Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is one of the premier law firms in the country, handling major complex plaintiff-side litigation in nine practice groups. Based in Washington, DC, it has over 100 attorneys in offices in Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Palm Beach Gardens, and Raleigh. For over 45 years, the Firm has fought corporate abuse, pursuing litigation on behalf of affected individuals, whistleblowers, public entities and other institutions in cases that have raised challenging, significant and novel issues.

Cohen Milstein is seeking a Director of Accounting for its Washington, DC office. This solutions-oriented senior leader, who works closely with the Firm s Managing Partner, Executive Director and other senior leadership, is responsible for overseeing the Firm s accounting department and providing strategy, leadership and direction to the Firm s accounting and financial needs. This is a hands-on role that is also responsible for managing the work of five other department team members.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of the Firm s accounting and financial functions, specifically providing leadership and management of the Firm s Accounting operations.
• Sets overall strategic approach to addressing the accounting- and finance-related needs of the Firm and the Accounting department.
• Establishes and implements short-term and long-term departmental goals, objectives, policies, controls, reporting systems and operating procedures.
• Ensures the Firm s compliance with local, state, and federal law and regulations, including all reporting requirements.
• Works effectively with the Firm s bank and outside accountant on various tax and accounting related issues, including the annual reviews of the Firm financial statements.
• Manages the Firm s relationships with financial services firms and other business partners.
• Administers the daily operations of the accounting department, including recruiting, training, supervising and evaluating the department s staff, which includes an Assistant Controller, a Senior Staff Accountant, two Accounts Payable Specialists and a Bookkeeper.
• Develops and monitors all Firm budgets and performs periodic budget reviews.
• Assists with ROI analysis of the Firm and each of the Firm s practice groups and develops business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for special projects and initiatives.
• Prepares monthly financial statements and management reports and performs special projects and initiatives as required.
• Identifies, recommends, develops, implements and supports cost-effective solutions for the financial activities of the Firm.
• Oversees Firm s escrow and litigation accounts.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor s Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• CPA, MBA or equivalent preferred.
• A track record of accomplishments performing at least ten years of accounting experience in a law firm, with a preference for experience working in a plaintiffs-side firm.
• Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting procedures and principles and relevant federal, state and local laws.
• Proficiency in Aderant Expert Sierra, Chrome River, iTimekeep, Microsoft Office and iManage, or equivalents.
• Experience successfully implementing a fully integrated Human Resources Information System (HRIS) preferred.
• Ability to work in an environment with shifting priorities, time-sensitive deadlines and a willingness to work more than 40 hours per week when necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication capabilities.

Personal Characteristics:

• Professional maturity with the highest standards of ethics and trustworthiness.
• Customer-service orientation for internal audiences.
• Results-oriented strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and good judgment.
• Positive and professional demeanor with a can do approach to work and an ability to adapt and change course when necessary.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial attitude and a capacity to thrive in a fast paced, hands-on environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to manage subordinates, collaborate across other administrative departments and execute effectively through others.

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a resume and cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience. Application materials should be submitted in the order outlined above, and as one single PDF document.

Cohen Milstein is committed to recruiting, promoting, and retaining a diverse workplace within our firm. We view diversity as an inclusive concept that encompasses, without limitation, race, color, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, age, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We believe that diversity enhances the quality of service we provide to clients and makes the Firm a more vibrant and fulfilling place to work, and we strongly encourage women, people of color, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

For the safety of our employees and clients, Cohen Milstein requires employees working in its offices (subject to certain exceptions) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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