Controller – Contract (12-18 Months)

The Controller will:

• Lead the firm's strategic and operational finance capabilities, including financial planning and analysis, reporting, accounting, treasury, tax financial risk management, financial systems, budgeting, and billing and collections.
• Gain a deep understanding of the firm's practice, market and competitive position; work closely with the firm's CFO and other firm leaders regarding business planning, and identification and maximization of revenue, profitability, and economic growth opportunities.
• Direct advanced financial planning and analysis, and reporting tools and metrics associated with utilization, realization, leverage, pricing, profitability, and other related areas; recommend practice, process, and operational improvements based on data analysis.
• Lead the firm's budgeting and expense management processes, including variance analysis, and monitoring important trends; provide direct oversight of the firm's accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Cultivate and manage external audit, financial services, and banking relationships; serve as a key spokesperson and firm liaison to stakeholders in the financial services and business community.
• Work closely with the Manager, Accounting Operations on related matters including billing and accounts receivable.
• Maintain expert understanding of tax and fiduciary rules, regulatory and business trends, and guidelines for the legal industry; communicate the impact of new developments and regulations and ensure the firm is prepared to implement appropriate changes.
• Foster a culture that is team-oriented and committed to the highest levels of professional excellence and internal and external client services;
• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop staff and ensure that all functional resources are in alignment with the firm's goals and objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement, foster best practices and highest levels of efficiency in business operations and all areas of financial management.
• Stay abreast of new market, economic, industry, regulatory, and business trends; develop new and modify existing financial and management reporting tools to ensure current and optimal functionality.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of broad-based finance and accounting leadership experience; OR
• A minimum of 5 years of broad-based finance and accounting leadership experience ideally with a large law firm or other sophisticated professional services firm
• Extensive experience leading all functional aspects of finance and accounting, including financial planning and analysis, reporting, accounting, treasury, tax, financial risk management, financial systems, budgeting, and billing and collections;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrated success collaborating and leading in a consensus-driven organization; the ability to lead through influence rather than direct control, and to create consensus-based support for business strategies and decisions;
• Superior business acumen, analytic capabilities, and sound judgment;
• Excellent presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills; the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization and in the outside community, tailoring communications for different groups and stakeholders;
• Proven success recruiting, mentoring, managing, and developing a high-performance team;
• A charismatic leadership style; a warm, collegial approach coupled with the ability to take a firm stand when appropriate and necessary;
• Strong background developing and evolving financial infrastructure, operations, and systems, and driving continuous improvement across all functional finance and accounting areas;
• Well-rounded background in financial technology, including experience with current enterprise financial systems and solutions; proven track record leading change and leveraging modern technologies;
• Dynamic energy level, an unquestioned work ethic, willingness to "roll up your sleeves," and work closely with colleagues and team members;
• An accounting designation is required;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and tax regulations.

Apply To: