Head of Finance & Operations in London - Ambition Europe Limited

A major international law firm is seeking a Head of Finance & Operations to focus on the London office, leading its UK finance function and play a central role on the London Management Team.

This is a broad, influential position that goes far beyond traditional financial control. It's ideally suited to a senior finance leader who combines strong commercial acumen with people leadership, partner/stakeholder management and operational oversight.

This is not a technical accounting hire. Those capabilities already sit within the team. Instead, they are seeking someone who can:

• Provide confident leadership and direction to the UK finance function.
• Shape culture, bring the team together and articulate a clear commercial strategy.
• Strengthen financial insight and challenge across the London office.
• Influence partners and senior leaders to drive performance and commercial discipline.
• Ensure financial and operational decisions align with broader business strategy.

You'll need to be an experienced adviser to senior leadership, a strong relationship-builder and someone who thrives in a fast-moving, partnership-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Finance Leadership

• Lead and develop the UK finance function, shaping culture, capability and long-term strategic direction.
• Partner with the London Management Team (LMT) to define and drive the financial strategy of the London office.
• Lead commercial finance activity including pricing, profitability, performance analysis and strategic financial decision-making.
• Oversee monthly P&L and balance sheet reviews, providing insightful, forward-looking analysis and constructive challenge.
• Work closely with global commercial accounting and pricing teams to align priorities and enhance financial decision support.
• Contribute to decisions regarding the financial shape, size and structural planning of the London office.
• Oversee UK finance teams, including cashiers, accounts payable and management accounting (with statutory accounting managed centrally).

Strategic Partnering & Influence

• Partner with senior leaders to challenge, shape and support high-quality decision making.
• Build strong, trusted relationships across the partnership, influencing behaviours and driving commercial discipline.

Operational Leadership

• Act as a core member of the LMT, working alongside senior partners and HR leadership.
• Support operational oversight across facilities, IT, space planning and office services, ensuring efficient, well-coordinated processes.
• Reduce reliance on partner time by providing structure, clarity and consistent operational coordination.
• Help embed stronger governance, consistency and effective decision-making across the London operations environment.
• Help embed clarity, consistency and effective decision-making across London operations.

Experience needed:

• A proven senior finance leader from a partnership or professional services environment.
• Commercial, energetic and influential, with the ability to challenge constructively.
• Comfortable operating across both finance and broader operational work.
• Flexible, pragmatic and relationship-driven rather than rigid or technical-only.

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