Accounting Manager - Law Firm

Company Overview

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees has 21 attorneys and offices in West Chester and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The firm is dedicated to providing clients with the high-quality representation and service that they require to succeed in today's sophisticated and competitive regulatory and business environment and in their personal lives. Clients range from individuals and entrepreneurs to major corporations, including governmental entities, financial institutions, and non-profit organizations. The firm advises on business and tax law; commercial and real estate transactions; business and creditors’ rights litigation; wealth preservation, estate, and trust planning and administration; family law; labor and employment law; municipal and school law; and zoning and land use.

Summary/Objective

The Accounting Manager is responsible for all accounting and financial operations of the Firm, including general accounting, financial reporting, billing, collections, cash management, trust accounting, compliance, and financial analysis. The Accounting Manager serves as a key advisor to Firm leadership and exercises independent judgment and discretion in managing the Firm's financial resources and accounting systems.

Essential Functions

Financial Management & Strategic Reporting

• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Analyzes financial performance and trends and provides recommendations to the Firm Administrator and Partners.
• Maintains cash flow projections to meet cash requirements.
• Monitors firm profitability, attorney productivity metrics, realization and collection rates.
• Prepares and evaluates financial reports and accounting procedures.
• Prepares year end partner bonus calculations.

Billing

• Handles client billing for the Firm. Ensures that all time is entered and generates prebills.
• Prepares final bills. Provides billing guidance and assistance to staff.
• Ensures all client invoices are sent out promptly and assists in monitoring unbilled time and client disbursements.
• Meet with timekeepers and staff as appropriate to resolve issues. Acts as liaison between attorneys and clients to manage client billing inquiries.
• Handles implementation and configuration of new billing formats and statements according to attorney’s special instructions.
• Handles billing setup with third party software packages such as TyMetrix 360 and Legal Tracker.

Client Collections

• Works with attorneys, clients and the Administrator to ensure outstanding invoices are properly collected.

Payroll

• Processes semi-monthly payroll in coordination with third-party payroll vendor.
• Reviews payroll reports, tax filings, benefit deductions and related reconciliations for accuracy.
• Maintains payroll-related records and reconciles payroll reports to the Firm's general ledger.
• Processes and transmits employee and employer contribution data, payroll deduction files, and required funding information to the Firm's 401(k) plan administrator and employee benefit providers.
• Assists with year-end payroll activities, including reconciliation of payroll records and coordination of required tax reporting.

Trust Accounting

• Ensures compliance with applicable accounting standards, trust accounting requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Maintains the trust accounts and retainers. Prepares deposit slips and enters into TABS3.
• Prepares trust bills.
• Prepares checks to clients and handles payment of invoices.
• Processes checks to pay attorney fees during the billing process.

Accounts Payable

• Oversees the accounts payable process and Operations Support Specialist to ensure timely and accurate payment of firm obligations.
• Reviews vendor payments, expense reimbursements, and disbursements.

Banking & Cash Management

• Processes checks received daily.
• Scans a copy of all checks and supporting documents.
• Sends daily deposit report to partners and files into the firm’s document management system, iManage.
• Maintains banking relationships and coordinates banking services.
• Monitors cash positions and recommends transfers or investments as appropriate.
• Manages lines of credit and financing arrangements as directed by firm leadership.

Prepares monthly and quarterly calculations for receipts, estate and referral fees to be paid.

Prepares monthly inter-office invoice for services.

Prepares quarterly reconciliations per Memorandum of Understanding.

Ensures proper accounting entries from financial activities in Firm’s accounting software, TABS3.

Monthly reconciliation of bank accounts.

Tax Compliance – acts as liaison with the Firm's accountants to ensure firm's timely submittal of state and federal tax reports and responsible for submittal of all local tax reports. Coordinates annual reviews, audits, and tax preparation activities with external accountants.

Special Projects - leads or participates in a variety of special projects of a financial nature as required.

Monitors workflow and supervises work product of Operations Support Specialist to ensure accuracy.

Ties month-end reports into the General Ledger to ensure they are in balance. Closes out the month in TABS3.

Utilizes TABS3 financial software. Uses report writer to create new reports to assist with financial reporting.

Utilizes iManage document management software.

Competencies

• Strong knowledge of general accounting procedures, systems, terms, concepts and policies.
• Experience with general ledger, general journal entries, cost accounting, fixed asset accounting, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Knowledge for law firm operations, including time and billing systems, alternative billing methods, collections procedures and cost recovery guidelines.
• Knowledge of trust accounting procedures and regulations.
• Technical proficiency in Excel and Word. Proficiency in TABS3 Financial Accounting System and iManage document management software desired.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with an ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills that engage others; ability to follow through and maintain effective relationships with attorneys, clients and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ethical Conduct.
• Attention to detail.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, scanners, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

This is a largely sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., although periodic work beyond this timeframe is anticipated.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or related field with 5-10 years of progressively responsible work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with an accounting firm, law firm, or other professional service organization highly desirable.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

No agencies, recruiters, or third-party staffing firms, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• law firm or professional services accounting : 5 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• West Chester, PA 19380 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in West Chester, PA 19380