Commercial Finance Manager

At CMS, our Commercial Finance team plays a central role in shaping pricing strategy, improving profitability, and supporting commercial decision-making across the business. Working closely with partners, practice group and sector leaders as well as senior business leaders, we help drive sustainable growth in line with the firm's strategy, and ensure the firm delivers value to both clients and the business.

We are looking for a commercially minded and analytically strong Commercial Finance Manager to join our growing team. This is an opportunity to move beyond traditional finance and play a key role in pricing, profitability, client strategy and commercial decision-making within a leading international law firm.

The Role

As a Commercial Finance Manager, you will act as a trusted adviser to partners and senior stakeholders, helping them make better commercial decisions and improve financial performance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partnering with practice, sector and regional leadership teams to identify opportunities to improve profitability and commercial performance.

• Supporting the development of pricing strategies and commercial solutions for significant client opportunities, panel appointments and strategic tenders.

• Building financial models and delivering clear analysis, insight and recommendations to support decision-making.

• Challenging and influencing stakeholders to improve pricing discipline, matter management and financial outcomes.

• Delivering training and coaching to partners and fee earners on pricing, profitability, financial management and commercial best practice.

• Supporting strategic initiatives led by the Head of Commercial Finance and Senior Commercial Finance Managers.

• Coaching and developing junior members of the team, contributing to a collaborative and high-performing culture.

About You

You are commercially curious, analytically rigorous and confident engaging with senior stakeholders. You enjoy solving complex problems, influencing decision-making and translating financial analysis into practical commercial recommendations.

You will ideally have:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), although this is not essential for candidates with relevant experience.

• Experience in commercial finance, pricing, FP&A, business partnering or a similar analytical role.

• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear and actionable insight.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including the confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior decision-makers.

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a genuine interest in improving commercial performance.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-performance environment, managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality outputs to demanding deadlines.

• Experience within legal, professional services or other partnership-based environments would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Why CMS?

This role offers exposure to senior leaders across the firm, involvement in high-profile commercial decisions, and the opportunity to make a measurable impact on profitability and growth. You will join a collaborative team with a strong reputation across the business and a genuine commitment to development and progression.

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)

• Flexible, hybrid working policy

• Generous bonus scheme

• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)

• Holiday exchange scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Enhanced parental leave

• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.