Legal Accounting Manager (Remote)

Overview

The Legal Accounting Manager serves as an operational leader, bridging the Executive Team and Accounting Team Leaders. This role oversees delivery of accounting services to law firm clients, supports and develops team performance, ensures accuracy and quality across client accounts, and drives operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in law firm accounting, including trust (IOLTA) accounting, and can apply that expertise to team leadership, client service, and day-to-day operational oversight. While primarily a management position, the role requires a strong understanding of day-to-day accounting functions to provide technical guidance, troubleshoot complex issues, and support client work when needed.

Responsibilities

People Management & Performance

• Coach, develop, and support Accounting Team Leaders through ongoing feedback, performance management, and escalations as needed.
• Hold Team Leaders accountable for individual and team performance, client service, and overall work quality.
• Oversee goal setting for Team Leaders and conduct monthly KPI check-ins.
• Lead quarterly check-ins with Team Members.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and supportive team environment.

Accounting Operations & Client Delivery

• Oversee delivery of accounting services across multiple law firm clients, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely completion.
• Maintain strong understanding of legal accounting functions, including:
  • Legal billing and client invoicing
  • Trust (IOLTA) accounting and reconciliations
  • Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
  • Vendor management
  • Bank and account reconciliations
  • Month-end financial reporting
  • Payroll processing and related reporting, including 1099s
  • Coordination and accuracy across legal practice management and accounting systems
• Provide technical guidance and support to Team Leaders and Team Members on complex accounting matters and client-specific issues.
• Assist with client escalations and support resolution of accounting discrepancies or operational challenges.

Recruiting, Hiring & Onboarding

• Support the hiring process through candidate communication, interviews, assessment reviews, and hiring recommendations.
• Develop and maintain standardized training materials, including functional accounting and software-specific resources.
• Lead or oversee new hire onboarding, including structured training plans, system and process training, and client transition preparation.
• Ensure new hires receive appropriate training and support before transitioning into assigned roles.

Client Management & Transitions

• Oversee client discovery and onboarding to ensure smooth, consistent transitions.
• Coordinate required cleanup work during onboarding and maintain visibility into onboarding progress.
• Determine appropriate staffing needs and resource allocation for new clients.
• Ensure proper client transitions to Team Leaders and Team Members, including training and knowledge transfer.
• Provide ongoing support through periodic check-ins, assistance with escalated concerns, and client reporting as applicable.

Workflow, Quality Control & Process Improvement

• Monitor Team Leader workloads and overall team capacity to ensure deadlines are met and work is appropriately balanced.
• Oversee client assignments, transitions, and resource allocation across teams.
• Perform reviews and quality checks to ensure accuracy and consistency of client deliverables.
• Identify recurring errors, workflow challenges, and process inefficiencies and implement improvements.
• Establish and maintain standardized accounting procedures and best practices to promote consistency across client work and internal operations.

Requirements

• 3+ years of law firm accounting experience, including trust (IOLTA) accounting (required).
• Previous management, supervisory, or team leadership experience (required).
• Strong working knowledge of legal accounting functions, including trust accounting, billing, reconciliations, financial reporting, and payroll.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Hands-on experience with other accounting software, including one or more of: ActionStep, Caret, Centerbase, Tabs3, Clio, Aderant, Elite, PC Law, or SurePoint/LMS.
• Strong ability to learn and adapt to new software, technology, and processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• CPA (plus, not required).

Compensation & Benefits

• Full-time employment.
• Bonus pay.
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule

• Monday to Friday

Location

• Remote

Additional Success Factors

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and hold others accountable.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and manage multiple teams and client needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and take initiative in implementing solutions.
• Strong client-service mindset with the ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a fully remote environment.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.