Assistant Controller

Vaco by Highspring; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

A highly regarded personal injury law firm in Irvine is seeking an experienced Assistant Controller to manage daily accounting operations, focusing on trust accounting and financial reporting. The role involves overseeing the trust accounting team, ensuring compliance with regulations, and preparing financial statements. Candidates must possess a strong accounting background, excellent analytical skills, and law firm experience.

Benefits

Performance-based discretionary bonus

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Opportunities for ongoing professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years accounting experience within a law firm.
• In-depth knowledge of trust accounting rules required.
• CPA certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operations of the trust accounting department.
• Prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Conduct monthly three-way trust reconciliations.

Skills

Trust accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

QuickBooks

NetSuite

Excel

Job description

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This range is provided by Vaco by Highspring. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$120,000.00/yr - $175,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Vaco by Highspring

Job Title: Assistant Controller (Fully onsite - Irvine, CA)
A highly regarded personal injury law firm headquartered in Irvine area is seeking a skilled and experienced Assistant Controller to join its dynamic accounting team. This role plays a critical part in managing daily accounting operations under the direction of the Controller, with a strong focus on trust accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
Position Overview
The Assistant Controller will oversee all aspects of client trust accounting and financial transactions related to personal injury settlements, disbursements, and case expenses. This role supervises the trust accounting team and ensures strict compliance with accounting regulations and ethical guidelines. The ideal candidate will have a robust accounting background, meticulous attention to detail, and prior experience in a law firm environment, ideally in personal injury or contingency fee-based practices.
Key Responsibilities
Trust Accounting

• Supervise the daily operations of the trust accounting department, including staff oversight, workflow management, and deadlines.
• Oversee all client trust account transactions (deposits, disbursements, wire transfers).
• Ensure timely, accurate disbursement of settlements, attorney fees, lien payments, and client refunds.
• Maintain compliance with applicable State Bar trust accounting rules and internal policies.
• Conduct monthly three-way trust reconciliations; investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Review settlement statements and disbursement ledgers for accuracy.
• Manage trust account audits and regulatory inquiries.
• Develop, document, and improve trust accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Coordinate with attorneys, case managers, and lien resolution teams on case financials.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate trust accounting team members.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Assist with preparation of financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) in accordance with GAAP.
• Deliver accurate financial and KPI reports to leadership.
• Ensure integrity and transparency in reporting practices and internal controls.
• Oversee reconciliations (bank accounts, audit schedules, tax filings with third parties).
• Prepare and post journal entries to record financial transactions properly.
• Manage AP/AR cycles, including vendor invoicing, collections, and revenue recognition.

Other Duties

• Lead ad hoc projects and strategic initiatives assigned by the CFO.
• Assist in preparing annual budgets and financial forecasts.
• Process biweekly payroll.
• Support the Financial Controller in calculating quarterly commissions.
• Generate Salesforce-based KPI and financial reports.
• Oversee wire transfers and ACH distributions.
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years of accounting experience within a law firm; personal injury or contingency fee-based preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of trust accounting rules and regulatory compliance Required.
• CPA (active or inactive) strong plus.
• At least 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Highly organized with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in accounting software such as QuickBooks and/or NetSuite.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working cross-functionally in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting.
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience managing multi-jurisdictional trust accounts.
• Familiarity with lien resolution, settlement processing, and case cost accounting.
• Experience with regulatory audits and financial reviews.
  

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Performance-based discretionary bonus.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid time off, holidays, and various company perks.
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development.
• Fully onsite role
  

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.
Desired Skills and Experience

Trust accounting Required; Law firm experience Required (preferably contingent/personal injury); CPA plus; QuickBooks experience plus, Management experience Required

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Accounting/Auditing, Legal, and Management

• Industries

  Legal Services

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