Job Description
Job Description
Lowndes, a prestigious Orlando based law firm, seeks to hire a dynamic Chief Financial Officer or Director of Finance to lead our Accounting Department. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the financial operations for the firm, and will participate in the development and implementation of financial strategy.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with COO to establish, monitor, and implement financial policies and procedures
- Lead Accounting Department of 10+ members, overseeing all accounting functions and providing mentorship and guidance
- Develop the fiscal year operating and long-term capital budgets, and monitor and report on variances
- Collaborate with Chief Operating Officer and the firm’s President/CEO to develop and present comprehensive, timely financial reports and analyses for firm leadership and shareholders
- Prepare complex financial reports, forecasts, and analyses, monthly and on an ad hoc basis
- Maintain internal control processes over all accounting functions
- Manage banking relationships
- Manage trust account operations in conformance with accepted firm practices and Florida Bar rules
- Work directly with the firm’s CPA on tax planning and year-end tax preparation, to ensure tax objectives are met
- Responsible for annual retirement plan audit, required plan testing and preparation of related form 5500's
- Oversee the year-end close of books and all related compliance reporting and taxation
- Manage utilization of accounting and billing software platform
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or business. Minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience in a law firm or professional services environment required. Experience with Aderant accounting system and other legal related software, including dashboards, intake, budgeting, etc. preferred.
Skills/Abilities:
- Strong administrative, management, and leadership skills. Capable of working with limited direction, providing leadership and strategic guidance to the accounting team.
- Demonstrated ability to think analytically, problem solve, exercise good judgement, make decisions, and initiate action.
- Proficient with cost accounting concepts necessary to analyze profitability of various practice groups, clients, etc.
- Strong interpersonal skills to create an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, openness, encourage resourcefulness, and collaborate as a team.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office 365 suite, particularly in Excel, required. Working knowledge of legal document management systems preferred.
- Effective and professional level communication skills (written and oral), in order to effectively communicate with attorneys, staff, clients, and vendors.