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Finance Manager — Job Posting About The Job

WHO WE ARE

At The Estate Lawyers, we fiercely protect trustees from getting sued and beneficiaries from getting screwed. We're California's premier trust and probate litigation firm, built for speed, precision, and results. We're a litigation-first law firm driven by accountability, team excellence, and delivering elite service to clients navigating high-stakes trust and estate disputes. Our Finance Manager plays a critical role in keeping the firm financially sound and operationally sharp. This role owns the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of finance operations — from cash flow and billing to reporting and controls — and serves as the connective tissue between our finance team and CFO as the firm scales.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Finance Manager is the operational core of our finance function — ensuring the numbers are right, deadlines are met, and leadership always has a clear, accurate picture of where we stand. You'll work closely with our CFO and report to firm leadership. You'll manage a team of four finance professionals, partner with our outsourced accounting firm, and serve as the day-to-day lead across billing, collections, trust accounting, payroll, cash, reporting, budgets, and systems. The environment is growing. We're building and refining systems while we scale — which means there's real opportunity to shape how finance operates here, not just maintain what exists. If you're someone who brings order to a moving target and takes ownership of getting things right, this role has a lot of room for that. This role is primarily leadership-focused — you'll spend most of your time setting direction, coaching your team, and ensuring the work meets the standard. You'll also stay close enough to the work to catch what matters and step in when needed.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

You notice when something is off — and you don't wait to be asked before looking into it. When you bring a problem to leadership, you bring a perspective on how to solve it too. You're comfortable making calls, even when not everyone agrees. You gather the right input, weigh it, and decide — without needing the room to sign off before you move. You hold yourself and your team to high standards. Accuracy and timeliness matter to you, and you take ownership of the quality of what goes out under your name. You communicate clearly and efficiently, and you work well with autonomy. You don't need constant check-ins to stay on track — clear expectations and defined ownership are enough. You're also steady in a changing environment. When things are in motion, you're the kind of person who helps bring structure to it rather than waiting for it to settle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership Direct and manage four finance team members: set assignments, own deadlines, review work, and hold performance accountable Lead weekly team huddle and individual check-ins; coach performance directly and constructively Coordinate hiring and performance reviews with the CFO and HR Build backup coverage across billing, collections, payroll, and deposits Billing, Collections & Client Trust Keep billing cycles on time; resolve missing time, unbilled work, and billing approvals with Legal Production Review accounts receivable weekly; oversee collections, retainer replenishment, payment plans, and cash posting Ensure 100% of monthly three-way trust reconciliations are completed and exceptions escalated immediately per Rule 1.15 and State Bar requirements Payroll, Payables & Cash Review payroll, vendor invoices, case costs, and payment runs; maintain separation between preparation and approval Monitor cash daily; prepare the weekly cash report and 13-week forecast; escalate shortages without waiting to be asked Coordinate all finance-related deadlines — tax, insurance, lease, vendor, licensing Outsourced Accounting & Close Manage the outsourced accounting firm; enforce month-end deadlines; review reconciliations, corrections, and financial statements Escalate negative client balances, improper transfers, and material reporting errors promptly Budgets, Forecasts & Reporting Prepare the annual budget; update monthly forecasts using inputs from the team Deliver the weekly CFO management report at least two business days before each finance meeting; monthly package by the 10th business day — no exceptions Prepare profitability reports by office, attorney, practice, and case type; analyze variances and recommend actions Build financial models and special analyses for CFO review Systems, Procedures & Controls Write, document, and maintain approved SOPs; train staff and build backup coverage Maintain data integrity across Clio, QuickBooks Online, RAMP, ADP, and reporting systems Identify process gaps and escalate proposed improvements — don't wait for someone to notice

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum 5 years of progressive financial management experience within a law firm or professional services organization Minimum 2 years of experience supervising or managing finance personnel Demonstrated experience overseeing billing, collections, payroll, accounts payable, and financial operations Experience with California client trust accounting requirements, including monthly three-way trust account reconciliations Demonstrated experience preparing operating budgets, financial forecasts, cash flow projections, and financial performance reports Strong knowledge of financial reporting, account reconciliations, and general ledger fundamentals Demonstrated ability to identify financial discrepancies, analyze variances, and recommend corrective actions Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of financial deliverables through completion Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to coach, develop, and hold team members accountable Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills Proficiency in QuickBooks Online Strongly preferred: Experience overseeing outsourced accounting providers and coordinating month-end closing activities Experience developing financial procedures, implementing internal controls, and improving financial workflows Experience developing and maintaining rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modeling, data analysis, and reporting Familiarity with Clio, ADP Workforce Now and/or RAMP a plus Comfortable presenting financial data to senior leadership and defending your analysis Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred

BENEFITS

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$160,000-$180,000 per year

Work Location:

Irvine, California -

Hybrid Benefits:

401(k) with matching Paid time off Medical, dental and vision insurance Flexible spending account Health savings account Life insurance Paid parental leave