Chief Financial Officer - Law Firm

Kreischer Miller's Retained Executive Search group takes a highly personalized and collaborative approach to executive recruiting.  We work directly with owners of privately-held and family-owned companies to help build their leadership teams. Our goal is to find the best fit for your organization, top-tier executives who will make an immediate and long-term positive impact on your company.  Our Search group has a proven track record of locating talented senior-level executives. We are proud to be a perennial name on Philadelphia Business Journal’s list of Top 10 Retained Search Firms.

Law Firm Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Philadelphia, PA (Hybrid)

About our Client:
Our client is a nationally recognized law firm delivering litigation, regulatory, compliance, and transactional legal services. With more than 150 attorneys across multiple offices, they advise businesses in highly regulated industries and complex litigation matters. Their culture is collaborative, entrepreneurial, and client-focused.

Position Summary:
This role requires an accomplished Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the firm’s financial strategy and operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and working closely with the President, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors, the CFO will serve as a trusted advisor and financial steward of the firm.

The CFO will provide strategic financial and accounting guidance, ensure fiscal discipline, and oversee all aspects of the firm’s financial and accounting management. This includes, but is not limited to financial planning and analysis, accounting, billing, collections, cash flow management, and compliance. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in professional services finance, preferably within a law firm or similar, and a proven ability to partner with attorneys and leadership to drive profitability, sustainability, and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Strategy & Leadership
  Serve as a strategic advisor to firm leadership, providing financial insights that inform firm wide decision making.
  • Develop and execute financial strategies to support growth, profitability, and long term sustainability.
  • Partner with leadership on firm expansion initiatives, including mergers, lateral acquisitions, and new market opportunities.
• Financial Planning & Reporting
  Direct budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.
  • Oversee preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including attorney productivity, practice group performance, and client/matter profitability.
  • Provide actionable financial analysis and recommendations to improve performance and efficiency.
• Operations, Compliance & Risk Management
  Manage accounting, billing, collections, and trust accounting functions in compliance with cash accounting principles, tax regulations, and professional standards.
  • Ensure strong internal controls, risk management practices, and financial compliance.
  • Partner with the COO on insurance, vendor management, and business continuity planning.
• Cash Flow & Capital Management
  Monitor cash flow, working capital, and capital expenditures to safeguard the firm’s financial health.
  • Manage banking relationships, credit facilities, and capital allocation.
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
  Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Finance and Accounting team.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with HR, IT, Marketing, Operations, and practice leadership on cross-functional initiatives that impact financial performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA, MBA, or JD strongly preferred.
• Experience with 3E - Elite Software
• 15+ years of progressive financial management experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a professional services environment (law firm or similar experience strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of law firm economics, partnership structures, and billing models.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, planning, and analysis.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the firm.
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing finance teams.

Key Attributes:

• Integrity, transparency, and sound financial judgment.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on execution.
• High business acumen with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights.
• Collaborative leadership style aligned with the firm’s values and client-focused culture.
• Commitment to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Preference will be given to local candidates.  We will only consider candidates legally eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.