Legal Finance Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Finance Officer to play a vital role in providing support at our Advice Services.

Position: Legal Finance Officer
Location: Brighton (hybrid working arrangements available)
Salary: £35,340 per annum, pro rata (£22,923) (Salary award pending from 1st April 2026)
Hours: 24 hours per week (work pattern to be agreed with the successful candidate)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Wednesday 15th April 2026 at 23:59
Interview Date: Wednesday 29th April

About:

As a Legal Finance Officer, you will be working for a people-led organisation whose mission and values is to inspire change across Sussex.

About Advice Services:

The BHT Sussex Advice Services provide specialist legal advice in the areas of Housing, Immigration and Asylum, Welfare Benefits and Debt. The services are funded by the Legal Aid Agency, grant funding from Local Councils and Macmillan Cancer Support. Our services are delivered by Solicitors and specialist caseworkers. We work with most vulnerable and excluded clients. We have offices in Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton.

About the Role:

The Legal Finance Officer role involves managing the day-to-day financial transactions of the Advice Services, focusing on strict compliance with legal regulatory standards (such as Solicitors Regulatory Authority and Law Society Rules).

The Legal Finance Officer will undertake the accurate and timely billing of certificated cases in conjunction with the solicitors, the billing coordinator, the costs draftsman and counsel chambers.

Key Responsibilities:

· Client Account Management: recording, transferring and managing funds, adhering to strict regulatory requirements.

· Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring all transactions comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR) and other regulatory requirements.

· Banking and reconciliations: Perform regular weekly reconciliation of client and office bank accounts.

· Billing & Invoicing: Manage the full billing lifecycle, including drafting invoices, processing disbursements, and ensuring full cost recovery. Ensure all financial bills and invoices comply with the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) requirements, VAT regulations and SRA account rules. Post all transactions onto the Legal Services casework system.

· Communicate with BHT Sussex central finance team: detailing of payments received from the Legal Aid Agency and inter-partes costs.

Person Specification:

To be successful in the role of Legal Finance Officer you will need to have great communication skills and be committed to the values of BHT Sussex. Some of the key skills and experience you will need to bring with you include:

· Qualifications from the institute of Legal Finance & Management are highly desirable, however relevant experience will be considered.

· Strong understanding of Solicitors’ Accounts Rules.

· Knowledge of how to maintain client and office accounts.

· Strong IT skills to use a range of computerised case management systems, including LAA systems and internal case management systems.

· Numerate and methodical with excellent attention to detail.

In return:

In recognition of our commitment to staff, BHT Sussex has been awarded Gold Accreditation from Investors in People. We are also signed up to the Disability Confident employer scheme and have made the Mental Health at Work commitment.

You will also receive a fantastic benefits package including:

· 5.5% stakeholder pension scheme and life assurance scheme

· Medical cash plan

· Access to BHT Sussex’s Learning & Development platform

· Free and confidential employee assistance helpline for both personal and work-related concerns

· Cycle-to-work scheme

· Free new starter 28-day Network Saver Brighton bus pass

· Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days per annum pro rata, rising 1 day for each year of service to a maximum of 32 days pro rata

· The opportunity to participate in well-being and fundraising activities throughout the year

BHT Sussex is an equal opportunities employer using a fair and open recruitment process that fully complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to encouraging equality, equity, inclusion, and diversity within the workplace. As an employer we are committed to promoting and supporting our people’s social, physical and psychological health at work. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or reasonable adjustments if called for interview. BHT Sussex welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience.

BHT Sussex reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applicants for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.