Chief Financial Officer - Law Firm

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Leading Law Firm Location: Mumbai Experience: 1520 Years Qualification: CA preferred / MBA Finance Position Overview: We are looking for an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the finance function of a leading law firm. The CFO will be responsible for driving the firm's financial strategy, profitability, cash flow, governance and overall financial performance, while partnering closely with the Managing Partners and senior leadership. Financial Strategy & Planning: - Develop and execute the firm's overall financial strategy in line with business objectives. - Lead budgeting, FP&A, forecasting, financial modelling and variance analysis. - Develop financial plans and business scenarios to support growth and strategic initiatives. - Provide financial insights and recommendations to the Managing Partners/CEO on business decisions, expansion and investments. Financial Performance & Profitability: - Monitor revenue, profitability, cash flow and working capital. - Analyse profitability at partner, practice-area and matter levels. - Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, margin improvement and operational efficiency. - Develop MIS, dashboards and management reports for informed decision-making. Billing, Collections & Revenue Management: - Oversee client billing, WIP, revenue recognition and collections. - Monitor billing efficiency, outstanding receivables and realisation rates. - Partner with practice teams to improve collections and revenue realisation. Treasury, Banking & Cash Management: - Lead treasury, banking and cash-management activities. - Ensure adequate liquidity and effective cash-flow management. - Manage banking relationships, financing requirements and fund mobilisation, where applicable. Taxation, Compliance & Governance: - Oversee accounting, taxation, statutory and regulatory compliance. - Strengthen financial controls, policies, processes and governance frameworks. - Identify and proactively manage financial, operational and compliance risks. - Ensure confidentiality and integrity of financial and partner-related information. Partner & Leadership Support: - Provide Partners and senior leadership with clear, timely and commercially relevant financial insights. - Support partner compensation, drawings, distributions and profitability management, as applicable. - Act as a strategic finance partner to the Managing Partners/CEO. Team Leadership & Transformation: - Lead, mentor and develop the Finance & Accounts team. - Build a process-driven, technology-enabled and high-performing finance function. - Drive automation, reporting improvements, stronger controls and process efficiency. Candidate Profile: - CA preferred; MBA Finance from a reputed institution will be an advantage. - 15-20 years of relevant experience with significant exposure to senior finance leadership. - Experience in professional services, preferably law firms, Big 4, consulting/accounting firms or partnership-led organizations. - Strong understanding of billing, WIP, collections, revenue management and profitability analysis. - Strong expertise in FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, treasury and financial controls. - Good knowledge of taxation, financial reporting, statutory compliance and governance. - Strong financial modelling, analytical and commercial skills. - Experience working closely with Partners, Managing Partners, CEOs and senior stakeholders. - Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills. - High level of integrity, confidentiality, ownership and professional maturity. - Strong technology and MIS orientation, with the ability to leverage systems and automation to improve financial decision-making.