Financial Manager

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Finance Manager with a strong background in legal practice finance, including experience working within a Ghost Practice System. The ideal candidate will bring 3–5 years of hands-on experience in a law firm environment and demonstrate a solid understanding of legal trust accounting, compliance frameworks, billing systems, and financial strategy development tailored for the legal industry. Salary is R450k per annum.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the full finance function of the firm, including accounts receivable, payable, payroll, and trust accounting.

• Operate and manage financial workflows within the firm's Ghost Practice System, including mock billing, internal control tests, and training simulations.

• Maintain compliance with legal trust accounting rules, regulatory requirements (e.g., Legal Practice Act), and audit standards.

• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.

• Liaise with auditors, compliance officers, and legal practice councils during financial audits and inspections.

• Collaborate with legal, HR, and operations teams to ensure accurate financial reporting and budgeting.

• Analyze financial data and provide strategic insight to improve profitability, control costs, and manage cash flow.

• Implement and monitor internal financial controls and policies within both real and simulated (ghost) environments.

• Support training initiatives and contribute to the continuous development of the Ghost Practice System for finance-related modules.

• Manage billing and invoicing procedures, ensuring accurate time recording, disbursements, and client account reconciliation.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of financial management experience within a law firm.

• Proven experience working with or managing a Ghost Practice System (e.g., for training, simulation, or compliance testing).

• Deep understanding of trust account management and legal accounting software.

• Strong knowledge of financial compliance and regulatory frameworks relevant to legal practices.

• Proficiency in legal practice management and accounting systems (e.g., AJS, GhostPractice™, Xero, CaseWare).

• High level of accuracy, integrity, and attention to detail.

Desirable Skills:

• Postgraduate financial qualification (e.g., CIMA, SAIPA, CA(SA), or similar).

• Experience with automation and digital financial workflows.

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills for cross-department collaboration.

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

• Experience in training junior staff or involvement in on-boarding through simulated environments.