Finance Coordinator

Kirkland & Ellis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago seeks a Finance Coordinator who will support the financial administration of the firm’s business development activities. You will work across Finance, Marketing and B+D teams to ensure transactions are recorded, coded, and reconciled accurately, serving as a trusted resource across stakeholders.

The role blends analytical work with relationship-building and offers visibility into finance, business development, and firm operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; 1-2 years of relevant work experience in finance preferred
• Accounting knowledge: understanding general ledger coding, financial transactions, reconciliations, and basic accounting principles
• Analytical and detail-oriented mindset with ability to work accurately with financial data and maintain high-quality records
• Excellent written and verbal communication with attorneys, business development professionals, and finance colleagues at all levels
• Ownership and follow-through: work independently, manage recurring responsibilities, prioritize deadlines, ensure accuracy
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort with financial systems and reporting tools
• Familiarity with Emburse, Coupa, Elite 3E or similar platforms, helpful for this role
• Interest in or experience with AI and automation tools to improve reporting and finance processes

Responsibilities

• Monitor and review firmwide business development transactions, ensure expenses are recorded and coded to correct ledgers
• Calculate attorney business development charges and allocate event-related costs
• Reconcile financial activity against supporting docs and resolve coding issues
• Manage and monitor prepaid event costs and reclassify as events occur
• Apply business development policies and maintain accurate financial records
• Serve as liaison between Finance, MBD, attorneys, and practice assistants
• Track upcoming and completed events and support related financial processes
• Calculate and process partner professional commitment payments with proper coding
• Maintain structured records and provide analytical support for ongoing needs
• Contribute to process improvements and special projects in Finance

Skills

Analytical & Detail-Oriented Mindset

Accounting Knowledge

Communication Skills

Ownership & Follow-Through

Organization & Multitasking

Technical Proficiency

Systems Knowledge

Innovation & Technology

1-2 years finance experience

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Emburse

Coupa

Elite 3E

Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Platform

Claude

Job description

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don\'t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers\' commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You\'ll Do

Are you a detail-oriented finance professional who enjoys working across teams, solving problems, and ensuring financial information is accurate and organized?

As a Finance Coordinator, you\'ll play a key role in supporting the financial administration of the firm\'s business development activities. Working closely with Finance, Marketing and Business Development (MBD), attorneys, and practice assistants, you\'ll help ensure transactions are accurately recorded, coded, and reconciled while serving as a trusted resource across multiple stakeholder groups. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining analytical work with relationship-building and wants visibility into the intersection of finance, business development, and firm operations.

• Transaction Management: Monitor and review firmwide business development transactions, ensuring expenses are accurately recorded and coded to the appropriate general ledger accounts.
• Cost Allocation & Analysis: Calculate attorney business development charges, allocate event-related costs, and ensure expenses are applied correctly to personal or firm accounts.
• Reconciliation & Accuracy: Reconcile financial activity against supporting documentation, identify discrepancies, and investigate or resolve coding issues.
• Prepaid Expense Tracking: Manage and monitor prepaid event costs, ensuring expenses are reclassified and allocated appropriately when events occur.
• Policy Compliance: Apply business development policies consistently and help maintain accurate financial records that support reporting and audit requirements.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Serve as a key liaison between Finance, Marketing and Business Development (MBD), attorneys, and practice assistants to address questions and ensure proper transaction treatment.
• Event Financial Support: Partner with the Business Development team to track upcoming and completed events, maintain attendee and expense records, and support related financial processes.
• Professional Commitment Payments: Collaborate with the Foundation team to calculate and process partner professional commitment payments while maintaining accurate coding and documentation.
• Reporting & Organization: Maintain structured records and provide analytical support for ongoing operational and financial needs.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to special projects, process enhancements, and other initiatives that improve Finance operations and efficiency.

What You\'ll Bring

• Bachelor\'s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field; with 1-2 years of relevant work experience in finance, accounting, or a related function preferred. Prior experience in a professional services environment, such as a law firm, is a plus.
• Accounting Knowledge: Understanding of general ledger coding, financial transactions, reconciliations, and basic accounting principles.
• Analytical & Detail-Oriented Mindset: Strong ability to work accurately with financial data, identify discrepancies, and maintain high-quality records.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the confidence to interact professionally with attorneys, business development professionals, and finance colleagues at all levels.
• Ownership & Follow-Through: Ability to work independently, manage recurring responsibilities, prioritize competing deadlines, and ensure tasks are completed accurately.
• Organization & Multitasking: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort working with financial systems and reporting tools.
• Systems Knowledge: Familiarity with Emburse, Coupa, Elite 3E, or similar expense management and financial platforms is helpful.
• Innovation & Technology: Interest in or experience using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools such as Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or similar technologies to improve reporting and finance processes.

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $58,000 - $72,000

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee\'s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MP1