Firm Business Mananger - Controller

Job Summary

Our Firm Business Manager (Controller) will work directly with the Owners to provide dedicated business strategy and manage the firm’s daily financial and business operations that support the vision of the firm owners. We are looking for someone to be a trusted member of our leadership team. The Firm Business Manager (Controller) will ensure the delivery of efficient, effective, and meticulous business services for our law firm. General responsibilities include but are not limited to; vendor relationships, including negotiations and management of vendors, onboarding new clients, managing, overseeing, and as needed entering all costs and expenses into the firm billing system. The ideal candidate will ensure billing requirements are met by all billable staff through proper training, analytics, and direct communication with billers. In this role the Firm Business Manager will also help to facilitate clear communication between clients, their attorneys, and the courts. Discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality required, as our Firm Business Manager is exposed to sensitive information.

To ensure success the ideal candidate for our Firm Business Manager role will be enthusiastic, flexible, organized, detail-oriented, and a collaborator with strong interpersonal and communications skills. The ideal professional candidate will operate well in a fast-paced, everchanging environment and the ability to interact successfully at all levels is a must. To be successful the Firm Business Manager must have a strong financial background and leadership experience as an administrator in a law firm. This role requires someone that can create, execute, and change strategies as needed for the overall success of the firm. The ability to communicate upward, work independently and collaborate with other members of the executive team is a must.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Providing leadership, direction and management of the finance and accounting team
• Providing strategic recommendations to the owners and members of the executive management team
• Managing the processes for financial forecasting and budgets, and overseeing the preparation of all financial reporting
• Establishing and developing relationships with senior management and external partners and stakeholders
• Manages financial system including time-tracking, billing, trust account management, collections, bookkeeping, expense management, and accounts payable.
• Collaborate with HR/Administration Executive regarding training and communication regarding firm procedures and requirements.
• Collaborate with HR/Administration Executive on performance reviews systems for billing staff.
• Supervises and counsels’ direct reports.
• Maintains a professional and positive work environment by facilitating effective communication and information sharing among professional, paraprofessional, management, and support staff.
  
  

Daily Overall Responsibilities

• Advising on long-term business and financial planning including forward thinking business strategies and ever-changing industry standards and trends.
• Oversight and enforcement of Attorneys and Paralegals in maintaining firm billable requirements on a quarterly and yearly basis.
• Review billing on a weekly basis and provide monthly/quarterly/annual review of billing hours by biller to firm owners.
• Review collections on a monthly basis and ensure and plan for timely collection of receipts.
• Provide monthly financial reporting.
• Participates in strategic planning process with management to identify and accomplish short- and long-term organizational goals.
• Prepares the organization’s budget.
• Performs or facilitates and delegates accounting functions as needed. These will include billing, preparation of financial statements, management of reports, and collections.
• Consults with outside accountants for audits, preparation of tax returns, and the production of other reports as required by law.
• Oversee and manage the onboarding of new clients including reconciling conflict checks, creating retainer agreements for new clients, creating electronic files for new clients and enter into the billing system, and handling communications with clients regarding new client intake information for the firm billing system.
• Consider and plan for efficiency in operations and collaborate with firm leaders in execution.
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities

• Minimum of 7 years as a member of the executive team leading a finance department in a law firm. This experience must be recent.
• Experience in a Controller or similar duties with a law firm
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Detail-oriented and professional.
• Advanced understanding of law firm management practices including knowledge of accounting procedures and information systems.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, delegating when appropriate.
• Extremely proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or other similar software program.
• Ability to maintain confidential records.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree Business Administration, Finance or related field required.