Finance Coordinator

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

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Finance Coordinator to support the financial administration of the firm's business development activities in Chicago. You will work with Finance, Marketing and MBD, attorneys, and assistants to ensure transactions are recorded, coded, and reconciled accurately while providing cross-functional support.

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

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 1-2 years of relevant finance experience; prior law firm exposure is a plus.
• Strong understanding of general ledger coding, reconciliations, and basic accounting concepts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and ability to collaborate with multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and review business development transactions, ensuring expenses are coded to the correct GL accounts.
• Calculate attorney business development charges and allocate event costs.
• Reconcile financial activity with supporting documents and investigate discrepancies.
• Track prepaid event costs and reclassify expenses as events occur.
• Apply policies and maintain accurate financial records for reporting and audits.
• Collaborate with Finance, Marketing and Business Development to ensure proper transaction treatment.
• Support the Business Development team with event tracking and related financial processes.
• Calculate and process partner professional commitment payments with accurate coding.
• Provide analytical support and maintain organized records for operations.
• Contribute to process improvements and finance-related projects.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Detail-oriented

Communication skills

Ownership & follow-through

Organization & multitasking

Excel proficiency

Finance systems & reporting

AI/automation awareness

Education

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

Tools

Emburse

Coupa

Elite 3E

Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Platform

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

About Kirkland & Ellis

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

Equal Employment Opportunity

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