Head Legal Cashier

What we will offer:

If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact hr.recruitment@shlegal.com or call 020 7809 2711.

Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A Competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies.
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family.
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers.
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes.
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave.
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when we experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects

Team Structure:

The London accounts team currently comprises of 40 employees and is headed up by Simon Griffith, the Director of Accounts, who reports into Hamedeh Ghobadian, Chief Financial Officer. The team is made up of several discrete sections: management accounts; purchase ledger; partners' personal accounting; pricing and commercial; credit control; cashiering and billing.

Main Responsibilities:

• Responsibility for the London office Cashiers function, including managing team of 5 cashiers, training and team development & appraisals;
• Responsibility for ensuring Cashiering policies, procedures, and controls are appropriate to ensure smooth and efficient running of the function and adapted as business needs evolve, to include liaison with the Finance Systems team;
• Liaison with auditors as part of the Solicitors Accounts Rules audit work.
• Overall responsibility for processing client and/or office account payments, receipts, transfers, and direct debits;
• Oversight of the bank reconciliation process, reviewing the reconciliations prepared by the team and ensuring that reconciling items are cleared promptly;
• Responsibility for managing client balances and ensuring these are handled in accordance with the Solicitor’s Accounts Rules, including accounting for interest on client funds in accordance with Firm policy
• Responsibility for processing the firm’s disbursements, including Counsel and Experts fees, Foreign payments and any UK disbursements/recharges;
• Responsibility for operational Treasury Management. This includes preparation of cashflow forecasts and presenting the same in Treasury meetings to ensure the firm has adequate funds at its disposal to meet cash needs.
• Manage and optimise operational level banking relationships, including negotiations of interest returns on client funds, and monitor foreign exchange requirements and manage FX transactions to minimise risk and maximise value;
• Dealing with setup and closure of bank accounts and deposit accounts as needed;
• Involvement in managing the relationship with the Bank’s operational teams, and key suppliers which fall into the Cashier area;
• Amendments to / closures of Clients and Matters on Aderant, in line with Law Society and anti-money laundering regulations;
• Involvement in Firmwide projects to review and improve processes across the Finance function. Future projects include carrying out a review of the disbursements processes, working with Finance Systems team and Solutions team to map current processes and identify and implement improvements;
• Delivery of training to staff around the Firm, to ensure awareness of the Firm’s procedures and controls over cash and client monies; and
• Ensure compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and support ongoing audits and compliance checks.

Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Attributes/Skills Required:

The successful candidate will have extensive cashiering experience, ideally as a Head Cashier, or Senior Cashier, gained within a law firm or other professional services environment and must be able to demonstrate:

• An in-depth knowledge of the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules to ensure compliance with the regulations;
• A track record of identifying and delivering process improvements;
• Experience of managing a team effectively;
• Logical and methodical approach with excellent numeracy skills and attention to detail;
• Clear communication skills, and an approachable demeanour;
• Excellent organisational skills and ability balance day to day and project tasks;
• Knowledge of Aderant desirable but must be familiar with either using this, or equivalent practice management systems;
• Proficiency in using Excel and knowledge and experience of windows-based packages such as Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook etc);
• Sound understanding of VAT recovery processes;
• Understanding of billing and/or credit control is desirable but not essential.
• Clear and concise written and oral communication.
• Ability to liaise with members of the wider Accounts department and colleagues to resolve queries and other matters that arise.
• Excellent customer service skills with a helpful and responsive approach.
• Ability to see the wider context in which a particular process sits.
• Takes ownership and actively looks for personal learning and development opportunities.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About the Firm:

Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our values

We encourage creativity and develop talent.

To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

We work together to build close, long-term relationships

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026

This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.