Chief Financial Officer

The Law Office Management Association (TLOMA); Guelph; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefits

RRSP Matching

Professional Development

Work-Life Integration

Exceptional Culture

Job summary

SV Law, a leading full‑service firm serving Guelph and Southwestern Ontario, seeks an experienced Chief Financial Officer to guide finance and technology strategy. Reporting to the Managing Partner, you will lead financial planning, budgeting, and profitability initiatives while partnering with senior leadership.

This newly created role blends finance, technology, and people leadership in a fast‑growing professional services environment.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required with a minimum of five years leadership experience within a professional services firm.
• Demonstrated ability to work hands-on and strategically guiding the partnership.
• Understanding of technology and the digital environment, including practice management, document management, and billing systems.
• Familiarity with Ontario legal market rules and law firm economics.
• Excellent people skills with a proven ability to lead teams and drive change.

Responsibilities

• Plan and strategize with the senior leadership team to balance financial stability with system transformation.
• Direct budgeting and forecasting, with reporting to the Executive Committee and Partnership.
• Develop and execute plans to streamline the client intake process and improve financial hygiene.
• Automate and simplify financial processes to enable lawyers to focus on client work.
• Collaborate on partner compensation and leadership development within the Firm.

Skills

Leadership

People skills

Strategic thinking

Education

CPA designation

Tools

Finance systems

Billing systems

Job description

About Sv Law

SV Law is a leading full-service law firm proudly serving Guelph, Elora, Waterloo, and the surrounding communities since the mid‑1960s. With a team of over 50 lawyers and dedicated professional staff, the Firm provides trusted, practical legal counsel across a comprehensive range of practice areas ― including services to both business and personal clients.

The Firm is consistently recognized as a leader across Southwestern Ontario, is home to multiple lawyers named among The Best Lawyers in Canada and has been recognized as a Top Employer, in Guelph, and across Southwestern Ontario, and Canada. The Firm is deeply rooted in its communities ― supporting local organisations through fundraising, sponsorship, and volunteerism.

The Firm has experienced continued year‑on‑year growth. To support the next phase of growth it is seeking an experienced financial leader to serve as its first Chief Financial Officer (‘CFO’).

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior finance professional to step into a newly created, high‑impact leadership role. Reporting directly to the Managing Partner and working alongside the Executive Committee and the Chief Administrative Officer, the CFO will be an integral member of the Firm’s senior leadership team ― supporting ongoing growth by maintaining and enhancing the Firm’s enviable financial foundation and overseeing the Firm’s approach to technology / artificial intelligence.

The CFO will bring the financial discipline, strategic rigour, and professional services expertise that a fast‑growing firm of this scale demands. This is a superb role for a candidate who combines strategic vision with hands‑on execution, and who thrives at the intersection of finance, technology, and people.

Key Responsibilities

• Planning & Strategy – Work with the senior leadership team to balance financial stability with the need to transform the Firm’s systems and policies. Provide oversight and ongoing enhancement of the Firm’s finance and technology teams and systems. Build and maintain a network across the legal profession to ensure the Firm is aware of competitive trends and best practices.
• Budgeting & Forecasting – Direct the planning and execution of the Firm’s annual budget cycle, with responsibility to ensure the Firm achieves its annual Profit targets. Reporting regularly to the Executive Committee and Partnership. Provide ongoing education to all lawyers on fee strategy and profitability.
• Client & Finances – Develop and execute a plan to streamline the client intake process. Drive the ongoing improvement of financial hygiene process.
• Lawyer Support – Automate and simplify financial processes to ensure that lawyers can primarily focus on client work. Work with the Partnership on the partner compensation cycle to align with the Firm’s strategy.
• People & Culture – Serve as a senior leader across the Firm, promoting the development of a positive and proactive culture.

Qualifications & Experience

• CPA designation required with a minimum of five years leadership experience within a professional services firm ‑ preferably within the legal industry.
• Demonstrated ability to work both hands‑on, personally delivering service, and strategically advising and guiding the partnership
• Understanding of technology and the fast‑changing digital environment, including experience with practice management, document management, and billing systems.
• Familiarity with the Ontario legal market, Law Society of Ontario regulations, and the economics of law firm management ‑ including partnership structures and lawyer compensation models.
• Excellent people skills with a proven ability to build trust, influence and persuade partners, lead teams, and foster collaboration while driving change and adaptation across the Firm.
• A superb sense of humour and a genuine willingness to work as part of a successful, collaborative, high‑performing team.

What We Offer

Competitive Executive Compensation

A total rewards package commensurate with the seniority and scope of the role, including a performance‑based incentive component.

• Comprehensive Benefits - Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and employee wellness programs.
• RRSP Matching - A meaningful employer‑matched RRSP program to support your long‑term financial security.
• Professional Development - Ongoing investment in leadership growth through continuing education, professional development, and industry engagement.
• Work‑Life Integration - A flexible working arrangement balancing the requirements of this senior role. The Firm highly values work / life integration.
• Exceptional Culture - A collegial, community‑minded environment where your contributions will be valued, recognised, and rewarded.

SV Law is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from equity‑deserving communities.