Job Summary (basic description)The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for stewardship of the Firm's finances, including financial reporting and budgeting, financial planning & analysis, treasury, facilities, insurance, and procurement. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role manages all the corporate finance work including monitoring and analyzing key aspects of Jackson Lewis financial results such as cash flow, profitability, and capital expenditures, as well as preparing periodic financial and operating reports. The CFO partners closely with firm leadership, including the firm Chair and Managing Principal, Regional Coordinators, OMPs and Business Services Chiefs, to align operations with firm strategy and support data driven decision-making. The CFO ensures the firm's financial health through sound fiscal management, effective controls, accurate reporting, disciplined budgeting practices, and strategic allocation of financial resources.
Essential Functions • Provide strategic leadership and direction for the firm's finance function, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, accounts payable, tax, financial reporting, and procurement.
• Lead the development and execution of the firm's annual budget, financial forecasts, and long-range financial planning processes.
• Serve as a strategic financial partner to office leadership in developing and implementing strategies focused on office-level financial performance, providing analysis, insights, and recommendations that drive profitability, expense management, and achievement of financial objectives.
• Present firm leadership and other stakeholders with relevant, accurate and timely financial data and analysis to drive data-informed decision making.
• Provide support and collaborate with leadership on principal compensation.
• Present financial and operational results to firm leadership, the Board of Directors, and equity principals on a regular basis in both written and verbal formats.
• Monitor and analyze financial performance, providing timely reporting, insights, and recommendations to firm leadership regarding trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial reporting, accounting activities, and financial statements.
• Establish and maintain effective financial controls, policies, and procedures that safeguard firm assets and support sound fiscal management.
• In conjunction with the Firm's Controller, oversee cash management, lead liquidity planning, banking relationships, and treasury activities to ensure the firm's ongoing financial stability.
• Review and determine appropriate levels of insurance are in place to safeguard the Firm's assets.
• Provide executive oversight of the firm's facilities, real estate portfolio, and property management functions, ensuring the effective planning, utilization, maintenance, and operation of office space in alignment with business needs, financial objectives, and workplace standards.
• Oversee participation in industry surveys, including analyzing how the firm's data compares to industry metrics and using the information to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure effective management of the firm's tax obligations through oversight of tax planning, reporting, compliance, and audit activities while maintaining strong controls and minimizing financial risk.
• Oversee financial audits of the Firm
• Manage relationships with financial institutions, auditors, tax advisors and other external financial partners.
• Provide financial guidance to administrative department leaders regarding budget planning, expense management, resource allocation, and financial performance.
• Oversee firmwide procurement activities, including purchasing policies, vendor management, contract review, and expenditure controls.
• Champion continuous process improvement initiatives by identifying, prioritizing, and implementing process enhancements through innovation and increasing operational efficiency, including through the use of enhanced technology and AI enabled service delivery models.
• Lead, in collaboration with the Chief Information Officer and Chief Operating Officer, the continuous evaluation and implementation of improvements to the firm's financial systems, tools, and reporting capabilities.
• Assure that the Firm has a high-performing finance organization through the ongoing attraction, development and retention of skilled financial professionals through fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Operating Officer and firm leadership on matters related to financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and fiscal stewardship.
Qualifications/Skills Required Experience:
• 15+ years of progressive leadership in Finance, Accounting, or related field required.
• Prior experience as a law firm CFO preferred or leadership experience in professional services or partnership-based organization.
• Strong financial literacy and prior experience overseeing business unit or office level P&Ls.
• Leadership experience at a growth-stage business or law firm preferred.
Education:
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
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Skills: • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional teams and drive strategic initiatives.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to communicate with lawyers.
• Ability to balance multiple competing priorities.
• Strong business acumen with experience managing profitability and service delivery models.
• Ability to influence and build collaborative relationships.
• Extensive understanding of law firm financial and operational trends and reporting capabilities.
• Strong organizational and follow up skills; attention to detail.
• Proven success leading teams including giving constructive feedback, mentoring, managing, developing, building, and leading high-performance teams.
• Understanding of organizational culture.
• Flexible, self-starter and results oriented; strives for continuous improvement.
• Ability to build highly effective working relationships with senior firm leadership, partners, firm committees, and other key stakeholders.
For New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey area, the expected salary range for this position is between $750,000 and $825,000. This position is also eligible for annual bonuses. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.
Jackson Lewis offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
- firm-paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
- Employee assistance program and other benefits
