Financial Controller, Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Financial Controller leads the local finance team and directly supports all practice groups and business functions within the Hong Kong office. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.

Overview of the Role

• The Financial Controller guides and drives the financial management of the Hong Kong office, promoting sound financial practices, robust internal controls, and business efficiency.
• They oversee all aspects of statutory compliance, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the office's financial information.
• Success in this role depends on the ability to shape and influence the financial elements of strategy, planning, management, business development, and people development.
• The Financial Controller manages a team of five Advisors and two Assistants, all based in Hong Kong, with additional support from shared service centres in Warsaw and Singapore.
• The role involves close collaboration with the Greater China finance team, the regional finance team, other business functions, and senior management on all finance-related matters.
• The Financial Controller also plays a key role in fostering financial discipline and best working practices across the office, providing education and guidance to all colleagues, including partners, fee earners, secretaries, and business teams.

Key responsibilities and challenges

Financial management

• Fully accountable for the quality of all finance services delivered in the office.
• Continuously strengthen internal controls and compliance by developing and implementing effective policies and procedures. These initiatives support strong financial discipline, safeguard the firm's assets, and mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Promote and drive improvements in business efficiency both within the finance function and across the broader practice. Lead the team in establishing and maintaining best practices in every area.
• Oversee financial processes to ensure ongoing compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) rules and local statutory requirements.
• Take responsibility for the full set of accounts for all local Linklaters entities in Hong Kong.

Business Performance Management

• Drive financial performance by proactively providing and analysing management information. Identify underlying issues, develop practical solutions, and implement improvements to enhance overall performance.
• Serve as the lead financial advisor to the office's partners and management. Build partners' financial awareness, promote shared financial responsibility, and inform strategic decision making.
• Constructively challenge partners' assumptions and decisions to ensure that the office's strategic priorities are aligned with the most impactful areas.
• Provide relevant financial management information and insightful analysis, including variance and profitability reviews, to stakeholders. Interpret findings clearly and recommend changes where needed to optimise office performance.

Strategy & Business Planning

• Lead the annual budget process for the Hong Kong office by providing guidance and support to advisors responsible for the practice group.
• Support the strategic decisions and initiatives of the office and practice groups from a finance perspective. This includes developing financial models and analysis, assessing financial risks, updating financial policies and procedures in response to change, monitoring, and measuring outcomes.
• Proactively identify opportunities for business improvement from a financial standpoint.
• Present well-founded advice and proposals to senior management, and lead change initiatives where appropriate.
• Participate in global and regional ad-hoc projects.

People and organisation management

• Influence partners, lawyers, secretaries, and business teams to foster sound financial behaviours across the organisation.
• Review and optimise the structure of the Hong Kong finance team, ensuring it is efficient and adaptable to evolving business needs.
• Manage, motivate, and lead the Hong Kong local finance team to achieve the Finance objectives.
• Supervise and develop team members through on-the-job coaching, regular feedback, performance management, and career development discussions. Conduct appraisals and manage recruitment for the team.

Additional Job Description

Character

• Diplomatic with excellent communication and influencing skills
• Customer orientated attitude essential
• Strong leadership
• A team player and committed to provide quality performance
• Ability to deal with details and willing to be hands-on
• Able to work independently with minimum supervision
• High degree of initiative
• Flexible with ability to cope with changing priorities
• Remains calm under pressure
• Culturally sensitive and experienced in dealing with overseas offices

Education and Practical experience

• Degree in Accounting or related major.
• Formal professional qualification: CPA, ACCA or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing a sizeable team
• Experience of working directly with senior management in a commercial organization.
• Professional firm (law, accounting, consulting) experience is preferred

Technology / Office skills

• Solid Excel skills
• Proficient in use of PowerPoint
• General office systems
• SAP knowledge

Commercial Skills

• Ready to change and push for change
• Ability to manage conflict
• Ability to identify potential commercial issues

Language

• Fluent in English, strong verbal and writing skills
• Fluency in Cantonese and/or Mandarin will be advantageous

Technical Skills:

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.