Description
Reporting to the firms Board of Directors & CEO, the successful Practice Manager will handle a diverse and challenging workload to facilitate the delivery of the practices’ legal services.
Duties may include but not be limited to: management of the finance department and back office; day-to-day and annual responsibility for the firms’ accounts; advice on regulatory compliance including SRA and SAR’s; organisation of the firm’s insurance, accreditation and practising certificate renewals; attending Board meetings; negotiating with third party suppliers and developing organisational and performance systems.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to find solutions to complex issues will therefore be essential. This is a hands-on role suited to a dedicated professional who thrives under pressure and would like to become an integral part of a practices continued success.
Candidate specification
Candidates should ideally have:
• Previous relevant experience within the legal environment
• A comprehensive understanding of the Solicitor Accounts Rules and an overview of the general obligations of the SRA Handbook
• Held the post of COFA
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to adhere to and manage deadlines with minimal supervision
• Strong IT skill
Main Responsibilities
• Lexcel applications
• Internal training to ensure Lexcel compliance
• Updating TOBs, office policies and procedures as and when required and in line with Lexcel, CQS and SRA guidelines
• Maintain the firm’s website – staff profiles, content updates, recruitment pages etc
• Prepare and provide information to the firm’s accountants for annual SAR’s audit and year end accounts
• VAT returns
• Corporation Tax instalments
• Payroll
• NI/Tax payments due to HMRC
• Maintain/update staff benefits scheme
• CQS applications
• Practising certificate bulk renewal application
• PII renewal
• Cyber Insurance renewal
• P&O Insurance renewal
• Finance arrangements
• SRA applications when required
• Supervision of accounts team, reception staff/post room
• Team appraisals
• Provide support to staff in relation to software/systems including P4W, Bundledocs, Legl ID checks, Formshare etc
• Checking and authorising TT’s/BACs from the client account (approx.30-50 per day/60-80 on a Friday)