The Law Society of Ireland's Finance team works in strategic partnership with the organisation.

Law Society Vision: Positioning Finance at the heart of the organisation, fostering collaboration across stakeholders, colleagues, and suppliers to become a true strategic partner to the Law Society.

As part of the Finance Strategy and Objectives, the Law Society initiated a review of its finance function in 2023, launching 'Project Elevate' to enhance efficiency and innovation. The project embraced 'lean' methodology, emphasising optimal use of staff, resources, and energy for transformative outcomes, and become a true strategic partner to the Law Society.

The key headings covered:

- Financial Reporting Enhancement: Introduce dashboards and KPIs to enable improved reporting.

- Optimised Finance Team Structure: Establish the best structure for the finance team to collaborate and deliver results.

- Systems and Process Review: Identify opportunities for efficiency, enhancement, and innovation.

- Automated System Implementation: Streamline finance processes through automation.

- Cultivating Continuous Improvement financial reporting.: Instil a culture of continuous improvement and innovation at

They are now looking for a Head of Finance and Procurement to work with the Director of Finance and Operations, to fully implement the vision and strategic objectives within the Finance Team, supervise all financial tasks within the organisation and ensure we use capital and resources to the benefit of their members. 

The Head of Finance and Procurement’s responsibilities include creating automated forecasting/budgeting models, monitoring, reporting and analysing variances to form a deep understanding of the organisation as a whole as well as its subsidiaries. Monitoring and embedding the procurement policy, assessing risk in investments, and ensuring all accounting activities comply with regulations. To be successful in this role, you should have experience crafting financial strategies, managing accounting teams and budget managers and experience implementing and changing financial systems and financial structures within a highly transactional organisation.

Key duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Head of Finance & Procurement will be responsible for leading the financial strategy and procurement procedures within the Law Society of Ireland. This senior leadership role ensures the effective financial stewardship of the organisation, compliance with regulatory and governance requirements and the effective procurement of goods and services.

- Develop ad implement the financial strategy to support the Law Society’s strategic objectives. Working with the Finance Director to support the implementation of the Finance Strategy.

- Managing the consolidated financial reporting timelines for the organisation. This includes monthly financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting, 5-year financial plans and all statutory financial reporting.

- Practicing Cert & Education Income financial modelling. 

- Managing and approving the Commercial pricing , Four Courts, Catering, & Bed & Breakfast.

- Subsidiary Accounting, tax and filings.

- Working with Budget Managers within the business to improve forecasting and analysis and support them in understanding variances analysis.

- Managing and approving construction budgets.

- Managing and tracking budget and accounting information including billing, collections, and tax information.

- Cashflow budgeting and monitoring. Identifying investment opportunities in line with the Investment Policy.

- Managing and overseeing the cash flow of the company and ensuring it has the appropriate treasury controls in place.

- Presentation of financial results and analysis to the Director of Finance and Executive Leadership Team to enable critical business decisions.

- Overseeing commercial decision-making from tender analysis, margin analysis, pricing analysis etc.

- Managing and overseeing the taxation affairs of the organisation and liaising with the external tax firm for specialist advice.

- Managing the External Auditor relationship and ensuring the organisation is compliant with accounting standards.

- Managing the Internal Audit Programme and reporting on improvement implementations.

- Managing and overseeing the company’s financial systems, policies, controls and identifying Lean process opportunities Frequent investment appraisal and analysis.

- Recruitment, training, mentoring and development of staff.

- Introduce new systems and software/automation to the Finance dept Reviewing all formal finance policies, procedure and developing an internal controls manual for the Finance Team.

- Provide Procurement Policy training to the organisation.

- Manage the procurement policy and review all Business Requirement Documents.

 Skills and attributes:

- 10+ years' experience in a senior financial managerial position with a proven record of success.

- Previous experience in commercial or construction projects desirable.

- Sound decision-making skills based on accurate and timely analyses.

- Results-oriented and metrics-driven. In-depth understanding of cash flow management.

- Hands-on experience with budgeting and risk management.

- Excellent knowledge of data analysis and forecasting models.

- Proficiency in accounting software, with previously experience of a Finance System implementation on a large scale.

- Exceptional time management and ability to solve problems.

- Exceptional interpersonal communication and leadership skills, with the ability to communicate and manage staff at all levels.

- Ability to lead by example and demonstrate a strong sense of integrity, ethics, and dependability.

- Professional written and oral communication skills.

- Confident in presenting results and translating financial results to a non-financial audience.

- Strategic thinking, planning and creative problem-solving skills with financial project management experience.

- Ability to work under pressure.

- Ability to collaborate with upper management to organise, plan and achieve company financial goals.

- Advanced computer software skills, including excel and financial reporting software.

- Professional accounting qualifications such as CPA or ACA.

How to apply 

To apply for this role, click the ‘Apply Now’ box in blue.

Appointment to this role is subject to the candidate’s eligibility to work in Ireland, without any restrictions.

Closing date for applications is on Monday, 17 March 2025 at 5pm.

Thank you for your interest in the Law Society of Ireland and your interest in this role. Due to the level of response required, only successful candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted by the HR department. For more information on Data Protection policies please send a request to recruit@lawsociety.ie.