Why Legal Finance & Accounting Professionals Should

For legal finance and accounting professionals, contracting may not always appear to be the most obvious career choice, with the majority of jobseekers looking for a permanent position.

However, those who are open to exploring temporary and contract roles often find that the benefits far outweigh any perceived risks. While people often have concerns about job security, the financial rewards, career development opportunities, and flexibility can make contracting an attractive option within the legal finance and accounting sector.

Here are some of the key benefits of taking on a temporary, fixed-term contract or interim role:

Higher earning potential

One of the most compelling reasons to consider contract roles is the financial advantage. Legal finance and accounting contractors often command higher earnings than permanent employees due to:

Competitive day rates – Your daily rate includes National Insurance (NI) and holiday pay, thereby maximising your take-home income.
Urgency premiums – Many firms require experienced professionals at short notice, leading to higher pay for those with the right expertise.
Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) – These regulations ensure contract professionals receive equal pay to their permanent counterparts, further enhancing the financial appeal of temporary work.

Diverse experience and career development

Contracting can provide unparalleled opportunities to broaden your expertise within the legal finance and accounting sector:

Exposure to leading Law Firms and financial institutions – Working across different firms offers insight into various compliance frameworks, financial structures, and operational models.
Strengthen your specialisation – Whether it is legal billing, regulatory finance, or trust accounting, contracting allows you to refine and enhance your niche expertise.
Enhance your marketability – A diverse portfolio of contracts demonstrates your ability to adapt and thrive in different legal and financial environments, making you an attractive candidate for future roles.

Unmatched flexibility and work-life balance

Flexibility is a key advantage of contract roles, particularly for professionals managing high-pressure legal finance and accounting responsibilities.

Choose when and where to work – Accept contracts that align with your career goals, personal schedule, and preferred work-life balance.
Built-in breaks – Many legal finance contractors work intensively during peak periods (e.g., tax season, audits, mergers) and take planned time off between contracts to recharge.
Seamless career transitions – For legal finance professionals focused on compliance, risk management, or financial restructuring, contract roles offer continuous learning opportunities across multiple firms and cases.

Ideal for post-qualified and specialist legal finance professionals

Contracting can be particularly beneficial for:

Newly Qualified legal finance & accounting professionals – Gain experience across multiple sectors, from law firms to corporate finance divisions.
Regulatory and compliance specialists – Stay ahead of evolving financial regulations, anti-money laundering (AML) laws, and tax compliance requirements through diverse contract roles.
Project-based professionals – Whether working on financial system implementations, audits, or risk assessments, contracting enables you to build a robust project portfolio.

The financial & career growth advantage

For legal finance and accounting professionals, contracting is not just about flexibility - it can be a strategic career move. If you are working on a limited company daily rate, the earning potential can be significant. Furthermore, the experience gained from working in various firms can open doors to high-level permanent or consultancy roles in the future.

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About the author

Ummara Qureshi is a legal finance & accounting recruiter specialising in contract and temporary assignments. Ummara is committed to finding legal finance professionals roles that align with their expertise and career aspirations. If you are ready to explore contract opportunities in legal finance and accounting, get in touch today!