Regional Chief Financial Officer, APAC

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm's global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That's why we're so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You'll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they've reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that's possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you'll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you'll become an integral part of an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

The role

Clifford Chance is seeking an experienced leader for its Finance function in APAC. APAC comprises eight offices in five countries, with multiple statutory and reporting entities within each jurisdiction. This role covers offices in Australia (Sydney and Perth), Singapore, Hong Kong, China (Shanghai, Beijing) and Japan (Tokyo), as well as our alliance and joint operation partners in Singapore and China.

The Regional Chief Financial Officer role is a member of the global Finance Leadership Group, contributing towards building a stronger finance functional globally, as well as the Asia Pacific Leadership Group (APLG), driving the regional business forward. The Regional CFO will report to the Global CFO (solid line) and Regional COO (dotted line).

The focus regionally and globally for the Finance team is to drive growth and market expansion, increase profit and cash while reducing risk for the Firm. This value is generated by the function working closely with partners, lawyers and business professionals to improve commercial performance and deliver effective operations across pricing, accounting, reporting, tax, treasury, control and governance. Our teams across the world are aligned around the vision to be one global team, working in collaboration to deliver value to clients, partners and the partnership, with robust controls and continuous improvement environment.

Reporting Lines and Committee Membership

Reports to:

• Global Chief Finance Officer (GCFO) – solid line
• Regional Chief Operating Officer (RCOO) – dotted line

Close working relationship with:

• Regional Managing Partner
• Asia Pacific Leadership Group.Comprised of the RMP, Regional Practice Area Leaders, RCOO and Regional HR Director
• Heads of Finance across the region
• Head of Commercial Advisory for the region

Committee Membership:

• Finance Leadership Group (FLG).Comprised of the GCFO, regional CFOs, and heads of Tax, Reporting, Commercial and Systems.

Job Purpose

You will be responsible for the Finance function in the region and notably:

• As a strategic advisor will provide constructive challenge, early identification of risks and prompt escalation of issues.
• Work closely with the Global CFO and as part of the regional leadership team to streamline our finance processes across the region and roll out best practices, including the leveraging of our operational hub in India.
• Guide members of the regional Finance team, encouraging their personal development. Work with talented individuals to build a pipeline of talent passing through global programmes then sharing their experience to develop others.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering & Leadership

• Act as strategic advisor on regional financial performance to the Regional Managing Partner and Regional COO, as well as the Regional Practice Area Leaders and Business Managers, providing challenge and identifying areas for performance improvement.
• Monitor and review the financial performance of the region, presenting key highlights to the GCFO.
• Strengthen performance across matter life cycle and implement robust commercial expectations within the region to maximise profitability and optimise working capital. Work closely with Partners, and other leaders in the Firm to discuss and implement best practice.
• Working closely with Practice Area leadership, support the roll out of the Commercial Awareness Framework (CAF) programme to promote commercial acumen and improve client relationship skills within our partners and lawyers.
• Collaborate with other regional CFOs and global colleagues to identify opportunities to share best practices with other regions and vice versa.
• Together with the Global Treasury Team, optimise the funding for the region and work with the banks to minimise transaction / FX costs and seek a secure low risk investment return.

Simplify and Modernise our Operations

• Implement global transformation and change programme initiatives relating to operational efficiency and commercial discipline ensuring that they are embedded within the region and aligned to the global strategy.
• Ensure the finance function works effectively with Partners, including Office Managing Partners, Regional Business Managers and Regional Functional Heads.
• Identify and implement opportunities for standardisation and automation of processes.
• Streamline regional reporting in line with global best practices.

Implement Robust Risk Governance

Our clients and the Firm are working in increasingly more regulated environments. A broad cohort of stakeholders expect us to deliver to high professional standards in all aspects of our work from provision of legal advice and matter management, to how we manage the Firm. As the Regional CFO you will:

• Monitor for and identify areas of potential risk to the firm, escalating and resolving as necessary.
• Maintain and evolve robust financial and other compliance procedures.
• Ensure timely implementation of internal and external audit recommendations.
• Provide direction to colleagues to ensure adherence to the CC accounting policies and procedures.
• Maintain good relationships with regulatory authorities.
• Ensure processes and controls are aligned to Firm's inclusion plan.
• Work with the Firm's Tax Director as necessary to ensure the tax affairs of the partners and partnership entities are properly managed across the region. As well as VAT and other tax matters.

Innovation and New Opportunities

• Support delivery of new ERP systems over the next few years, embracing new technologies, automation and digitisation of reporting and analytics as we transform financial operations.
• Work with leaders in the Firm's across Finance, Technology, Data and Operation to explore areas where we can readily adoption and apply automation and feasibility of emerging AI-powered solutions. Supported by robust simplifications, standardisation and data governance and controls.
• Work with the broader business to identify areas of opportunity and subsequently lead or be part of teams in relation to delivering new projects, tools or other initiatives that support the improvement of functional delivery and/or commercial performance.
• As a key leader within the Firm, identify opportunities to collaborate with third parties, statutory bodies and direct with clients.

Talent Development

• Drive the Finance function Inclusion plan and promote the development of talent across the regional teams.
• Ensure there is a clear scope of roles across all teams, safeguarding alignment to the global structure whilst delivering successfully against regional objectives.
• Encourage collaboration amongst the team and with other colleagues in the Firm, ensuring regional representation in Finance communities, committees or global projects or strategic initiatives.
• Provide steer and direction to senior leaders in the finance team, ensuring they are motivated and empowered to deliver greater value to the Firm and its stakeholders.
• Promote engagement with the Firm's career development framework; ensure compensation and performance rating decisions across the region are calibrated appropriately.
• At all times promote and expect from the Finance team the behaviours described under the Firm's Code.

Your experience

This is very much a hands-on role involved in all aspects of the Finance function of a global professional services firm. Able to set the strategy and vision, work closely with partners across the region, while bringing strong technical and commercial experience to manage audit and risks across the business.

Desired Experience

• You will have successful and solid experience in a similar role with a demonstrable track record in running a finance function in the professional services industry.
• You will ideally be able to demonstrate a track record of a multi-location remit within the APAC region.
• Whilst an experience of working in the legal sector is not necessary, the skill of working effectively in a consensus-based partnership structure and culture is preferred.
• You will have well developed influencing and persuasion skills and will be good at building relationships at all levels.
• You will be proactive, have a high level of demonstrable organisation skills, meticulous attention to detail plus a record of successful project management.
• You will have demonstrable experience in building, leading and motivating high-performing, diverse teams.
• Awareness and knowledge of international tax issues in the context of a global firm in the professional services sector would be an advantage.
• Sufficient technical knowledge and expertise in relation to IFRS, Solicitor Account Rules, Audit requirements.
• Experience of working in a leadership role within a global organisation which is navigating change would be advantageous.

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional analytical and numerical skills, with a strong ability to analyse numerical information and data, and spot trends.
• The intellectual rigour and insight to be credible with a highly intelligent and experienced group of Partners.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to gain buy in and motivate Partners.
• A strong strategic mindset and commercial acumen with the ability to present compelling evidence to persuade Partners to change.
• Clear and effective writing, presentational and verbal communications skills. Practical, commercially minded and service driven with a "can do" attitude and hands on approach.
• Proven ability to combine strategic thinking with pragmatic delivery and driving project implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, supervise and motivate teams through personal leadership and enthusiasm.
• Good judgement and a skill in identification and prioritisation of added value and strategic tasks.
• The ability to work effectively and co-operatively with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Qualification

• Qualified Accountant or similar financial based qualification is necessary.
• Further qualifications in business administration would be advantageous but is not essential.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.