Manager of Accounting

Job Description

Professional and legal services firm has immediate need for a Manager of Accounting to join its Seattle office. The Manager of Accounting manages the billing team to ensure timely and accurate invoicing of clients; fiduciary oversight of client trust accounts; understands and uses financial data to provided appropriate analysis for office leadership; and ensures that all client billing and trust accounting functions are in accordance with Firm wide policies and procedures. Identifies opportunities for process improvements; recommends new processes and technology to improve efficiency; coordinates and facilitates the Accounting Department services for the local office, and is responsible for coordinating daily workflow and supervising department staff.
 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Manages the daily accounting functions including, planning, prioritizing, directing work flow, acting as a resource for questions, and interfacing with senior management
• Works closely with several key firm clients and manages billing relationships with same
• Ensures that internal/external customer questions/problems are responded to and resolved in an expeditious manner to deliver excellent customer service
• Manages billing team, providing mentoring, training and identifying professional development opportunities; monitors and manages projects
• Develops ad hoc reports/charts/analysis
• Prepares and interprets data to help guide financial decisions and direction
• Handles responses to partners for historical client accounting information
• Coordinates staff billing and e-billing activities, including overseeing monthly e-billing audit
• Oversees trust process, acting as a resource for trust account questions, including preparing for and responding to local bar association audit requests
• Prepares monthly financial reporting package with analysis for Office Managing Partner; as well as ad hoc office level/timekeeper projection analysis
• Participates in collection meetings and strategy sessions for the office, including reaching out to clients to resolve issues with past due invoices or e-billing issues
• Develops training for the billing team, lawyers and Practice Assistants on billing specific software, including third party e-billing websites
 

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting preferred
• 5-10 years of accounting and professional experience with 5 years’ experience as a manager, previous professional services or law firm experience desired
• Advanced level experience in Elite and Excel
• Familiarity with general ledger chart of accounts
• Ability to communicate and respond to inquiries/requests with diplomacy and tact
• Ability to oversee multiple functions while leading and directing the staff
• Must be able to work independently
• Ability to work with a high degree of accuracy
• Understanding of financial accounting systems 
• Experience with Microsoft Office software including Excel
• Financial reporting and report-writing experience required
• Extensive prior professional services billing experience required
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet obligations with confidentiality, integrity and sensitivity