Controller

Controller

Jacob Jensen & Associates | Utah

Salary: $115,000–$140,000 annually, depending on experience
Bonus: Up to 20% of base salary based on performance
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Utah

About Jacob Jensen & Associates

Jacob Jensen & Associates is a growing personal injury law firm committed to providing exceptional representation and outstanding service to our clients. As our firm continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced, highly motivated Controller to lead our financial operations and help build the systems, processes, and financial discipline necessary to support that growth.This is a key leadership position with significant interaction with firm ownership and senior leadership. The ideal candidate is more than an accountant—they are a strategic financial leader who understands how to turn financial information into actionable business decisions.

Position Overview

The Controller will have primary responsibility for the firm's accounting and financial operations, including financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, forecasting, payroll, trust and settlement accounting, internal controls, and financial analysis.The Controller will work closely with firm leadership to understand the financial performance of the firm, identify opportunities for improvement, manage financial risk, and ensure the firm has accurate and timely information to make sound business decisions.The successful candidate will be highly organized, analytical, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced professional-services environment.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee all day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the firm.
• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Provide firm leadership with clear, timely financial reporting and analysis.
• Develop financial dashboards and key performance indicators.
• Analyze revenue, expenses, profitability, cash flow, and financial trends.
• Establish and maintain appropriate accounting policies and internal controls.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of the firm's financial records.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Monitor and manage firm-wide cash flow.
• Develop cash-flow forecasts and proactively identify potential cash needs.
• Manage banking relationships and firm cash accounts.
• Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, and working capital.
• Develop processes to improve cash conversion and financial efficiency.
• Provide leadership with regular cash and liquidity reporting.

Trust, Settlement & Case Accounting

• Oversee accounting related to client trust accounts and settlement proceeds.
• Ensure appropriate reconciliation and documentation of trust and operating accounts.
• Coordinate settlement accounting and disbursement processes.
• Establish controls to ensure accurate tracking of case-related costs and expenses.
• Work closely with attorneys and case-management personnel to ensure financial information is accurate and timely.
• Maintain compliance with applicable accounting and trust-accounting requirements.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the firm's annual budgeting process.
• Develop financial forecasts based on case volume, settlements, revenue, staffing, and operating expenses.
• Monitor actual results against budget and provide variance analysis.
• Identify trends and recommend corrective action when appropriate.
• Assist leadership with long-term financial planning.

Payroll & Compensation

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Maintain appropriate payroll controls and reconciliations.
• Assist leadership with compensation analysis, bonus structures, and incentive programs.
• Develop financial models to evaluate staffing and compensation decisions.

Business Analysis

• Analyze profitability by attorney, department, case type, and other relevant metrics.
• Identify opportunities to improve operating margins and reduce unnecessary expenses.
• Develop financial models to assist with strategic decisions.
• Evaluate the financial impact of new initiatives, technology, staffing, and vendor relationships.
• Partner with leadership to establish measurable financial and operational goals.

Leadership & Process Improvement

• Lead and develop the firm's accounting team.
• Establish clear processes, procedures, and accountability within the accounting function.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve financial processes.
• Evaluate and improve accounting technology and systems.
• Create scalable financial infrastructure to support the firm's continued growth.
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to firm ownership and senior leadership.

What We're Looking ForThe ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, preferably including Controller-level responsibility.
• Experience managing financial operations for a professional-services organization is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of accrual accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, and financial analysis.
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills and the ability to build useful financial models.
• Experience overseeing payroll and accounting staff.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to identify problems and independently develop solutions.
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with executives, attorneys, and non-financial team members.

Preferred Experience

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Personal injury law firm accounting
• Legal trust accounting
• Settlement accounting
• Law firm case-cost accounting
• Professional-services financial management
• Multi-entity accounting
• Financial dashboard/KPI development
• Law-firm management software
• QuickBooks or comparable accounting systems

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12 months, the successful Controller will:

• Provide leadership with accurate financial statements on a consistent monthly schedule.
• Establish reliable cash-flow forecasting.
• Strengthen trust and settlement accounting controls.
• Develop meaningful financial and operational dashboards.
• Improve budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and control expenses.
• Establish clear accounting processes and accountability.
• Build a scalable accounting function capable of supporting continued firm growth.
• Become a trusted financial resource for firm ownership and leadership.

CompensationBase Salary: $115,000–$140,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

The Controller will also be eligible for a performance-based annual bonus of up to 20% of base salary.

Bonus performance will be based on measurable objectives including:

• Financial reporting accuracy and timeliness
• Cash-flow management
• Trust and settlement accounting compliance
• Budget and forecast performance
• Financial reporting and KPI development
• Cost control and profitability improvement
• Accounting-team leadership and development

Exceptional performance may result in compensation above the target bonus opportunity.

Why Join Jacob Jensen & Associates?

This is an opportunity to join a growing personal injury law firm and have a meaningful impact on the way the business operates.The Controller will have a significant voice in the firm's financial and operational decisions and will have the opportunity to build systems and processes rather than simply maintain existing ones.If you are a hands-on financial leader who enjoys solving problems, building better systems, and helping a growing organization become more successful, we would like to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your relevant experience and why you believe you would be a strong fit for the Controller position at Jacob Jensen & Associates.

Pay: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Progressive Accounting or Finance: 5 years (Preferred)
• Personal Injury Law Accounting: 3 years (Preferred)
• QuickBooks or Comparable Accounting Systems: 5 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Murray, UT 84121 (Required)

Work Location: In person