Controller

ALA Gateway; St. Louis, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Generous PTO policy

Health insurance fully paid by Firm

Vision and Dental insurance

LTD, Life, and AD&D insurance

401k plan with employer contribution

Unreimbursed Medical and Dependent Day

Central Downtown St. Louis office with

Job summary

The Gateway Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the organization’s financial operations across multiple entities and oversee complex litigation portfolio finances.

You will ensure strict compliance with IOLTA trust accounting, optimize cash flow, and drive process improvements in accounting, reporting, and controls within a high-stakes litigation environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience with supervisory responsibility.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services with trust accounting/IOLTA exposure is a plus.
• Strong Excel and QuickBooks Online proficiency.
• Analytical with problem-solving and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the general ledger and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for multiple entities.
• Oversee all Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and manage statutory accounts (FSA, 401k, benefits).
• Manage banking relationships and litigation fund accounts.
• Track, analyze, and report on case costs, working capital usage, and portfolio trends.
• Coordinate quarterly reconciliations of shared case expenses and lodestar hours with co-counsel firms.
• Assist partners with preparation and verification of court-filed attorneys’ fees and expense applications.
• Ensure strict IOLTA trust accounting compliance and meticulous recordkeeping.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Leadership

Financial analysis

Education

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

CPA or MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

QuickBooks Online

Job description

The Gateway Chapter’s Career Center provides information on employment opportunities for legal management professionals and other legal positions in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Positions available in the St. Louis area, along with a brief description, are listed below. To look at job postings outside of St. Louis, visit https://jobs.alanet.org/

About the Firm

We are a premier, internationally recognized law firm specializing in high-stakes contingency litigation. We offer a collaborative environment where financial insight directly supports groundbreaking trial work and firm growth.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Financial Controller to lead our financial operations, manage multi-entity accounting, and oversee complex litigation portfolio finances.

Because contingency practice involves delayed revenue recognition, heavy case-cost capitalization, co-counsel fee split arrangements, and court fee applications, the ideal candidate must possess strong financial acumen alongside strategic foresight. You will partner closely with executive management and external partners to maintain strict compliance, optimize cash flow, and drive operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Core Accounting & Financial Operations

• Maintain the general ledger (G/L) and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for multiple business entities.
• Oversee all Accounts Payable (A/P) and Accounts Receivable (A/R) functions.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and manage statutory accounts (FSA, 401k, benefits).
• Manage primary banking relationships and litigation fund accounts.
• Track, analyze, and report on advanced case costs, working capital usage, and portfolio trends.
• Coordinate quarterly reconciliations of shared case expenses and lodestar hours with co-counsel law firms.
• Assist partners with the preparation and verification of court-filed attorneys' fees and expense applications.
• Ensure strict IOLTA trust accounting compliance and meticulous recordkeeping.

Financial Planning, Analysis & Strategy

• Model short- and long-term cash flow, tax liabilities, and revenue distribution scenarios unique to contingency recoveries.
• Deliver historical trend analysis, dynamic forecasting, and ad-hoc financial reporting to support partner decision-making.
• Evaluate existing financial systems, driving process automation and workflow redesigns to increase operational efficiency.

Tax Compliance & Contract Management

• Prepare comprehensive schedules, statements, and workpapers for external CPA firms for tax preparation and advisory.
• Review and approve annual federal, state, and local tax returns across all entities.
• Conduct accounting research to advise firm leadership on tax strategies and business structure changes.
• Review, negotiate, and approve vendor and operational contracts.

Key Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (CPA or MBA preferred).
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including direct supervisory management.
• Industry Expertise: Prior accounting experience within a law firm or professional services environment is highly preferred (experience with trust accounting/IOLTA and litigation cost tracking is a plus).
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (complex formulas and pivot tables) and hands‑on experience with QuickBooks Online.
• Problem‑Solving Ability: Strong process‑improvement mindset with a proven ability to redesign systems and research complex tax/accounting rules.
• Attention to Detail: Excellent precision in execution balanced with an ability to communicate high‑level insights to managing partners.

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Generous PTO policy.
• Health insurance fully paid by Firm for employee
• Vision and Dental insurance available at reasonable rates
• LTD, Life, and AD&D insurance paid by Firm
• 401k plan with an employer contribution of 3% of salary after eligibility
• Unreimbursed Medical and Dependent Daycare FSA plans
• Centralized office location in Downtown St. Louis with convenient free parking

The Gateway Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is a separate legal entity from the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). ALA licenses the use of its name, mark, logos and other protected properties to chapters that are in good standing. ALA disclaims all liability or responsibility whatsoever for the actions, representations and liabilities of the Gateway Chapter, specifically including those of any nature whatsoever arising from or out of the content of other features related to the Gateway Chapter website. In no event shall ALA be deemed the guarantor of the Gateway Chapter.