Assistant Manager -Pricing and Commercial Insights (Law Firm)

An exciting pricing opportunity has arisen at one of the worlds Leading Law Firms. This team supports the leadership and wider stakeholder groups by looking at ways to improve firm profitability, competitiveness and value for clients through financial leadership, timely insights and initiatives designed to improve commercial confidence and decision-making.

The Team

Part of EMEA Group Finance and working very closely with the Chief Operating Officer, the Commercial Finance function encompasses Client Financial Decision Support (which includes the Pricing and Commercial Insights team), Finance Business Partnering and Analysis, and Finance Business Information and Reporting. Commercial Finance supports the leadership and wider stakeholder groups by looking at ways to improve firm profitability, competitiveness and value for clients through financial leadership, timely insights and initiatives designed to improve commercial confidence and decision-making.

The Role

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who wishes to be part of a progressive, proactive and customer-centric team. You will be an enthusiastic pricing professional, who utilises strong communication and soft skills to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders alike.

The Assistant Manager, Pricing and Commercial Insights will be a trusted advisor to the partnership and provide proactive support on the execution of the client financial decision support agenda, ensuring the firm is able to achieve its strategic objectives

Key Responsibilities

• Partnering with Business Development and Client Relationship Partners to provide financial leadership relating to clients in various key client account programmes
• Responding to business requests for pricing guidance, modelling the financial impact and viability of proposed pricing arrangements and challenging key decision makers when appropriate. The Assistant Manager should also proactively identify opportunities for the PCI team to provide strategic pricing and commercial support to the partnership
• Acting as trusted advisor to the partnership to drive improved client and matter performance by looking at ways to maximise the value of relationships through different pricing techniques and provision of commercial analysis and insight. Building a strong internal network to develop and maintain deep relationships with key partners
• Assist Partners in the development of fee budgets and monitoring against actual performance for matters (particularly for key Alternative Fee Arrangements), acting as an advocate and agent for adopting effective legal project management discipline where necessary
• Supporting the management of the Profitability Support Panel by preparing business cases for the submission of pricing proposals, and also preparing and presenting information for quarterly meetings as required
• Participation in the annual review of standard rates to ensure profitability maximisation with appropriate consideration of practice mix and market realities as well as compensation and other costs
• Supporting the team's promotional efforts including presentations to key stakeholders to increase internal adoption and market awareness. Encourage broader and better use of the Firm’s tools to develop more profitable and consistent pricing approaches
• Support the provision of education to stakeholders involved in pricing proposals and approvals, advancing pricing as a strategic tool to build and enhance client relationships.
• Providing support on commercial improvement projects across EMEA, collaborating with other colleagues across Finance and Business Services when and as required
• Ensuring strong working relationships with other support functions, in particular Business Development leads to establish, promote and maintain policies and processes required for effective management of pricing for transactions, bids and panel appointments.
• Support in the development and maintenance of pricing models and tools for legal services and monitor profitability and implementation of those models

Skills and Experience Required

• Educated to degree level
• Relevant pricing and commercial experience within a professional services business or a B2B environment
• Finance Business Partnering experience with senior stakeholders. Excellent soft skills including the ability to influence stakeholders and negotiate desired outcomes
• Advanced MS Office suite user (particularly Excel). Demonstrable experience of manipulating and working with large and complex volumes of data
• Good commercial acumen and exceptional analysis and financial modelling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and has strength of personality to ensure the perspective of Finance is clearly communicated
• Excellent time management skills, able to manage stakeholders during times of conflicting deliverables. The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
• A collaborative team player who is transparent and has a straightforward approach. Experience of working with varied and cross-functional teams to deliver on business objectives.
• Hardworking, dedicated and an ambition to grow professionally