Controller

Confidential • Full-time • Beverly Hills, CA, US • $120k - $160k / year • 20h ago

Position Overview

An established and growing plaintiff-side personal injury law firm in Southern California is seeking a highly experienced, detail-oriented, and hands-on Controller to lead and oversee all accounting and financial operations.

The Controller will be responsible for managing the firm's financial reporting, general ledger, cash flow, budgeting, payroll accounting, trust accounting, settlement reconciliations, and internal financial controls. This position plays a critical role in maintaining financial accuracy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing executive leadership with meaningful financial analysis to support business decisions.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned accounting professional with strong technical expertise, excellent analytical abilities, and the capacity to manage both daily accounting operations and long-term financial planning.

Experience in a personal injury law firm or legal services environment is highly preferred, particularly with client trust accounting, settlement disbursements, contingency-fee revenue, and case-cost accounting.

We are seeking an individual who takes ownership of the accounting function, identifies opportunities for operational improvement, and maintains the highest standards of financial integrity and confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities1. Accounting Operations & Financial Oversight

Direct and oversee all accounting functions for the firm's two Southern California offices.
Manage the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, journal entries, and financial records.
Oversee daily accounting activities to ensure financial transactions are properly recorded, classified, and reconciled.
Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing processes.
Prepare and review balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and supporting financial schedules.
Maintain accurate records of operating revenue, expenses, liabilities, assets, and equity.
Identify and resolve accounting discrepancies, reconciliation issues, and reporting inaccuracies.
Establish consistent accounting practices and financial procedures across both locations.
Ensure the timely completion of financial reports and accounting deadlines.
Maintain appropriate documentation and supporting records for all significant financial transactions.

2. Law Firm Trust Accounting & Settlement Management

Oversee accounting activities involving client trust accounts, including IOLTA accounts.
Ensure compliance with applicable California State Bar trust accounting requirements.
Perform or oversee monthly three-way reconciliations of client trust accounts.
Monitor settlement deposits, disbursements, and transfers between client trust and operating accounts.
Review settlement accounting records to ensure proper allocation of attorney fees, client proceeds, case costs, and third-party payments.
Work closely with the Settlement, Case Management, and Liens/Subrogation teams to reconcile financial transactions.
Track outstanding settlement proceeds, disbursements, reimbursements, and unresolved balances.
Ensure client funds are properly safeguarded and maintained separately from the firm's operating funds.
Identify and investigate discrepancies involving client ledgers, trust accounts, and settlement records.
Maintain accurate documentation of settlement-related financial transactions.
Implement controls to ensure settlement funds are disbursed only after required documentation and approvals are obtained.
Coordinate with responsible attorneys on trust accounting compliance, reviews, and corrective actions.

3. Case Cost Accounting & Profitability Analysis

Oversee the tracking and reconciliation of case-related expenses and client cost advances.
Ensure expenses such as medical records, filing fees, investigations, expert witnesses, and litigation costs are accurately recorded.
Monitor outstanding case costs and identify unreimbursed advances.
Reconcile costs recovered through settlements against amounts advanced by the firm.
Work with Case Management and Litigation teams to resolve discrepancies in case expenses.
Develop reporting to evaluate case costs, settlement recoveries, and profitability.
Analyze contingency-fee revenue and related operating expenses.
Identify financial trends affecting the firm's overall profitability.
Recommend improvements to case-cost tracking and reimbursement procedures.

4. Financial Reporting, Budgeting & Forecasting

Prepare monthly financial reporting packages for executive leadership.
Develop and maintain annual operating budgets and financial forecasts.
Monitor actual expenses against approved budgets and investigate significant variances.
Prepare cash flow projections and assess future funding and operational needs.
Analyze operating costs and departmental spending.
Develop financial models to support staffing decisions, expansion initiatives, and business investments.
Monitor revenue trends, profit margins, and overall financial performance.
Provide actionable recommendations to improve financial efficiency and profitability.
Establish and maintain financial key performance indicators (KPIs).
Present financial results, trends, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership.

5. Payroll, Benefits & Labor Cost Accounting

Oversee payroll-related accounting functions in coordination with Human Resources.
Review payroll registers, payroll journal entries, tax liabilities, and payroll-related reconciliations.
Ensure accurate recording of wages, bonuses, commissions, benefits, and employer payroll expenses.
Monitor employee and contractor labor costs.
Reconcile payroll expenses to general ledger accounts and financial reports.
Review benefit-related expenses, deductions, and employer contributions.
Assist with labor cost analysis, staffing budgets, and departmental expense reporting.
Coordinate with payroll providers and Human Resources to resolve accounting discrepancies.

6. Accounts Payable, Vendors & Banking

Oversee accounts payable operations, including invoice review, expense coding, approvals, and payment processing.
Ensure vendors are paid accurately and within established payment terms.
Review recurring expenditures, service agreements, and vendor contracts.
Monitor outstanding liabilities and payment obligations.
Manage banking relationships, account reconciliations, and authorized financial transactions.
Maintain controls surrounding electronic payments, wire transfers, ACH transactions, and check issuance.
Review vendor expenses and identify opportunities for cost reductions.
Maintain organized accounting records and supporting documentation.

7. Internal Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

Develop, implement, and maintain effective accounting policies and internal financial controls.
Establish appropriate approval procedures and separation of duties for financial transactions.
Identify weaknesses in financial processes and implement corrective measures.
Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax requirements, and legal-industry financial regulations.
Monitor financial transactions for potential errors, irregularities, or unauthorized activity.
Implement controls designed to prevent fraud, misappropriation, and financial reporting errors.
Maintain confidential financial records and protect sensitive client and employee information.
Coordinate financial reviews, audits, and external accounting examinations.
Maintain appropriate records for tax preparation and regulatory compliance.

8. Tax Preparation & External Financial Coordination

Coordinate with external CPAs and tax advisors regarding federal, state, and local tax filings.
Prepare financial schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for tax preparation.
Assist with year-end financial reporting and closing activities.
Monitor tax-related obligations and filing deadlines.
Coordinate with external auditors, accountants, financial institutions, and other professional advisors.
Ensure financial records are complete, accurate, and organized for external review.

9. Accounting Systems & Process Improvement

Evaluate accounting software, financial reporting systems, and existing workflows.
Identify opportunities to automate accounting procedures and improve operational efficiency.
Develop standardized financial reporting and reconciliation processes.
Improve integration and consistency between accounting, payroll, and case management systems.
Establish procedures that improve accuracy, accountability, and timely financial reporting.
Maintain appropriate safeguards for financial data and system access.
Develop and document accounting policies, procedures, and workflows.
Support system enhancements and technology implementations as needed.

10. Leadership & Departmental Collaboration

Oversee and support accounting personnel, where applicable.
Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accounting deadlines.
Review work product for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Provide guidance and training on accounting procedures and financial controls.
Collaborate with Human Resources, Operations, Case Management, Settlements, Litigation, and executive leadership.
Promote accountability and consistency across the accounting function.
Provide executive leadership with timely and accurate financial information.
Handle sensitive financial matters with professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.

Required QualificationsEducation & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or comparable senior accounting role.
Demonstrated experience independently managing the full accounting cycle.
Strong experience preparing and analyzing financial statements.
Proven ability to oversee financial operations, manage reconciliations, and maintain effective internal controls.
Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial analysis.
Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Experience supporting payroll accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger operations.
Experience working with executive leadership and providing financial reporting and recommendations.

Technical Skills

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, complex formulas, financial models, and data analysis.
Strong proficiency with QuickBooks or comparable accounting platforms.
Experience using payroll and financial reporting systems.
Ability to reconcile complex financial transactions and investigate discrepancies.
Strong understanding of accounting controls, financial statement preparation, and reporting standards.
Ability to evaluate and improve financial systems and accounting processes.

Professional Competencies

Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
Comfortable performing hands-on accounting work while maintaining oversight of broader financial operations.
Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and office locations.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and sound professional judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior Controller or senior accounting experience in a personal injury law firm.
Experience with plaintiff-side contingency-fee practices.
Strong knowledge of California State Bar trust accounting and IOLTA requirements.
Experience overseeing settlement accounting and client disbursements.
Experience tracking case costs, advances, and reimbursements.
CPA designation.
Experience overseeing financial operations across multiple locations.
Familiarity with legal case management and accounting software.
Experience improving accounting processes in a growing organization.
Experience with Rippling or similar payroll and HRIS platforms.

Key Performance Expectations

The successful Controller will be expected to:

Deliver accurate and timely monthly financial statements.
Maintain complete and current account reconciliations.
Ensure accurate tracking and reconciliation of client trust funds.
Improve financial reporting visibility for executive management.
Maintain reliable records of settlement proceeds and case-related expenses.
Develop effective cash flow forecasting and budget monitoring.
Identify and resolve accounting discrepancies promptly.
Implement and maintain strong internal financial controls.
Improve efficiency, consistency, and accountability within accounting operations.
Provide meaningful financial analysis that supports the firm's financial stability and continued growth.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Our ideal candidate is a hands-on financial leader who is equally comfortable preparing journal entries, reviewing reconciliations, developing financial forecasts, and presenting financial results to executive management.

This individual must be highly organized, proactive, resourceful, and capable of working in a fast-paced legal environment.

The successful candidate will have the confidence to challenge inaccuracies, identify financial risks, improve inefficient processes, and recommend solutions.

We value individuals who demonstrate sound judgment, strong work ethics, confidentiality, and a commitment to financial accuracy.

Work Environment

Full-time position based in Southern California.
Responsible for financial operations supporting two office locations in Los Angeles and Orange County.
On-site presence is expected, with occasional travel between locations as needed.
Professional, fast-paced legal environment.
Regular interaction with executive leadership and departmental management.
Requires the ability to manage confidential financial information and competing deadlines.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
Paid time off and paid sick leave.
Paid holidays.
Additional benefits in accordance with company policies and eligibility requirements.

Confidential Recruitment

This position is being advertised on behalf of an established Southern California personal injury law firm conducting a confidential search.

The employer's identity and additional organizational details will be disclosed to qualified candidates at the appropriate stage of the recruitment process.

Qualified applicants should submit a resume outlining their accounting leadership experience, financial reporting expertise, and any relevant law firm accounting background.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits: