Employment Lawyer (Director/Partner Level)

Location: Manchester

Salary: £90,000 to £120,000 plus bonus and benefits

Experience: Senior hire (Director/Partner level)

If you are an experienced Employment Lawyer looking for a senior role with real influence, this is an opportunity to take a lead position in Manchester and play a central part in building and growing an employment offering.

Our client is looking to appoint a Director or Partner level Employment Lawyer into its Manchester office. This is a key hire for someone who can combine high-quality technical delivery with team leadership and business development, helping to shape the department’s direction and expand its client base.

You will take ownership of a varied employment caseload (contentious and non-contentious) and act as a trusted adviser to businesses and individuals. Alongside fee earning, you will be responsible for developing the team in Manchester, strengthening internal referrals across the firm, and building a sustainable pipeline of work through networking and profile-building.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the employment law offering from the Manchester office, with a focus on growth and team development

• Advising employers and employees on a broad range of employment law and HR issues

• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, policies and related documentation

• Advising on grievance, disciplinary and redundancy processes

• Handling discrimination matters, whistleblowing issues and wider workplace disputes

• Managing Employment Tribunal claims from start to finish, including pre-claim negotiations and settlement agreements

• Supporting the Corporate team and other departments on employment aspects of transactions and advisory work

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and delivering clear, practical advice

• Driving business development through networking, seminars, relationship building and developing new work sources

• Supervising, mentoring and developing junior lawyers and support staff, and setting high standards of service delivery

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with significant experience in employment law (contentious and non-contentious)

• Proven ability to win work and develop client relationships (an established following is advantageous)

• Strong leadership capability, with experience mentoring and developing others

• Commercially minded, with excellent judgement and a practical approach to risk

• Strong communication and presentation skills, comfortable representing the team externally

• Organised and resilient, able to manage competing priorities and deadlines

What’s On Offer

• Senior role with genuine scope to build and shape a team in Manchester

• Competitive salary of £90,000 to £120,000 plus bonus and benefits

• Hybrid working (mix of office and home working)

• Full-time preferred, with part-time considered

• Clear progression and the opportunity to play a leading role within the wider firm

Working Arrangements

Monday to Friday. Full-time preferred, with part-time considered. Hybrid working is available.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.

Employment Lawyer

Location: Manchester

Salary: £55,000 to £75,000 plus bonus and benefits

Experience: 4 to 7 years’ PQE

If you are an Employment Lawyer who enjoys a true mix of contentious and non-contentious work, values autonomy, and wants to play a visible role in growing a department, this is a great opportunity to join a well-established Manchester firm.

Our client is looking to recruit an experienced Employment Lawyer into its Manchester team. You will handle a varied workload acting for both employers and employees, with the chance to build long-term client relationships, contribute to business development, and support the wider firm on employment and HR issues.

This is a client-facing role with real scope. You will advise across day-to-day HR matters and more complex disputes, and you will be encouraged to help grow the practice through networking, seminars and developing new work sources. An established client following is advantageous.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising employers and employees on a broad range of employment law and HR issues

• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, policies and related documentation

• Advising on grievance, disciplinary and redundancy processes

• Handling discrimination matters, whistleblowing issues and wider workplace disputes

• Managing Employment Tribunal claims from start to finish, including pre-claim negotiations and settlement agreements

• Supporting the Corporate team and other departments on employment aspects of transactions and advisory work

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and delivering clear, practical advice

• Contributing to business development through networking, seminars and relationship building

• Supervising and mentoring trainees and/or paralegals where appropriate

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with 4 to 7 years’ PQE (or equivalent experience) in employment law

• Strong experience across contentious and non-contentious employment matters

• Confident managing a varied caseload and working to deadlines

• Commercially minded with strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team

• A track record of maintaining high compliance standards

• Interest in business development and growing client relationships (a following is a plus)

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Bonus and benefits

• Hybrid working (mix of office and home working)

• Full-time preferred, with part-time considered

• Fantastic progression opportunities

• Friendly, supportive team environment

Working Arrangements

Monday to Friday. Full-time preferred, with part-time considered. Hybrid working is available.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.

Senior Accountant

Location: Manchester city centre
Salary: £38,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Sector: Accountancy Practice
Experience: Recent UK Accountancy Practice experience required

The Opportunity

A progressive and growing Manchester Accountancy Practice is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join its client-focused team.

This opportunity would suit an Accountant who enjoys working closely with owner-managed businesses and ambitious entrepreneurs, rather than simply completing year-end compliance work. The successful candidate will manage a varied client portfolio, prepare and review accounts, support junior colleagues and help clients understand their financial information.

The practice takes a relationship-led approach, combining statutory compliance with commercial advice, cloud accounting and wider business-growth support. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team with direct client contact, professional-development opportunities and the scope to take on greater responsibility as the role develops.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Accountant’s responsibilities are expected to include:

• Preparing statutory accounts for limited companies
• Preparing accounts for sole traders and partnerships
• Preparing corporation-tax computations and returns
• Preparing personal tax returns where required
• Producing management accounts and related financial information
• Completing VAT returns
• Supporting clients with bookkeeping and cloud-accounting queries
• Reviewing accounting records and identifying missing or inconsistent information
• Liaising directly with clients to obtain records and resolve queries
• Explaining accounts and financial information clearly to clients
• Managing a portfolio of owner-managed businesses
• Monitoring deadlines and ensuring work is completed accurately and on time
• Supporting and reviewing work completed by junior team members
• Contributing to the development of efficient systems and working practices
• Identifying opportunities where clients may benefit from additional advice or services
• Working closely with Managers and senior colleagues on more complex assignments

The exact balance of responsibilities will depend on the successful candidate’s experience and development objectives.

About You

To be considered for this position, you should have:

• Recent experience working within a UK Accountancy Practice
• Experience preparing year-end statutory accounts
• Experience supporting a portfolio of owner-managed businesses
• Knowledge of corporation tax and personal tax compliance
• Experience preparing management accounts and VAT returns
• Strong client-communication and relationship-management skills
• The ability to manage several assignments and competing deadlines
• Good attention to detail
• A proactive, dependable and collaborative approach
• The confidence to work independently while escalating technical issues appropriately
• An interest in supporting and developing junior colleagues
• A genuine desire to understand clients’ businesses rather than focusing only on compliance

Applicants may be:

• ACA or ACCA qualified
• Newly qualified
• Part-qualified with strong UK Accountancy Practice experience
• Qualified by experience with a strong technical background

Experience using cloud-accounting platforms such as Xero would be advantageous. The practice has an established cloud-accounting offering and a team of Xero-certified advisers.

The Practice

The successful candidate will join an established Manchester practice supporting businesses at different stages of growth.

The wider service offering includes:

• Statutory accounts and compliance
• Business-growth advice
• Cloud accounting
• Xero support
• Management information
• Tax advice
• Payroll
• Corporate finance
• Financial planning and related business support

The practice works closely with growth-focused businesses and places importance on understanding each client’s commercial objectives, not only producing financial statements.

What Is Offered

The package is expected to include:

• Salary of £38,000–£45,000, depending on experience
• Professional and personal-development support
• Training on new systems, technology and technical developments
• Study support where appropriate
• A flexible benefits scheme
• Your birthday as an additional day of leave
• Regular team and social events
• A modern Manchester city-centre working environment
• Direct exposure to ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs
• Opportunities to broaden client-management and advisory experience
• A supportive and collaborative team culture

Career Development

This opportunity offers scope to develop beyond accounts preparation into broader client-management and advisory responsibilities.

Depending on experience and performance, development may include:

• Greater ownership of client relationships
• More complex accounts and advisory work
• Reviewing junior team members’ work
• Coaching and supporting trainees
• Management-accounting and business-growth assignments
• Involvement in process and technology improvements
• Progression towards Client Manager or Manager-level responsibility

How to Apply

To discuss this Senior Accountant opportunity in confidence, please contact:

David Hawthorne-Finch
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com

All applications and enquiries will be treated confidentially. No CV or identifying information will be shared with the prospective employer without prior express written consent.

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

Remote Real Estate Lawyer (Associate)

Location: Remote (with travel to Manchester twice per month)

Salary: £65,000 to £90,000 (dependent on experience)

Experience: 3+ years’ PQE (Transactional Real Estate)

If you’re a transactional Real Estate lawyer who enjoys asset management and investment work, likes running matters end to end, and wants the flexibility of a primarily home-based role, this is a strong opportunity to join a top-tier team while working closely with one major client.

This role is part of a structured delivery model where you’ll act as a dedicated resource for a designated client. You’ll build deep sector knowledge, develop trusted relationships, and deliver high-quality work with the support, training and career development you’d expect from a leading national real estate practice.

You’ll focus on lettings and property management work, supported by a wider client account team and modern legal tech. The role offers increased certainty and flexibility in hours, with travel to the Manchester office at least twice per month (to be agreed depending on experience). There will also be additional attendance initially for training, and occasional visits to other offices to meet the client.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as a dedicated legal resource for a key client within a structured delivery model, supported by the wider team

• Managing your own caseload and working in line with firm policies and processes

• Drafting and negotiating leases and ancillary property documents

• Handling tenant due diligence enquiries and lease management applications

• Supporting due diligence on acquisitions (or new assets to be managed) and disposals (of existing managed assets)

• Overseeing completion processes and maintaining accurate matter status updates

• Managing personal financial responsibilities, including WIP, billing and write-offs

• Supervising and supporting junior lawyers and paralegals to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery

• Building strong relationships with clients and external advisers, acting as a key point of contact

• Working with the wider client account team to share best practice, drive process improvements and maintain consistency of approach

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor (England and Wales) with 3+ years’ PQE (or equivalent) advising on transactional real estate matters

• Ideally experience acting for institutional landlords

• Strong client service mindset with clear communication and relationship-building skills

• Comfortable managing high-volume, fast-paced workloads and working within structured processes

• Confident using legal technology tools and open to innovative ways of working

• Proactive approach to identifying risk and delivering practical, commercially focused solutions

What’s On Offer

• Hybrid working (typically 2 days from home per week, depending on role and location)

• Competitive financial package, including discretionary bonus (performance dependent)

• Pension with matched employer contributions (up to 5%)

• Private medical insurance, with options to upgrade and add family cover

• Dental plan and access to health screening options

• Life assurance (4x salary) and income protection cover

• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 27 with service, plus the option to buy or sell up to one week per year

• Sabbatical leave options (subject to eligibility)

• Health and wellbeing support, including 24/7 employee assistance programme and counselling

• Mental health support network and occupational health support

• Wellbeing subsidy towards gym, sports membership or wellbeing apps

• Cycle to Work scheme and interest-free season ticket loan

• CSR day for volunteering (1 day per year) and payroll giving scheme

• Discounts and rewards portal, plus peer and manager recognition schemes

Working Arrangements

Primarily home-based, with travel to the Manchester office at least twice per month (to be agreed depending on experience). Additional office attendance will be required initially for training, with occasional travel to other offices to meet the client.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.

Residential Conveyancer

Location: Afreton

Salary: £55,000 to £60,000

Experience: 5+ years’ PQE

If you are an experienced residential conveyancer who enjoys running your own files, keeping transactions moving, and delivering a genuinely high standard of client care, this is a great opportunity to join a busy property team with a supportive culture and clear progression.

Our client is looking to hire a Residential Conveyancer into its Alfreton office. You will manage a full caseload from instruction through to completion, working closely with clients, agents, lenders and third parties to ensure smooth, efficient transactions.

This role is well suited to someone who is confident handling a broad range of residential matters, can work independently, and is happy to support colleagues when needed. You will be trusted with responsibility, encouraged to build relationships with referrers, and given the space to deliver excellent service.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing a full caseload of residential conveyancing matters from instruction through to completion

• Handling sales, purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, and leasehold and freehold transactions

• Maintaining accurate file records, correspondence and system updates

• Drafting and preparing legal documents including contracts, transfer deeds and completion statements

• Reviewing title documents, leases, searches and supporting paperwork for accuracy and compliance

• Preparing clear reports on title and advising clients in a straightforward, jargon-free way

• Liaising with clients by phone, email, letter and in person, including overseeing document signing

• Communicating with estate agents, lenders, brokers, surveyors, solicitors and local authorities

• Handling enquiries and requisitions, and coordinating exchange and completion dates

• Submitting SDLT forms and registering completed transactions with the Land Registry

• Ensuring compliance with AML requirements, CQS standards, trust registration and internal policies

• Identifying and escalating risks where needed

• Supporting business development and marketing activity, and building relationships with referrers and agents

• Supervising administrative staff and paralegals where required

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer

• 5+ years’ PQE (or equivalent experience) managing files from instruction to completion

• Strong experience across leasehold and freehold transactions

• Confident running a busy caseload independently, with strong organisation and time management

• Excellent written and verbal communication, with a calm and professional approach

• High attention to detail and accuracy

• Confident IT user with experience of case management systems

• Experience with LEAP is helpful

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary of £55,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)

• Hybrid working (2 days from home, 3 days in the office)

• Opportunities for career progression within a supportive team

• Ongoing training and professional development

• Modern, well-equipped office environment

• Supportive culture that values initiative, autonomy and collaboration

• Involvement in firm-wide initiatives and business development activity

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working is available, with an expectation of 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.

Residential Conveyancer

Location: Solihull

Salary: £55,000 to £60,000

Experience: 5+ years’ PQE

If you are an experienced residential conveyancer who enjoys running your own files, keeping transactions moving, and delivering a genuinely high standard of client care, this is a great opportunity to join a busy property team with a supportive culture and clear progression.

Our client is looking to hire a Residential Conveyancer into its Solihull office. You will manage a full caseload from instruction through to completion, working closely with clients, agents, lenders and third parties to ensure smooth, efficient transactions.

This role is well suited to someone who is confident handling a broad range of residential matters, can work independently, and is happy to support colleagues when needed. You will be trusted with responsibility, encouraged to build relationships with referrers, and given the space to deliver excellent service.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing a full caseload of residential conveyancing matters from instruction through to completion

• Handling sales, purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, and leasehold and freehold transactions

• Maintaining accurate file records, correspondence and system updates

• Drafting and preparing legal documents including contracts, transfer deeds and completion statements

• Reviewing title documents, leases, searches and supporting paperwork for accuracy and compliance

• Preparing clear reports on title and advising clients in a straightforward, jargon-free way

• Liaising with clients by phone, email, letter and in person, including overseeing document signing

• Communicating with estate agents, lenders, brokers, surveyors, solicitors and local authorities

• Handling enquiries and requisitions, and coordinating exchange and completion dates

• Submitting SDLT forms and registering completed transactions with the Land Registry

• Ensuring compliance with AML requirements, CQS standards, trust registration and internal policies

• Identifying and escalating risks where needed

• Supporting business development and marketing activity, and building relationships with referrers and agents

• Supervising administrative staff and paralegals where required

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer

• 5+ years’ PQE (or equivalent experience) managing files from instruction to completion

• Strong experience across leasehold and freehold transactions

• Confident running a busy caseload independently, with strong organisation and time management

• Excellent written and verbal communication, with a calm and professional approach

• High attention to detail and accuracy

• Confident IT user with experience of case management systems

• Experience with LEAP is helpful

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary of £55,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)

• Hybrid working (2 days from home, 3 days in the office)

• Opportunities for career progression within a supportive team

• Ongoing training and professional development

• Modern, well-equipped office environment

• Supportive culture that values initiative, autonomy and collaboration

• Involvement in firm-wide initiatives and business development activity

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working is available, with an expectation of 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.

Non-Contentious Construction Lawyer (Associate)

Location: London

Salary: £110,000 to £140,000, plus bonus and benefits

Experience: 4 to 6 years’ PQE

If you are a non-contentious construction lawyer who enjoys complex, high value projects and wants a role that sits right at the centre of the energy transition and major development work, this is a strong move.

Our client is looking to hire an Associate into its London Construction & Development team, due to sustained growth across mandates in energy, renewables, data centres and major infrastructure. You will work on a broad mix of UK and international matters, with exposure across the full lifecycle of engineering and construction projects.

This role offers genuine variety, including a particular focus on energy transition projects (offshore wind, solar, green hydrogen, biofuels, pumped storage and hydro), as well as power, utilities, process plant, data centres and complex civil engineering. You will also support market-leading real estate development work, including retail, town centre regeneration, office, leisure, residential, hotel and mixed-use schemes.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading and supporting workstreams on major UK and international projects across energy, infrastructure, data centres and commercial development

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction and engineering documentation, including JCT, NEC, FIDIC and bespoke contracts

• Advising on procurement strategy, risk allocation, commercial issues and project delivery considerations

• Working on professional appointments, collateral warranties, guarantees, security documents and long-term operational agreements

• Taking ownership of matters early, coordinating documentation, advising on key issues and building direct client relationships

• Supporting business development activity, contributing to pitches and client relationship management

• Mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to know-how, precedents and training

What We’re Looking For

• 4 to 6 years’ PQE in non-contentious construction law

• Strong experience advising on energy, renewables, power, utilities, infrastructure, data centres and/or commercial development projects

• Confident drafting and negotiation skills across JCT, NEC and bespoke agreements (FIDIC and/or international project documentation is helpful)

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with clients and project teams

• Excellent drafting, analytical and document management skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines

• Commercial, collaborative approach and a genuine interest in understanding clients’ businesses

What’s On Offer

• 28 days’ holiday

• Private healthcare (with the option to add family at employee cost)

• Pension (4% match for the first 6 months, then 6%)

• Life insurance (4x salary)

• Income protection (after 26 weeks)

• Hybrid or agile working (where the role allows)

• Annual wellbeing programme and Mental Health First Aiders

• 24/7 employee care helpline

• Discounted gym membership

• Cycle to work scheme

• Technology benefit scheme

• Employee-funded dental scheme

• Travel loan

• CSR and volunteering opportunities

• Affinity networks and an inclusive, people-first culture

• Learning and development support, including mentoring and sponsorship

• Employee offers and discounts

Working Arrangements

This is a London-based role with hybrid working available, depending on matter and client needs.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to David on  d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.

Real Estate Finance Lawyer (Associate)

Location: London

Salary: £95,000 to £120,000, plus bonus and benefits

Experience: 1+ years’ PQE

If you are a real estate finance lawyer looking for a role where you can build genuine depth across lender-side and borrower-side transactions, this is a strong opportunity to step into a busy, high-quality pipeline and take on responsibility early.

Our client is looking to hire an Associate into its London Real Estate Finance team. The work spans domestic and cross-border real estate backed transactions across a broad range of asset classes and funding structures, with the chance to work closely with senior lawyers in a supportive, high-performing environment.

You will support a market-leading team advising major banks, debt funds, insurers and other financial institutions, as well as investors, developers, blue-chip property companies and family offices. The role offers exposure to varied finance work including development finance, hotel finance, Islamic finance and mezzanine finance, with matters spanning sectors such as hotels and leisure, PRS, student accommodation, logistics and offices.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising on the finance aspects of real estate backed transactions

• Supporting lender-side and borrower-side real estate finance matters, including domestic and cross-border deals

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating transaction documents and ancillary documentation

• Working on a mix of development finance, hotel finance, Islamic finance and mezzanine finance transactions

• Managing your workload across multiple matters and deadlines, with strong attention to detail

• Building direct client relationships and delivering clear, commercial advice

• Contributing to business development activity and supporting the growth of the practice

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified lawyer with 1+ years’ PQE and relevant experience from a major law firm

• Experience working on real estate finance transactions

• Strong technical knowledge of finance transactions and excellent drafting skills

• Strong academic background

• Proactive, self-motivated approach with sound judgement and strong attention to detail

• Confident communicator with strong client relationship skills

• Organised and able to manage competing deadlines

• Collaborative team player who enjoys working in a friendly, collegiate environment

What’s On Offer

• 28 days’ holiday

• Private healthcare (with the option to add family at employee cost)

• Pension (4% match for the first 6 months, then 6%)

• Life insurance (4x salary)

• Income protection (after 26 weeks)

• Annual wellbeing programme and Mental Health First Aiders

• 24/7 employee care helpline

• Hybrid or agile working (where the role allows)

• Technology benefit scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounted gym membership

• Employee-funded dental scheme

• Travel loan

• CSR and volunteering opportunities

• Learning and development support, including mentoring and sponsorship

• Affinity networks and an inclusive, people-first culture

• Employee offers and discounts

Working Arrangements

This is a London-based role with hybrid working available, depending on matter and client needs.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to David on  d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.