, addressing financial risks.
• Manage KSA tax compliance, including VAT, withholding tax, and corporate income tax filings, and liaise with ZATCA.
• Coordinate the annual statutory audit, manage auditor relationships, and ensure timely completion.
• Oversee financial aspects of non-IT suppliers, procurement, lease commitments, and significant expenditure.
• Provide financial analysis for regulatory and compliance submissions, including AML reporting.
• Produce dashboards and management reports covering revenue, profitability, WIP, debt, cash, and matter performance.
• Maintain accurate matter, billing, and financial data in practice management systems.
• Prepare intercompany invoices and process recharges across international offices.
• Act as the main finance liaison between the KSA office and London Finance.
• Support Finance recruitment, development, succession planning, and process improvements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Recognised professional accounting qualification (*, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA).
• 5-10 years of relevant experience in a senior finance role within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls.
• Practical knowledge of KSA accounting, tax, and statutory reporting requirements (VAT, withholding tax, corporate income tax).
• Experience managing billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, and working capital.
• Experience coordinating external audits and liaising with auditors, tax advisers, banks, and regulatory authorities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in accounting and reporting systems; Aderant Expert and Crystal Reports experience is an advantage.
• Experience working in a multicurrency environment and collaborating with regional or international Finance teams.

Required Skills

• Strong numerical, analytical, and commercial skills, with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret financial performance, challenge assumptions, and provide clear, practical advice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to advise partners and senior stakeholders.
• High standard of written business Arabic and English.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
• Proactive, adaptable, and commercially minded approach to resolve issues and improve processes.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion when handling confidential information.

The Team and Firm

You will join a collaborative and commercially focused regional Finance team that supports Bird & Bird's operations across the Middle East. The role provides financial insight to support business planning, decision-making, and growth, working closely with the Managing Partner, Head of Group Accounts, and regional Finance team. Bird & Bird is a leading international law firm known for its collegiate global team approach, with over 70% of its work involving cross-firm collaboration.

Application Process

Candidates meeting the specified requirements are encouraged to apply. Salary details will be discussed during the interview process.