Commercial Finance Manager

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.

The Opportunity We are seeking a Commercial Finance Manager to join our high-performing Business Finance team in our Sydney office. You will work as a trusted partner to senior leaders and play a key role in driving financial insight, operational excellence and strategic decision-making across the practice group.

This role is ideal for a proactive finance professional who enjoys combining analytical rigour with meaningful business influence, and who is motivated by the opportunity to shape performance, support growth initiatives and contribute to a collaborative, future-focused culture.

What you’ll do

Report on business plan performance, financial results, and key metrics, and support communication of outcomes across the practice group.

Analyse business trends, prepare business cases, and support proactive planning around utilisation, resourcing, and performance.

Provide financial insights to improve productivity, efficiency, profitability, and cash flow.

Monitor short- and long-term financial performance, including WIP, debt, expenses, and variance analysis, and develop strategies to address issues.

Use standard reporting tools to analyse profitability of clients, matters, and pitches.

Lead budgeting and forecasting activities for the regional practice group.

Prepare financials to support secondment, promotion, and partner-hire business cases.

Support key firm processes, including pricing reviews and remuneration cycles.

Ensure financial compliance and policy adherence, including expense approvals.

Partner with Business Finance, Business Development, and HR to enable effective practice group performance and optimal resourcing.

Contribute to regional and global projects, sharing best practices across Business Finance.

Support the partners and practice managers with operational and administrative requirements, communication flows, and meeting preparation.

What you’ll bring

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a finance or commercial role.

Tertiary qualifications in Commerce, Finance, or a related discipline.

CPA or CA qualification (highly regarded).

Strong business partnering and influencing skills.

Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

Proven experience working directly with senior executives, analysing P&L to identify profit drivers and improvement opportunities.

A strong background building financial models, including scenario and what‑if analyses, preparing clear, compelling financial presentations.

An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

What you can expect from us

We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client‑centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution‑focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.

Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia's market leading law firm.

Diversity & Inclusion We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values-Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team Business Finance

Working Pattern Full time

Location Sydney

Contract type Permanent Contract

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