Forvis Mazars in Ireland is a leading professional services firm with ambitious growth plans and over 1000 staff based in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick. We are an integral part of Forvis Mazars Group, an internationally integrated partnership with over 40,000 professionals operating in over 100 countries and territories around the world. Our strategic framework drives positive and meaningful impact for our people, the environment and local communities while delivering unmatched client experience to our clients.Our people are ambassadors and leaders and have a bold entrepreneurial spirit to shape the future of our industry and the communities within which we serve. We empower and develop our teams to become professionals of the highest calibre in technical and client excellence. Our people first approach offers our teams a caring work environment which promotes belonging and inclusivity of all cultures and perspectives.The PositionThe Lock‑Up Manager will have end‑to‑end ownership of the firm’s lock‑up performance, including WIP, billing, debtors, and overall cash conversion. This is a strategic role, responsible for driving behavioural change across partners, improving billing discipline, accelerating cash collection, and embedding robust lock‑up governance across a €100m professional services firm. The role combines hands‑on operational control, partner‑facing influence, data‑driven insight, and continuous process improvement, with clear accountability for delivering tangible reductions in lock‑up days and improvements in cash flow.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn and lead the firm‑wide lock‑up strategy, covering WIP, billing, debtors, and unbilled timeDefine and embed clear lock‑up policies, targets, and accountabilities at partner, service line, and firm levelEnsure consistency of lock‑up management across all divisions (Audit, Tax, Consulting, Outsourcing and Financial Advisory)Lead the active management of WIP ageing, recovery rates, write‑ups/write‑downs, and billing timelinessDrive on‑time billing discipline, ensuring billing occurs promptly once milestones are achievedPartner with Engagement Partners to resolve aged or stalled WIP, including scope issues, pricing disputes or client delaysEnsure robust forecasting of WIP conversion to billing and cashDebtors & Cash CollectionOversee debtor performance, including aged debt analysis, recovery rates and risk exposureWork closely with Credit Control to unblock cash collection issues, escalating appropriately to Partners and Heads of Service LinesSupport the development of partner‑led debtor action plans for significant or high‑risk balancesEnsure clear accountability for debts, with transparent reporting and escalation protocolsPartner & Senior Stakeholder EngagementAct as a trusted advisor to Partners on lock‑up, pricing discipline, billing behaviour, and client payment challengesChallenge constructively but firmly where lock‑up performance is not meeting expectationsPresent concise, data‑driven lock‑up dashboards and commentary to the CFO and Partner groupLead lock‑up discussions in partner meetings, service line reviews, and performance forumsReporting, MI & AnalyticsProduce high‑quality monthly lock‑up reporting, including aged WIP and debtRecovery rates and write‑offsPartner and service line performanceProvide trend analysis and forward‑looking insight, not just retrospective reportingLeverage systems and data to improve accuracy, transparency and timeliness of lock‑up MIProcess Improvement & SystemsIdentify and implement process improvements across time recording, billing and cash collectionWork closely with Finance and IT to optimise practice management systems, workflows and controlsSupport change initiatives linked to growth, integration of new service lines or system upgradesEnsure controls are scalable and appropriate for a €100m firmLeadership & Team DevelopmentLead, mentor and develop lock‑up / WIP / billing / credit control specialists within the finance functionEmbed a high‑performance, commercially focused culture within the teamAct as a role model for professionalism, accountability and continuous improvementThe role will be measured against clear, outcome‑based KPIs, including but not limited to:Improvement in billing timelinessImprovement in debtor ageing and recovery ratesReduction in write‑offs and write‑downsQuality and timeliness of partner‑level MIIdeal Candidate10+ years’ experience in finance within a professional services accountancy or legal firmDemonstrable senior‑level experience managing lock‑up, WIP, billing, and debtors at scaleProven track record of driving behavioural change with Partners in a partnership environmentStrong commercial acumen and deep understanding of professional services economicsExperience working in large, complex organisations (c. €50m+ turnover)Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, particularly at Partner levelStrong analytical mindset with the ability to turn data into clear commercial insightAbility to challenge constructively while maintaining strong relationshipsProactive and solution‑focused, with a strong sense of ownershipHighly organised, resilient, and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced professional environmentStrong leadership capability with experience managing and developing teamsExposure to multi‑service line or multi‑office organisationsExperience supporting system implementations or significant process changeDon’t wait. Act.Please Note: Forvis Mazars is an Equal Opportunities Employer. In applying for a role with us, you consent that Forvis Mazars will process your personal data for the purpose of handling your application. Forvis Mazars endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, at times when we do need to engage with agencies, Forvis Mazars operates within a preferred supplier list (PSL) and only work and partner with recruitment suppliers where our agreed contractual terms are in place. If unsolicited CVs are received from agencies, we will not be liable for payment of introduction fees. Thank you for your co-operation.
#J-18808-Ljbffr