Director of Finance

Position Overview:

The Director of Finance is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the law firm’s financial functions. This role oversees financial planning, accounting, budgeting, cash flow management, partner compensation analysis, and long-term financial strategy. The Director of Finance works closely with the Managing Partner, Executive Committee, and Practice Group Leaders to ensure the firm’s financial stability, profitability, and compliance.

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the firm’s financial strategy aligned with overall business goals.
• Advise firm leadership on financial planning, profitability, and growth opportunities.
• Provide financial analysis to support strategic decisions.
• Preparation and presentation of financial reports and insights to partners and the executive committee.

Financial Management

• Oversee the accounting department, financial reporting, and financial controls.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling processes.
• Monitor firm profitability by practice group, office, and client matter.
• Ensure effective cash flow management and capital planning.

Partner Compensation & Profit Distribution

• Analyze partner productivity, origination credit, and profitability metrics.
• Coordinate annual profit distributions and capital contributions.

Law Firm Financial Operations

• Oversee billing, collections, and trust accounting processes.
• Ensure compliance with legal industry financial regulations and accounting standards.
• Optimize financial performance through improved billing realization and collection rates.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain internal financial controls and risk management processes.
• Ensure compliance with tax, insurance, audit and retirement plan fiduciary requirements.
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, and financial advisors.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the firm’s finance/accounting and human resources teams.
• Implement systems and processes to improve financial efficiency and reporting.
• Collaborate with IT and operations on financial systems and reporting tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration required
• CPA strongly preferred
• MBA or CFA preferred
• 5-7 years of progressive financial leadership experience
• Experience in professional services or law firm financial management strongly preferred

Skills

• Strong financial strategy and analytical capabilities
• Knowledge of legal industry billing structures and trust accounting
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Advanced proficiency in financial reporting systems and financial modeling
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results orientation

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Managing Partner and Executive Committee

Please contact Leslie Helmerci, Legal Operations & HR Manager at lhelmerci@underbergkessler.com or call at 585-258-2897.