Vicky Powell
Liverpool
Summary
Accomplished professional with strong team leadership experience and expertise in finance management. Proficient in IT skills, including Microsoft Office and Excel. Demonstrates efficient time management and exceptional internal and external communication . Skilled in account reconciliation, reporting, documentation, and management accounting.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Finance Manager
Ryans Solicitors
Liverpool
2024.05 - Current
- Collaborate closely with auditors and external accountants.
- Prepare regular cash flow forecasts.
- Managed timely and accurate reporting of various financial transactions and information for detailed analysis.
- Providing detailed information to funders/investors.
- Continued support for the Finance Team and Directors.
- Streamlined financial procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Liaised between finance department and other departments.
- Reviewed bookkeeping and management accounts to achieve clear and correct reports.
- Applied advanced Excel skills to efficiently analyse large data sets.
- Preparation of Monthly Management Accounts (WIP Report, Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, Executive Summary) for Directors and external agencies.
- Completion of Accounts to Trial Balance.
- Daily Bank Reconciliations.
- VAT Returns.
- Provide support to the Accounts Team and monitoring workloads.
- Legal Cashiering Duties.
Finance Manager/Temp HR Manager
High Street Solicitors
Liverpool
2017.01 - 2023.06
- Legal Cashiering duties when required to support the team.
- Update Directors each day as to the financial position.
- Line Manager Responsibilities to HR, Finance, Marketing Departments.
- Progressions Plans
- Targets
- Managed recruitment, onboarding processes and disciplinary procedures.
- Forecasts/Costings for Departments
- Providing detailed information to funders/investors
- Continued support for the Finance Team and Directors.
- Managed a team of junior finance professionals, promoting professional development.
- Preparation of Monthly Management Accounts (WIP Report, Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, Executive Summary) for Directors and external agencies.
- Completion of Accounts to Trial Balance.
- VAT Returns.
- Provide support to the Accounts Team and monitoring workloads.
- Legal Cashiering Duties (detailed below).
- Creating as well as authorising payments via Online Banking.
- Manage recruitment of all level positions.
- Onboarding new starters, updating HR System.
- Payroll administration
Senior Legal Cashier
High Street Solicitors
Liverpool
2008.01 - 2017.01
- Daily Bank Reconciliations for all Accounts.
- Allocation of monies received to correct department/fee earner
- Preparation of relevant invoices/raise disbursement requests
- Create fee earner tasks and update the Case Management System which includes the file opening procedure on the Accounts System.
- Client to Office Transfers/Deposit Account transfers.
- Preparation of cheques for signature and dealing with unpresented/cancelled cheques.
- Daily Banking.
- Review of Client Account Balances.
- Review of Aged Office Account disbursement balances reviewed with fee earners.
- Nominal expenses, standing orders, direct debits posted on to the correct nominal for month end process.
- Purchase Ledger Maintenance and reconciliation of supplier statements.
- Daily update to Directors and preparation of monthly fee earner/department income cost breakdown.
- VAT Returns.
- Month and Year End Procedures.
- Maintaining Breach Register.
- Liaising with external accountants for year end and SAR audit report.
Legal Cashier
Kennan Benjamin Kay Solicitors
Bootle
2001.01 - 2008.01
- Client Account/Office Account and Petty Cash Reconciliations daily.
- Issuing cheques, as well as dealing with cancelled/unpresented cheques, allocation of monies received electronically (CHAPS/BACS, Credit Card Machine).
- Online Banking with HSBCnet – setting up and authorising various payments.
- Maintenance of purchase ledger.
- Checking completion statements and Estate Accounts for errors.
- VAT Returns.
- Nominal Account Maintenance.
- Allocating Legal Aid payments and preparation of the month end Legal Aid Submissions.
- Ensure consistently high standards of presentation and service are maintained for the department
- Liaising with external accountants for year end and SAR audit report.
- Office Manager duties as and when required.
Legal Secretary to Senior Partner
Kennan Benjamin Kay Solicitors
Bootle
1996.01 - 2002.01
- Working in Personal Injury and Family Law Department.
- Transcribing dictation.
- Screen and directing income calls.
- Preparing various documents on a Case Management System - letters to Clients, Court Documents, Particulars of Claim and organising Trial Bundles.
- Scheduling meetings and appointments with clients, Counsel, external medical agencies.
- Liaising with external cost draftsman company in relation to bills.
- Dealing with queries from Client’s/Defendants.
- Statement preparation.
- Dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
- Maintaining files.
Education
AAT Foundation - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
Liverpool 2001.09 - 2002.05
AAT Technician - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
Liverpool 2003.09 - 2005.05
AAT Intermediate - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
Liverpool 2002.09 - 2003.05
NVQ Administration - Administration
OCR
Liverpool 1998.01 - 1998.01
GNVQ Business Intermediate - Distinction
City & Guilds
Liverpool 1995.09 - 1996.06
GCSE’s - A-C *8
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Liverpool 1990.09 - 1995.05
Skills
- Strong team leadership experience
- Finance Management
- IT skills including Microsoft Office, Proclaim
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
- Efficient time management
- Customer Service
- Account reconciliation
- Reporting and documentation
- Management accounting
References
References available upon request.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING INFORMATION
- June 2004 Law Society Solicitor Account Rules (1/2 day course)
- 18th May 2004 The Anti-Money Laundering Provisions (1 day course)
- 31st March 2008 Money Laundering Training update.
- 12th November 2014 Conference for Legal Finance Professionals.
- 30th November 2017 MBL Seminars/Joanna Hall – COFA Update
- 30th November 2017 MBL Seminars/Joanna Hall – SARS & AML Update
- Company in house training SAR updates with Joanna Hall
Timeline
Finance Manager
Ryans Solicitors
2024.05 - Current
Finance Manager/Temp HR Manager
High Street Solicitors
2017.01 - 2023.06
Senior Legal Cashier
High Street Solicitors
2008.01 - 2017.01
AAT Technician - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
2003.09 - 2005.05
AAT Intermediate - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
2002.09 - 2003.05
AAT Foundation - Association of Accounting Technicians
Hugh Baird College
2001.09 - 2002.05
Legal Cashier
Kennan Benjamin Kay Solicitors
2001.01 - 2008.01
NVQ Administration - Administration
OCR
1998.01 - 1998.01
Legal Secretary to Senior Partner
Kennan Benjamin Kay Solicitors
1996.01 - 2002.01
GNVQ Business Intermediate - Distinction
City & Guilds
1995.09 - 1996.06
GCSE’s - A-C *8
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
1990.09 - 1995.05