What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Accounting and Finance position at English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP?
Position Summary
The Director of Accounting and Finance serves as a key strategic partner to the Managing Partner, Practice Management Committee, and Equity Partners, guiding the firm’s long-term financial strategy, profitability, and operational growth. Beyond overseeing traditional accounting, budgeting, and compliance functions, the Director of Accounting and Finance will drive multi-year financial planning, analyze practice group profitability, evaluate expansion or lateral hiring opportunities, and optimize revenue cycle performance to ensure continuous financial strength.
The Director of Accounting and Finance will also directly lead and manage the firm’s accounting and billing team and will remain closely involved in the firm’s billing and collection processes, cash flow management, financial reporting, budgeting, and internal controls.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Planning & Leadership
- Formulate and execute financial strategies aligned with the firm’s long-term business goals and growth initiatives.
- Model multi-year financial projections, capital deployment plans, and partner equity structures.
- Advise leadership on strategic decisions, including lateral partner acquisitions, practice group expansions, geographic growth, and merger/acquisition opportunities.
- Evaluate and mitigate financial risks across firm operations and capital investments.
Financial Operations & Revenue Cycle Management
- Direct all financial operations, including general ledger, payroll, trust accounting compliance, tax planning, and financial reporting.
- Optimize the work-in-progress (WIP) to realization and collection pipeline to improve firm cash flow and reduce lockup days.
- Establish metrics and dashboards to track billable rate structures, realization rates, utilization, and client profitability.
- Lead, supervise, and develop the firm’s accounting and billing department, including oversight of billing, accounts receivable, collections, accounts payable, payroll, trust accounting, and other day-to-day financial operations.
- Establish clear workflows, accountability, and performance standards for the accounting and billing team to ensure timely and accurate billing, collections, reporting, and financial administration.
Partner Compensation & Governance Support
- Collaborate with the Compensation Committee to model and administer partner compensation and equity distributions.
- Prepare comprehensive board decks and present financial performance, forecasting, and strategic updates to equity partners.
- Oversee partner capital accounts, capital calls, and capital return schedules.
Treasury, Banking & Risk Management
- Manage relationships with commercial banks, line-of-credit facilities, and insurance brokers.
- Maintain rigorous internal controls, ensuring strict adherence to state bar ethics rules regarding IOLTA/trust accounts.
- Lead annual budgeting processes across all administrative and practice departments.
Qualifications
- Experience: 7-10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 5 years as a Finance/Accounting Director or Controller in a law firm or professional services environment.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics required; CPA strongly preferred.
- Technical Skills: Mastery of legal practice management and legal accounting programs —along with advanced financial modeling capability in Excel and beyond.
- Strategic Acumen: Deep understanding of partnership accounting, partner equity models, legal industry benchmarks, and alternative fee arrangements (AFAs).
- Leadership: Proven track record of presenting complex financial data to partner groups and driving consensus on firm-wide strategic initiatives.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Pay: From $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $120,000