As 2026 begins and we look ahead to what’s next, it’s helpful to reflect on why 2025 was such an exceptionally active year for legal finance recruitment. The year saw significant movement across senior leadership, commercial finance, and operational roles. For both clients and candidates, the trends highlight evolving priorities within firms and the opportunities these changes present.
Looking ahead, these patterns are set to continue in 2026, with firms maintaining a strong focus on attracting talent with more strategic, commercially focused skill sets. Ongoing transformation, succession planning, and growing expectations of finance leadership roles mean we can expect further mobility and continued competition for high‑calibre professionals throughout the year.
Chief and Director-Level Roles
This year saw notable turnover in CFO and Finance Director positions among the UK’s top 70 law firms with nearly 19% experiencing a change in their most senior finance role. Firms such as Freshfields, DLA Piper, Simmons & Simmons, Dentons (UKME), Kennedys, Bird & Bird, Burges Salmon, RPC, and Womble Bond Dickinson were among those making appointments. While many changes were due to planned retirements, others reflected a strategic shift in role requirements, demanding new skill sets. Encouragingly, several appointments were internal promotions, signalling a growing commitment to succession planning.
Interestingly, two firms relocated their CFO roles from London to the US, aligning with their expanding presence in American markets. Whether this becomes a broader trend remains to be seen, but it underscores the increasingly global nature of legal finance leadership.
Beyond CFO roles, demand for senior pricing and commercial finance specialists surged, reflecting law firms’ focus on profitability and strategic financial management.
Commercial Finance and Pricing
Law firms continued to invest heavily in commercially focused finance roles, with eight Director or Head of level moves among the UK’s top 30 firms. Four of these were newly created positions, three of these were at Director level – clear evidence of the growing importance of pricing and profitability strategies.
Pricing functions, in particular, saw rapid expansion. Roles such as Pricing Managers, Senior Pricing Analysts, and Directors of Pricing & Commercial were in high demand as firms sought to optimise rates and improve profitability. Given the niche nature of pricing expertise, firms increasingly looked beyond the legal sector, hiring candidates from broader professional services and even unrelated industries. This trend highlights that commercial acumen, analytical skills, and business partnering capabilities often outweigh sector-specific experience.
Mid-Senior Legal Finance
Investment extended to Financial Controllers, FP&A leaders, and Finance Systems specialists, emphasising a shift toward data-driven decision-making and technology integration. Interim mandates were common, particularly for transformation projects and leadership gaps, but permanent roles accounted for over 70% of placements. Compensation benchmarks reflected the premium placed on strategic finance expertise.
Recruitment activity peaked in Q2 and Q3, with January, August, and September being the busiest months for offers and acceptances. Candidate sourcing relied heavily on networks and referrals, reinforcing the importance of strong relationships in securing top talent.
Operational Finance Roles
Finance Operations and Revenue roles remained highly competitive, especially for mid-to-senior positions such as Revenue Controllers, Credit Controllers, and Billing Managers. Expertise in systems like Elite 3E and experience in process improvement projects were particularly valued. Hybrid working patterns emerged as a key factor for candidates, often taking precedence over salary considerations.
Part-Qualified and Newly Qualified
Demand for Partnership Accountants continued to rise, driven by growing operational complexity, firm mergers, and increased emphasis on profitability analysis. These roles have evolved beyond technical accounting to become strategic advisors to Partners and leadership teams.
Totum has long been a specialist in the recruitment of finance professionals, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how our deep market insight can strengthen and elevate your finance functions This is the heart of what we do. Our broad, sector‑wide perspective gives us a clear and informed understanding of developments across firms of every size, enabling us to provide guidance that is both strategic and grounded in real‑world experience.
To discuss the market in more detail or to discuss current opportunities for you or your firm, get in touch with Dee Deol at [email protected]