Finance Systems Analyst - Graduate

Role summary/purpose of job

Working within the systems area of the finance support department. You will be part of a team providing technical support to all of the global and UK-based finance support IT systems.

The team’s main focus is the firm’s practice management system (PMS), related fee earner tools and reporting systems for which it operates a helpdesk supporting a mixture of back office operational users through to fee earners on a worldwide basis, offering advice, support and solutions to queries.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• Provide support to a variety of user issues via email, visit or phone call, providing solutions and escalating where required in order to provide an effective and intelligent helpdesk facility, delivering high service levels at all times.

• Administer the call logging and change control system and ensure that knowledge is documented and spread amongst the team

• Keeping users up to date with progress on their calls and change requests.

• Offer guidance to users on how to use the finance systems and escalating complex queries to the rest of the team. 

• Work with both finance systems and IT teams to share information and advice on finance systems.

• Assist in working with external software providers for the finance systems, documenting and implementing fixes as appropriate.

• Help resolve system issues quickly, working with other support teams and continuously improving our knowledge base with new information.

• Support the rollout of new systems updates, features and overall systems changes from a finance perspective.

• Collaborate with development teams and external partners, providing feedback on issues found through testing and helping to coordinate their resolution.

• Participate in the building and releasing of new systems features with the development teams.

• Monitoring the reporting systems.

• Generating non-standard General Ledger and Sub-Ledger reports to users upon request.

• Involvement in other related projects that the wider team are undertaking.

Key requirements

• Essential Academic & Foundational Skills:

  • A recently completed degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant field such as Computing, Mathematics, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.

• Financial skills:

  • Ability to quickly learn and apply financial terminology and concepts.

  • A foundational understanding of finance function processes and revenue recording.

• Systems skills including;

  • Extremely Computer literate

  • A strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including functions like pivot tables, VLOOKUPs).

• Task Management & Presentation Skills

  • Self-motivated with a proactive approach and desire to learn and drive tasks to completion.

  • Enthusiastic and focused.

  • Ability to prioritise and work effectively under pressure.

  • Ability to multi task and contribute to multiple projects effectively.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills , with a willingness to develop confidence in dealing with diverse stakeholders.

  • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

  • A flexible attitude to tasks and to clients.

  • Strong numerical skills.

  • Positive can-do attitude.

  • Team player – reliable, flexible and willing to help.

Desirable

• Some knowledge of SQL or other coding language.

• Familiarity with MS Power Apps and AI tools.

• Accounting training or qualification is advantageous.

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.