Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Cayman Islands

Reporting To: Head of Finance

Description

Purpose of the job

Working as part of our central Finance team, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing operational support and overseeing the day-to-day financial operations of the firm's Caribbean offices in Cayman and BVI. The role will focus on improving financial processes, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and fostering a culture of financial awareness and accountability within the Caribbean teams. Acting as a key liaison between the finance function and the firm's Caribbean offices, the Finance Manager will provide hands-on support, drive process improvements, and encourage positive financial behaviours.

Key Responsibilities Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee the day-to-day financial operations of the Caribbean offices, ensuring accuracy, compliance with internal policies, and efficiency.
• Monitor financial performance, working collaboratively with the central Finance team to provide analysis and insights to support decision-making.
• Encourage and promote positive financial behaviours, ensuring financial best practices are embedded across the office.
• Collaborate with partners and senior management to drive financial efficiency and profitability.
• 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 Finance staff (based in Cayman), providing guidance, training, and support.

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Identify and implement improvements to financial processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• 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 Caribbean Bedell Cristin in-house entities, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of findings.

Operational Finance Support

• Act as the key finance contact for the Caribbean offices, providing hands-on support and guidance to fee earners and business support teams.
• Work with the wider central Finance team to provide on-the-ground support to the Caribbean teams with ad hoc billing, credit control, cashiering, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, client payments, staff expenses, and other financial processes and investigations.
• Manage the local Caribbean banking relationships, including maintenance of bank mandates, online platforms, and opening of new accounts.

Qualifications

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

Knowledge/Skills/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 offshore jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands or British Virgin Islands.
• Experience in improving financial processes and fostering 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

We would like you to have:

• 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.

Expected Behaviours

• Behave in a manner in keeping with our core culture and values.
• Adhere to all policies, procedures, and regulations including those around anti-money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Commit to fulfilling any personal CPD requirements and continually developing your skills and knowledge.