Financial Accountant

The role

DLA Piper, the international law firm established in Ireland 5 years ago, now requires a Financial Accountant (NQ) to assist in the delivery of financial functions, working closely with the Head of Finance & Finance Team, local fee earners and support staff as well as the central finance functions based in the UK and a newly established Global Services Centre (GSC) in Warsaw.

This role will require the successful candidate to perform a range of duties supporting the commercial development of the firm, maintenance of detailed accounting and regulatory records, assistance with production of statutory accounts and liaising with a range of external relationships with providers.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Commercial

• Financial support for the local management team which will include assistance with production of the annual budget.
• Working with local teams to ensure cost control and accurate accounting of costs.
• Working with local management and central credit control for debt management.
• Interpreting centrally provided financial data on KPIs including around billing and cash.
• Production and analytics of commercial data for trends management.
• Maintaining the local accounting records, processing transactions and journals.

Controls

• Monitoring our system of internal control and compliance with Group accounting policies on a range of issues.

Risk management

• Assistance in the maintenance of the local and financial risk Logs.

Regulatory

• Assisting with returns to LSOI and external Auditors / regulators.
• Assisting with local tax and regulatory reporting , VAT and liaison with external auditors.

External interface

• Production of payroll and liaising with external services ensuring timely monthly payroll processing and recording in accounting records.
• Liaising with central accounting teams and the Global Services Centre in Poland.

Specific duties will include:

Commercial

• Assisting with annual budgets and quarterly re-forecasts;
• Providing support to the local team on financial management.
• Providing support with the production of bills including ensuring compliance with local legal and tax requirements;
• Analysis of credit notes and production of root cause analysis.
• Ensuring all accounting transactions are accurately posted in the accounting records.
• Assisting with the production of local management accounts in conjunction with the local finance team.
• Assistance in the completion of the annual group consolidation pack;

Controls

• Reconciling all key balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis;
• Reconciling inter-firm balances monthly;
• Completing the Monthly Internal Controls Checklist Completing the quarterly Tax Checklist;

Regulatory

• Assisting with local Solicitor’s accounting rules and company practice rules are complied with;
• Assisting with the compliance of all local statutory reporting requirements.
• Completing and submitting VAT,VIES, ARTD returns;

External interfaces

• Liaising with the central Treasury function regarding cash control;
• Liaising with the external payroll bureau and ensuring the accuracy of payments;
• Liaising with local tax advisors and the central tax team regarding tax returns and payments;
• General liaison with the central finance teams, providing information as required, joining calls and meetings as required.

ABOUT YOU

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA or equivalent)
• Professional services experience an advantage.
• Has an advanced knowledge of Excel and especially dashboard creation.
• Has worked for a number of years in the finance function of an international organization; desirable.
• Has a strong knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and local accounting rules.
• Experience of processing Accounts payable on an ERP platform. 
• Has excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and be fluent in English.
• Be a self-starter, who is able to work on their own initiative as well as being part of a team and has a strong client service orientation.
• Be comfortable multi-tasking and working to conflicting timescales on multiple priorities in a robust and fast-paced environment.

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.