Working Capital Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for a Working Capital Manager to join our Finance team, based in A&O Shearman’s Belfast Office.

The Working Capital Manager plays a pivotal role in supporting the Senior Working Capital Manager to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across the firm’s working capital function. The Working Capital Manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations-spanning billing, cash allocation and collections - ensuring timely execution and adherence to best-in-class standards. Leading a high-performing team of 15–20 professionals, including two direct reports, this role fosters a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and accountability.

Leadership & People Development

• Provide visionary leadership to a high-performing Working Capital team, fostering excellence and continuous growth.
• Communicate a compelling vision and shared purpose that motivates the team to deliver outstanding results aligned with the firm’s strategic objectives.
• Cultivate an inclusive, high-performance culture where individuals feel empowered, heard, trusted, accountable for their contributions, sense of belonging and equipped to excel.
• Lead by example with strong self-awareness-embracing personal development and modelling a commitment to continuous learning.
• Actively coach and mentor team members, promoting innovation, ownership, and professional growth.

Operational Excellence & Strategic Support

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Working Capital Manager to implement initiatives that strengthen cash flow, improve operational efficiency, and enhance overall performance.
• Support the execution of the strategic roadmap for working capital transformation, aligning with firm-wide objectives.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Contribution

• Identify and drive opportunities for automation, standardisation, and process optimisation across systems and workflows.
• Contribute to projects that promote innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate agility in adapting to change, applying sound judgment and proactive problem-solving to evolving business needs.

Process Improvement, KPI’s & Quality Assurance

• Champion technology enablement and process enhancements to streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and deliver measurable results.
• Define, track, and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress, inform decision-making, and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality outputs that meet or exceed internal and client expectations, while maintaining full compliance with firm policies and standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong relationships with global stakeholders, including Partners, Finance Business Partners, and client teams.
• Communicate with clarity and confidence, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Collaborate across global finance functions to share best practices and deliver a seamless working capital strategy.

• Proven experience leading large, high-performing finance or working capital teams in a professional services or complex business environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and align teams around a shared vision.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build trust and influence across global stakeholder groups.
• Commercially astute, with strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement capabilities.
• High degree of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and integrity.
• Commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and developing others.
• Experience with legal or professional services working capital processes (billing, WIP, collections) is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with financial systems and data tools; able to interpret and leverage data for decision-making and insight generation.

Personal Attributes

• Visionary leader who inspires and unites people behind a common purpose.
• Self-aware, open to feedback, and committed to personal and professional growth.
• Empowers others through trust, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Collaborative and inclusive, fostering strong global relationships and cross-functional cooperation.
• Flexible, resilient, and solutions-oriented - able to navigate complexity and change with confidence.
• Passionate about excellence, innovation, and delivering meaningful impact.