Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert is partnered with a successful full-service law firm who is seeking an Interim Controller to join their team on a 2-3 month contract basis. Details below!
Title: Interim Controller
Location: Hybrid - Potomac, MD
Hourly Rate: Market
Job Type: Contract (2-3 months)
Our clients established firm is seeking a Controller who can provide strategic and operational leadership for all financial activities within the firm to ensure the achievement of goals and optimization of resource utilization. This position is a key collaborator in the achievement of the firm’s business objectives.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Controller is responsible for hands-on management of all accounting and financial reporting activities. As the number-two executive to the COO in this functional area, the Controller is involved in supporting presentations to the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the Shareholders.
The Controller leads all day-to-day accounting and financial operations and supervises a team of 6-8 staff members. The Controller ensures that all financial transactions are recorded accurately and timely and that financial statements provide key decision makers with relevant and comprehensive information about the performance, financial position, and cash flows of the Firm. The Controller ensures that executive, practice, and operational leadership have the necessary financial information to make informed business decisions and investments that will contribute to the Firm's long-term success.
The Controller will manage all cash management, internal audits, internal controls, tax compliance, and strategic financial planning, and will analyze, forecast and report positive and negative trends and opportunities for expansion and projections of future growth. The Controller has a fiduciary duty to the firm’s Shareholders to safeguard the assets of the firm. A critical function of this role is to ensure that adequate controls are in place and enforced to protect the company against fraud or theft. The Controller is expected to improve functional efficiencies and to be continually attuned to ways in which the Firm can reduce or contain costs.
REQUIREMENTS

• Supervises the billing and collections teams to ensure billings are sent timely and accurately and that collections are pursued to optimize cash flow.
• Supervises the payables team to ensure accounts payable are paid in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensures all transactions are recorded accurately and appropriately in the general ledger.
• Ensures periodic bank and other account reconciliations are completed accurately and timely.
• Issues timely and complete financial statements to stakeholders.
• Monitors daily cash receipts and expenses.
• Supervises and prepares interim and annual financial statements.
• Supervises monthly creation of budget to actual P&L statement and explanation of variances.
• Reviews and approves payroll.
• Monitors employee time tracking.
• Coordinates with the Firm’s Advisory, Tax and Assurance vendor in the preparation of tax returns and audits.
• Oversees internal audits to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; evaluate areas of weakness, susceptible to fraud, waste, or abuse.
• Calculates and issues financial and operating metrics.
• Provides financial analysis as needed.
• Maintains financial staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees.
• Liases with and/or manages outsourced functions.
• Prepares budget for review by developing schedules, collecting, analyzing, and consolidating financial data and making recommendations.
• Helps the Firm achieve budget objectives by scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and assisting with corrective actions.
• Coordinates the provision of information to external auditors for the annual financial statement review.
• Assists in monitoring debt levels and compliance with debt covenants.
• Assists in compliance with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings in addition to other international jurisdictions.
• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date chart of accounts.
• Maintains a system of controls over accounting transactions.
• Maintains documented system of accounting policies and procedures and ensures proper implementation.
• Works with other members of the Administrative Management Team to provide accounting support for their initiatives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s and/or Master's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, CPA highly preferred.
• 7 – 10 years of progressive accounting experience in the legal industry including: leading the monthly close, preparing cash and accrual financial statements, practice management reports, monthly variance analyses, and presenting financial results to Firm leadership.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing staff and full cycle accounting process.
• Expert skill level with MS Excel required.
• Preference given to candidates with PerfectLaw and/or SQL experience.
• Possesses exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including ability to articulate recommendations in a concise and timely manner.
• Ability to work well with all levels of personnel.
• Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills. Requires excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills, good judgment, a professional demeanor, and the ability to provide an excellent first impression of the Firm.
• Must work well with all levels of Firm personnel and establish effective working relationships throughout the Firm. Must be highly motivated, creative, flexible, and results-oriented with the ability to prioritize appropriately