Commercial Finance Manager
Department: CSG - Business Operations (Audit / Risk / Client Account Management / Finance / People / Procurement / Property and Facilities / Sales and BD / IT)
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Remote - England and Wales
Description
We have an exciting opportunity to join DACB CSG as a Commercial Finance Manager who will play a central role in enhancing the financial and commercial performance of the firm. Working closely with Heads of Products and Operations, the role oversees pricing, client profitability, commercial governance and panel bids. The Commercial Manager enables the Executive to make well informed commercial decisions that support sustainable revenue growth, operational efficiency, and long term client relationships.
What you will do? Pricing & Financial Performance
- Lead development of pricing strategies across matters, panels, retainer arrangements, and alternative fee structures (AFAs).
- Support Client Account Managers and Product Heads in fee negotiations, ensuring proposals balance client value and firm profitability.
- Produce and interpret profitability analyses at matter, client, sector, and product level.
Bid, Panel & Proposal Management
- Manage commercial elements of major tenders, pitches, RFPs, and re tenders for panel appointments.
- Work alongside BD, Finance, and Partners to prepare pricing models, fee proposals, and commercial narratives.
- Review and negotiate commercial terms including billing arrangements, rate caps, and disbursement rules.
Contracting & Commercial Governance
- Oversee contract reviews for rate structures, and commercial risk clauses.
- Advise on commercial risk relating to fixed fees, AFAs, volume discounts, and service credit mechanisms.
- Implement commercial policies and frameworks to strengthen consistency and control across the firm.
- Support matter inception governance, including pricing sign offs and profitability approvals.
Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering
- Act as a commercial adviser to Partners, Product Heads, and Client Account Managers.
- Provide training, coaching, and commercial insight to fee earners on pricing, negotiation, and client profitability.
- Present commercial dashboards and recommendations to senior leadership and management committees.
- Support Client Account Managers with strategic account planning and value improvement initiatives.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Enhance quality and accuracy of commercial data across practice systems (CRM, time recording, PMS).
- Work with Finance and IT to develop improved matter planning, budgeting, and performance tools.
- Drive adoption of legal project management techniques and cost to serve analysis.
- Identify opportunities to automate commercial reporting and streamline bid/pricing processes.
Who you are Essential
- Experience as a Commercial Manager, Pricing Manager, or Senior Commercial Analyst within a law firm or wider legal services provider.
- Strong understanding of legal pricing models, rate structures, AFAs, and panel requirements.
- Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders in a partnership environment.
- Excellent financial modelling skills and advanced Excel capability.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance client value and profitability.
- Ability to interpret complex financial information and translate it into actionable insights.
Desirable
- Experience using legal practice systems (e.g., Elite 3E, Aderant, Intapp, Peppermint, iManage, BigHand).
- Knowledge of legal market procurement processes and panel frameworks.
- Familiarity with legal project management or matter budgeting.
- Professional qualifications (CIMA, ACCA, MBA, or similar).
- Understanding of contract law and commercial risk in professional services agreements.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially minded with strong analytical and strategic thinking
- Confident communicator who can challenge and influence Partners
- Highly organised, detail oriented, and able to manage competing priorities
- Client centric approach with an understanding of professional service dynamics
- Proactive and solutions focused, with strong problem solving skills
- Comfortable working in a fast paced, partnership driven environment
What`s in it for you?
- High levels of flexibility and a great work life balance
- A well rounded remuneration package (which includes private medical insurance, income protection insurance and discounted gym membership, amongst many other benefits)
- Opportunities for growth and progression including professional funding
- In person and remote social events
- Opportunity to get involved in a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, which aligns closely to our cultural principles (Determined, Clear, Creative and Supportive). If you are excited about this role and being part of our culture, but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
