Controller

Job Title: Controller – Boutique Litigation Law Firm

Location: Encinitas, CA (primary) | Boca Raton, FL (satellite office)

Position Type: Full-time, on-site in Encinitas with occasional travel to Boca Raton

Salary Range: $125K- $160K based on experience

About Us

We are a growing litigation firm focused on complex commercial and electronic payments matters. We are seeking a hands-on Controller to own our financial operations, with a particular emphasis on trust accounting, tax matters, and overseeing a small billing/accounting team.

• Experience working in a law firm.
• Experience with Clio.
• Directing cash flow,
• Manage trust and matter funds.

Key Responsibilities

Trust & Client Accounting

• Oversee all law firm trust accounting in strict compliance with California and Florida bar rules.
• Monitor trust account ledgers, perform monthly three-way reconciliations, and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Implement and enforce internal controls around client funds, retainers, and disbursements.

Firm & Partner Tax Matters

• Coordinate all federal, state, and local tax filings for the firm (with outside CPAs as needed).
• Track and help optimize tax planning and estimated payments for the firm and managing partners.
• Maintain accurate records for K‑1s, distributions, and partner draws; ensure alignment between books and tax reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate filings of information returns (1099NEC and 1099MISC).

Financial Management & Reporting

• Own the general ledger and month-end close; prepare monthly financial statements, cash flow forecasts, and variance analyses.
• Develop matter-level and practice-area reporting to support pricing, staffing, and profitability decisions.
• Manage banking relationships and oversee cash management, including lines of credit.

Team Leadership (Billing & Accounting)

• Supervise and mentor 2–3 staff who handle billing, A/R, A/P, and day-to-day bookkeeping.
• Ensure accurate, timely billing (including CLIO, e‑billing platforms) and collections follow-up.
• Standardize processes, checklists, and controls to reduce errors and increase efficiency across both offices.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and improve our accounting, billing, and timekeeping systems (e.g., law firm practice management and accounting software).
• Implement best practices for matter budgeting, WIP and A/R management, and cost controls.
• Partner with firm leadership on annual budgeting, scenario planning, and KPI dashboards.

Internal Controls

• Develop, implement, and maintain internal controls to safeguard firm assets and mitigate risk.

Strategic Advisory

• Act as a liaison between the financial team and firm leadership, providing financial insights and analysis to support strategic decision-making.

Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits, Audits and Other Insurance

• Oversee all onboarding and offboarding of personnel through HRIS system (Rippling).
• Review and process payroll on a bi-weekly basis or as needed.
• Respond to state agency notices in a timely manner (e.g., unemployment and disability claims).
• Update Employee Handbooks and monitor required training for employees (e.g., Workplace Harassment Training).
• Coordinate with outside benefits brokers and partners for open enrollment of health and welfare benefits and ongoing requests.
• Coordinate with outside brokers and partners for business insurance and audits (e.g., malpractice insurance, property and casualty, cyber insurance, Workers Compensation).

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including 3+ years in a controller or similar role.
• Direct experience with professional services; law firm experience and trust accounting exposure strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of U.S. tax concepts for partnerships/LLCs and owner distributions.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing small accounting or billing teams.
• Advanced proficiency with accounting software (Quickbooks Online) and Excel; comfort working with legal billing/practice management systems.
• Strong attention to detail, high integrity, and ability to operate with minimal supervision.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Preferred

• CPA or equivalent professional credential.
• Prior experience in a small to mid-sized law firm environment.
• Experience working across multiple offices or jurisdictions.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based bonus potential.
• Medical/dental/vision benefits.
• PTO and paid holidays.

How to Apply

Please email your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your relevant law firm or professional services experience and your approach to trust accounting and tax management to [email protected] with the subject line: “Controller – [Your Name]”.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $125,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person