Manager of Accounting & Finance

Summary

Due to increased firm growth and expansion, the Manager of Accounting & Finance position is a newly created opportunity within a Gambrills, MD based real estate law firm and will be responsible for hands-on management within accounting operations and financial processes. This leadership role works directly with the Managing Partners to lead accounting operations, financial strategy, improve operational efficiency, and build scalable systems for a multi-state law firm. The position is responsible for the oversight of client billing, financial reporting and the stewardship of trust accounts. Their role includes managing the Billing Department's daily operations and serving as a point of contact for senior management. The Accounting & Finance Manager position will offer a compensation package comprised of a base salary in the $120,000 to $140,000 range plus excellent benefits and career growth. Ideal candidates will have 5 years of professional experience ideally with related professional services or the legal services sector.

Job Description/Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Managing Partners, supporting long-term planning, growth decisions, and profitability initiatives.
• Manages Accounting operations covering the areas of general ledger, inter-company, all bank and balance sheet reconciliations, real estate lease accounting, asset accounting, month-end processes
• Review and prepare monthly journal entries; ensure accurate expense coding and recommend corrections or reclassifications as needed.
• Monitors the daily and weekly billing operations and billing is completed in a timely manner and meet the expectations of the attorneys and clients.
• Oversee all aspects of partner compensation accounting, including the calculation, scheduling, and disbursement of draws and distributions, as well as the management of year-end allocations and reporting. Ensure data accuracy and transparency in all partner-related financial matters.
• Monitor cash inflows and outflows, including payroll, marketing spend, and operating expenses
• Ensure timely and accurate month-end and year-end financials.
• Own the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting practices, and financial policies.
• Oversee AP/AR, billing, collections, financial reconciliation, and trust accounting.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and legal/financial requirements relevant to law firms.
• Possesses a thorough understanding of bill generation, submission, and procedural cycles to coordinate billing activities, addresses inquiries, and optimizes workflows effectively. Overseeing proper setup for complex matters, auditing time/disbursements, generating and editing invoices, and maintaining accurate financial charges.
• Handles responses to partners for historical client accounting information
• Coordinates staff billing and ebilling activities, including overseeing monthly ebilling audit
• Develops and maintains consistent standards following internal guidelines and policies and assists with audits as needed.
• Works closely with several key firm clients and manages billing relationships with same
• Maintain active relationships with the firm’s banking partners and oversee the resolution of transactional and online banking issues.
• Reviews and participates in calculating the Firm’s Lawyer special compensation arrangements.
• Processes the non-exempt biweekly payroll, reviews and approves other payroll data that is transmitted to outside vendors, and manage employee tax profiles.
• Processes the employment tax payments process. Ensures accuracy of all the monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual tax filings and researches any employment tax inquiries, including amendment filings.
• Processes Employee W-2 and W-2PR Forms and other year-end filings.
• Reviews the monthly general ledger payroll account reconciliations and journal entries.

Required experience/Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting preferred
• 5-10 years of accounting and professional experience with previous leadership experience.
• Previous law firm experience desired
• Experience in Quickbooks and Excel
• Familiarity with Electronic Billing Platforms
• Ability to communicate and respond to inquiries/requests with diplomacy and tact
• Ability to work on hybrid or in office basis from Gambrills, MD based office