Legal Finance Manager

A leading litigation firm is looking for a Finance Manager, this hybrid role can be based in their Chicago, Washington, D.C. or New York office.7+ years of accounting/finance experience, with at least 2 years' experience at a law firm.Job Summary:The Finance Manager is primarily responsible for managing and overseeing the firm’s accounting, client billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, financial reporting as well as functioning as a trusted business partner to the firm’s partners and Chief Operating Officer (COO).Primary Responsibilities:• Prepare monthly financial reports and communicate significant variances on a timely basis.• Execute changes to procedures, policies, and systems to reduce risk and help the firm scale.• Synthesize, interpret, and challenge data to develop meaningful insights that inform recommendations.• Maintain and manage all accounts payable/receivable (AP/AR) transactions, controls, and accountingprocedures.• Review the semi-monthly and monthly payroll files to ensure accuracy and completeness.• Keep financial files organized, up-to-date, and accessible for COO, partners, auditors, etc.• Own the annual budget processes and partner with other functional leaders to develop budgets.• Own monthly/quarterly closing processes.• Prepare timely journal entries; perform requisite reconciliations including reconciliation of partner equity accounts.• Monitor cash flow and bank transfer needs with COO oversight.• Manage retainer, billing, vendor, and user data in the billing, accounting, and expense systems.• Input client payments as cash receipt batches, ensuring payments are correctly applied to outstanding client bills.• Assist with ad-hoc financial analysis, modeling and special projects.• Cross-train with COO on payroll duties and treasury management to perform in COO’s absence.Experience & Qualifications:• B.A. or B.S. degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field and 7+ years ofaccounting/finance experience, with at least 2 years experience at a law firm.• Prior management/supervisory experience, including direct supervision of law firm billing teams required.• Must be comfortable coding transactions and handling routine questions about budgets and compensation.• Experience with financial management, compensation and budgeting within a mid-size organization.• Deep and recent working knowledge of Aderant Expert Sierra is required, covering Billing, Accounts Payable, Disbursements, General Ledger, and Time.• Strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), cash/accrual accounting, and IOLTA compliance requirements.• Self-driven with the ability to anticipate work needs, requires minimal direction, takes initiative to follow up and follow through, and functions as a key team player.• Able to communicate effectively and present information to partners, attorneys, professional staff and external stakeholders.• Expert skill level in Excel with ability to rapidly adopt new tools and systems.• Track record of driving process improvement and driving efficiencies.• Excellent time management and project management skills, combined with the ability to manage competing priorities in a calm, collected manner