Williams & Connolly LLP, a leading national law firm, is recruiting for the position of Deputy Director of Finance and Accounting. This position is expected to bring exceptional leadership, oversight, and enhancement to core finance and accounting areas. The Deputy Director of Finance and Accounting works in close partnership with the Director of Finance and Accounting, Managing Partner, Executive Director, and the Finance Chair of the Executive Committee to provide balanced fiscal strategies and operational accounting excellence, while fostering collaboration, innovation, and transparency.
Reporting directly to the Director of Finance and Accounting, the Deputy Director of Finance and Accounting, will help to oversee the financial and accounting functions of the firm and will serve as a trusted, strategic advisor to firm leadership on finance-related matters. The Deputy Director of Finance and Accounting will serve as a collaborative partner, working with other administrative leaders, to further firm financial goals and outcomes. In addition to driving operational and financial excellence, the Deputy Director leads a highly experienced and client-focused finance and accounting team that includes direct supervision of five senior team members and indirect supervision of twenty-five additional team members. This position plays a critical role in the core areas of: finance, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial systems, general ledger, billing, taxes, treasury, and cash applications.
The Deputy Director's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Responsible for Federal, state and local taxes of the partnership including:
- Monitoring changes in state income tax laws that would require the partnership to file and pay state and local taxes;
- Calculating and paying estimated taxes to the states and local jurisdictions; and
- Ensuring the Federal, state and local income tax returns are filed prior to the due date.
Supervise the firm's time and ebilling/billing team, primarily focused on ensuring:
- Clients are billing timely and accurately according to the contractual terms and billing guidelines;
- Clients that are electronically billed are properly on-boarded for timely payment submissions;
- Collaborating closely with the firm's secretarial team to complete and submit paper bills to clients in a timely manner; and
- Time records are submitted timely by the timekeepers of the firm and are utilizing phase and task codes where applicable.
Manage the financial reporting, payroll, expense reimbursement, trust & escrow, treasury and accounts receivable functions of the firm, including:
- Ensuring the general ledger balance sheet accounts are reconciled in a timely/complete manner;
- Trust and escrow accounts for firm clients are segregated and accounted for to satisfy legal services, and returned in a timely manner when the legal services are completed;
- Excess cash balances are invested in a manner to maximize earnings while meeting liquidity needs of the firm;
- Client payments are applied correctly to outstanding receivable balances;
- Expense reimbursements are properly processed according to firm policies; and
- Payroll for the employees of the firm is processed in a timely and accurate manner.
Direct the cash disbursement functions including:
- Processing payment of the firm's invoices by check, credit card, purchasing card, and electronic payments;
- Vendor setup, approval, and maintenance processes;
- Review and approve distributable net income calculations for each partner monthly and make direct deposits of the partners' net pay into their bank accounts; and
- Review and approve monthly senior counsel compensation calculations.
Oversee qualified retirement plans including 401(k), profit sharing, and defined benefit plans, including the following responsibilities:
- Ensure plans operate in accordance with plan documents, IRS, and DOL requirements;
- Supervise outside auditors for the annual audits of plans;
- Coordinate annual filing of Form 5500s, ensuring forms are accurate and filed timely;
- Ensure the annual requirement for disclosures to participants is accurate and delivered to participants by the required date;
- Supervise calculation of lump sum payments from the defined benefit plan for partners approaching normal retirement age or contemplating resignation from the partnership; and
- Participate in quarterly meetings of the Pension Plan Committee.
Responsible for the administration of the unfunded retirement plan for retired partners, including calculating the benefits in accordance with the partnership agreement and notifying retired partners of changes in net payments annually and as needed.
Responsible for finance-related informational requests, reports, and analyses, including:
- Ensuring timely and meaningful management reports, metrics, tools, trends, communication regarding adverse developments, revenue forecasts, etc.;
- Offering sound financial facts, analyses, and observations to inform and support the firm's operational and strategic position; and
- Prepare and distribute monthly reports to partners on monthly and year-to-date income and deductions from income.
Supervise preparation of annual budget for the firm, as well as the Finance and Accounting Department. Responsible for the financial records of the firm.
Plan, organize and attend the firm's annual audit of financial statements and internal controls conducted by external auditors, including:
- Establishing internal controls to ensure compliance with both internal policies and external regulatory requirements; and
- Identifying and implementing accounting structure, policies, safeguards, and systems to provide efficient and cost-effective service.
Serve as backup to, and perform the duties of the Director of Finance and Accounting when absent.
The successful candidate will have the ability to handle all aspects of financial management, regulatory and financial reporting, projections and budgets, as well as development and oversight of internal control policies and procedures; Expert knowledge and experience with strategic planning, negotiating, budgeting, professional services billing and collections, accounting principles and financial analysis; Excellent leadership skills, business acumen, and ability to effectively manage, lead and supervise a multidisciplinary team with firm-wide impact; An ability to create and foster a culture of agility and innovation that supports creative thinking and improves upon existing processes and services; Demonstrated executive-level communication and influencing skills with the ability to resolve issues, build consensus among groups of diverse internal/external customers; Strong communication skills, including demonstrated experience in analyzing and synthesizing how data-informed decisions are being made; Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and creating and maintaining inclusive learning and work environments; Demonstrated success in building, leading, and supporting teams and working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels of an organization; Superb technology skills, including use of accounting software, attention to detail, and the ability to handle both daily functions as well as more complex projects.
Educational and Other Requirements: Master of Business Administration and Certified Public Accountant and previous progressive experience of ten years or more in a management position in finance and accounting at a professional services or publicly-held organization, preferably a law firm. Physical requirements include working in person at the firm's office for long periods of time, at a sit-to-stand desk, using a computer, printer, copier and similar office equipment, agility to move from floor to floor for meetings, to get lunch, etc., and the ability to lift and carry up to 15 lbs.
After successfully completing the introductory period, the candidate will be eligible to work the department's approved hybrid schedule.
The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $260,000 - $285,000. The final offer amount is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, education, and other relevant skills and qualifications. Williams & Connolly LLP offers competitive compensation and benefits packages.