Business Partner - Finance

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Business Partner - Finance to join our Finance team in Melbourne office.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor to assigned practice group leaders to assist in driving commercial outcomes and supporting operational effectiveness.
• Establish strong and collaborative relationships with principals in practice groups to understand their goals, inform decision-making, and embed a commercial mindset through coaching and improving financial literacy.
• Support the upskilling and financial literacy of promotion candidates (focus on SA, SC, FDP and EP).
• Work with Legal Operations to support the implementation of business process improvements that deliver measurable improvements in KPIs, cost efficiency, and client experience.
• Be seen as the ‘go to’ person for the Practice Groups supported, knowing the numbers inside and out and being the first point of contact.
• Work closely with corresponding Business Partners in other Business Service teams.Work closely with Finance colleagues on matters that impact PG and overall firm (e.g. lockup management, partner accounting input).

Reporting and Analysis

• Translate financial data into actionable insights aligned with strategic objectives.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and insightful financial analysis and reporting to support senior management decisions of both revenue and expenses and applicable variance analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve management reporting frameworks, including Excel models and business intelligence (BI) tools such as Power BI.
• Work with business leaders to tailor and embed relevant leading and lagging indicators.
• Develop financial models to support business cases, scenario planning, and strategic initiatives.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead and support planning processes for PGs, including the development of annual budgets, forecasts, and long-range planning for designated Practice Groups.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure budgets are strategically aligned and based on clear assumptions and drivers.
• Develop and maintain detailed, driver-based financial models to support forecast accuracy and scenario planning, working closely with P&C Business Partners for headcount information and movements.

Team and Culture

• Contribute to a collaborative team culture, sharing knowledge and supporting the growth and capability of the finance team, supported Practice Groups and the other PG Business Partners.
• Role model a service excellence and continuous improvement mindset, supporting a one-firm approach to ways of working.
• Support the integrity of financial controls and the consistency of financial processes across the business.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and constructive feedback to peers and broader finance team members.

Other

• Perform other duties as reasonably required.
• Maintains cyber security at all times. Cultivate an awareness of security risks, stay informed of latest cyber threats, instil best cybersecurity practises and take practical steps to protect the firm and client from cyberattacks.

Area of specialisation

Focus: Project & Process Improvement Accounting, Reporting Expertise, Firmwide Systems

Project Accounting & Strategic Business Support

• Provide proactive financial support to the Director of Finance and COO for strategic projects and firm-wide initiatives, including business case modelling, benefit tracking, scenario analysis, and return-on-investment calculations.
• Act as the Finance lead for project accounting across major initiatives – partnering with project sponsors and managers to develop, validate, and track costs and benefits over time.
• Identify and record expected and actual benefits from process improvements and reporting enhancements, ensuring these are tracked and communicated transparently.
• Maintain robust documentation and audit trails for expected vs actual project outcomes, and ensure financial insights are embedded in project governance and post-implementation reviews.
• Develop financial models and tools to support agile decision-making across a wide range of business transformation, technology, and operational projects.
• Offer flexible, responsive support for ad hoc strategic requests, working across departments to provide clear financial insight in time-sensitive or ambiguous contexts.
• Represent Finance in project working groups and governance forums, ensuring commercial considerations and financial risks are understood and managed.

Firmwide Systems, Technology & Legal Operations Process Improvement

• Lead finance engagement in the successful delivery of firm-wide systems and process change,
• Ensure finance requirements are understood and incorporated into system design and implementation roadmaps.
• Provide structured input on financial controls, reporting outputs, and end-user experience during system configuration, testing, and rollout phases.
• Support change management activities by providing clear communication and training on new tools and processes, particularly in relation to financial reporting, budgeting, and cost visibility.
• Collaborate with IT and project teams to develop future-state reporting capability, ensuring alignment between business needs, system functionality, and financial governance.

Ad-Hoc Analysis & Executive Support

• Respond to requests from the COO and Director of Finance for ad hoc financial modelling, scenario analysis, and strategic business cases.
• Provide flexible, responsive support for cross-functional initiatives, business cases, or firm-wide projects as required.

Skills/Knowledge

• CA or CPA qualified (preferred)
• Tertiary studies in accounting, finance, business, economics or related domain
• Excellent MS Excel skills with, overall strong computer literacy skills, including the full MS Office suite
• Experience of business intelligence tools (preferably PowerBI)
• Experience in Budgeting/Forecasting/Planning tools (COGNOS, TM1, Jedox or similar)
• Experience in a business partner role, with strong commercial judgement

Experience

• 5+ years' experience as a Financial Accountant
• 5+ years' experience as a Management Account, Commercial Manager, FP&A Manager or Finance Business Partner

Further Information
Any questions regarding the vacancy can be directed to Rhoda Siu on (03) 9609 6737 or rsiu@rk.com.au. For further information or to submit your application for this position please visit the careers page on our website. Please note any offer of employment made by Russell Kennedy Lawyers to the successful candidate will be subject to a police check. We are currently accepting applications from direct applicants only. No agency referrals will be accepted at this stage.

Our Firm and Culture

Russell Kennedy is a commercial law firm with more than 340 people in Melbourne and Sydney. We are committed to providing exceptional legal strategies and solutions to our clients, guided by market-leading expertise across our key sectors of focus.

As part of our team, you’ll receive hands-on experience, quality mentoring and access to valuable learning opportunities. We encourage a professional and committed work ethic, while recognising the importance of an enjoyable working environment and balanced lifestyle. We believe we have a culture where individuals of all backgrounds and abilities feel included and confident in bringing their whole selves to work, and where your talents are fostered, empowering you to contribute to the success of the firm.

Russell Kennedy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is certified as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, as well as being certified as a gold employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for employers with 500 or less employees. We respect and celebrate the things that make each of us different. The firm supports and promotes a range of initiatives to create an environment that is characterised by equal access and respected participation of all groups and individuals. There is a particular focus and emphasis on gender equality, inclusion of First Nations peoples, accessibility for people with disability, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural diversity. Russell Kennedy is recognised by Australian Disability Network as a Disability Confident Recruiter employer.

Russell Kennedy is committed to attracting and retaining the best talent available. We acknowledge the importance of work-life balance, all current and prospective employees have access to flexible work options and workplace adjustments including alternate accessible formats, where required. If you require an adjustment during the recruitment process please contact Leanda Nissen on 03 9609 1523 or lnissen@rk.com.au.

Russell Kennedy Lawyers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and work. Our offices are situated on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Gadigal peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, to their emerging leaders and to the resilience, creativity and vitality of their cultures including their laws and systems of governance.