Operations Finance Specialist

JOB TITLE: Operations Finance Specialist

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

SCHEDULE: M-F, 37.5 hrs./week

LOCATION: Kansas City, MO (hybrid work environment)

REPORTS TO: Operations Finance Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Operations Finance Specialist supports the Firm's financial operations related to mergers and acquisitions, fee rates, pricing, and profitability. The position compiles, reviews, validates, and analyzes financial data; prepares recurring and ad hoc reports; maintains financial information, models, and related systems; and performs defined financial analyses used to support acquisition targets, lateral opportunities, pricing, and profitability decisions. The Operations Finance Specialist works with Finance, Business Development, Shared Services, attorneys, and other business professionals to coordinate financial information, support established financial processes, maintain data and system accuracy, and identify issues requiring further review or escalation.

COMPENSATION: At Spencer Fane, we carefully consider a wide range of factors when determining compensation, including but not limited to location, skillset, experience, training, licenses, certifications and other business or organizational needs. Compensation will be determined based on the above factors along with the requirements of the position. We expect the hourly rate for this position to be between $38.00 and $44.00.

BENEFITS: Medical, Vision, Dental, PTO, 401k, Life, Disability.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Fee Rates

• Support the development and implementation of the Firm’s rate policies and procedures.
• Review rate exception requests for accuracy and completeness and process approvals in accordance with established Firm policies and procedures.
• Support the annual rate review process, including data preparation, validation, reporting, and assigned workstreams.
• Work with Shared Service departments to improve InTapp Open and ensure data integrity.
• Conduct ongoing audits of various rate types in the Aderant system, reconcile discrepancies, and maintain rate data.
• Create periodic and annual Fee Rate reports for leadership.

Pricing

• Support the development and implementation of the Firm’s pricing policies and procedures.
• Provide and compile periodic financial and pricing data to leadership regarding client and matter portfolios to inform strategic decision-making.
• Assist with the implementation of the Firm’s pricing software initiative.
• Conduct ongoing audits of the Firm’s pricing software, research data discrepancies, and maintain pricing data.
• Maintain pricing-related data, models, and documentation to support accuracy, consistency, and audit readiness.

Financial Modeling & Profitability Analysis

• Assist in the development and maintenance of the Firm’s financial and profitability models.
• Prepare periodic and ad hoc financial and profitability analyses to support margin, efficiency, and pricing decisions.
• Create and maintain custom dashboards and reports for Attorneys using established financial data and reporting tools.
• Assist with documenting financial and profitability model methodologies, policies and procedures.
• Conduct ongoing audits of the Firm’s profitability model software, validate data and system outputs, research discrepancies, and maintain established system data.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Compile, review, validate, and analyze financial data to support the evaluation of firm and lateral acquisition targets.
• Analyze financial data and identify trends, variances, and other findings to support the evaluation of potential combinations.
• Maintain M&A targets template.
• Assist the Operations Integrations team with system testing and validation, as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Business Support

• Partner with Business Development and other stakeholders to provide pricing, modeling, and financial data for Requests for Proposals (RFPs), client presentations, and related materials.
• Proactively coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure pricing inputs, assumptions, and deliverables are complete, accurate, and aligned with Firm standards and timelines.
• Assist Finance Manager with the advisement to Partners and business professionals on pricing structures and methodologies, balancing client requirements with the Firm’s financial objectives.

Quality Assurance & Issue Resolution

• Apply established pricing methodologies, Firm guidelines, and analytical standards to validate financial data, models, and reporting outputs.
• Identify data issues, modeling risks, and inconsistencies; research underlying causes and resolve issues within established procedures or escalate for additional review.
• Review work products for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with established requirements prior to delivery.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Operations or a related field, preferred.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, pricing, profitability analysis, or related financial activities, including compiling, reviewing, and validating financial data used to support transaction analysis, pricing decisions, profitability analysis, financial reporting, or other business decisions. Experience within a law firm or professional services environment, including exposure to firm combinations, lateral acquisitions, client or matter pricing, fee rates, profitability, or related financial processes, preferred.
• Mergers & Acquisitions: Demonstrated experience supporting M&A or related transaction activities, including compiling, reviewing, validating, and analyzing financial data; supporting due diligence activities; maintaining acquisition and lateral target information; and preparing financial information used to evaluate potential combinations preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, financial formulas, charts, and data analysis, with demonstrated experience using financial data to prepare and validate reports and analyses. Experience working with financial, pricing, billing, profitability, or related business systems; familiarity with Power BI or similar reporting and visualization tools preferred.
• Financial & Analytical Skills: Knowledge of financial concepts and analytical techniques applicable to pricing, profitability, transaction, and related financial data, with the capability to interpret financial information, perform defined analyses, and identify trends, discrepancies, and financial impacts requiring further review.
• Data Validation & Reconciliation: Skilled in reconciling financial data across systems and sources, identifying inconsistencies and data integrity issues, and tracing discrepancies to their source to support accurate financial models, reporting, and analysis.
• Problem-Solving: Applies established procedures to research and resolve routine financial, data, and process issues, including identifying the source of discrepancies and escalating matters that fall outside established processes or require additional review.
• Communication & Collaboration: Effective verbal and written communication skills to explain financial information, clarify data requirements, and coordinate with attorneys, Finance, Business Development, Shared Services, and other business professionals.
• Confidentiality & Professionalism: Maintains confidentiality of sensitive financial, client, employee, transaction, and business information in accordance with Firm policies and established requirements.
• Process Documentation: Experience documenting financial processes, procedures, model methodologies, and system requirements with sufficient detail to support consistent application, data integrity, and ongoing maintenance.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Primarily performed in an office or hybrid work environment with frequent interaction across legal, business development, finance, and operations teams.
• Work involves regular use of computers, financial systems, and analytical tools.
• Standard business hours are expected; however, extended hours may be required to meet proposal deadlines, pricing deliverables, or other business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required to support Firm initiatives, including due diligence, integration activities, or meetings.
• Fast-paced, collaborative environment requiring adaptability, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods while performing administrative and docketing duties.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. as necessary for filing or document handling.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions, including typing, filing, and document scanning.
• Occasional bending, reaching, and handling of office equipment or materials.
• Adequate visual and auditory ability to accurately review legal documents, operate computer systems, and communicate effectively.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.