Lead – Financial Accounting

Latham & Watkins LLP; Lancaster (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401k

Paid holidays

PTO 23 days

Well-being programs

Professional development

Employee discounts

Affinity groups

Job summary

Latham & Watkins LLP is seeking a Lead – Financial Accounting to join the Financial Accounting team at our Global Services Office. The role involves preparing financial statements, performing analyses, and managing monthly close activities, with journal entries and reconciliations across multiple entities and currencies.

A hybrid/in-office presence is possible. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s in accounting, a CPA preferred, and at least five years of general ledger experience in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field required.
• CPA credential preferred; strong knowledge of GAAP.
• Minimum five years of GL accounting experience in corporate or professional services.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed general ledger and bank reconciliations; resolve discrepancies.
• Balance general ledger across entities, books, and currencies with FX entries.
• Maintain ledger structure, mappings, and timely transaction recording.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, management reports, and trend analyses.
• Maintain audit-ready records and responses for external audits.
• Protect confidential and sensitive financial information.

Skills

General ledger accounting

Bank reconciliations

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

About the Role

The Lead – Financial Accounting is an integral part of Latham’s Financial Accounting team.This role will be responsible for a variety of assignments, including preparing financial statements and schedules, performing financial analysis, and completing complex accounting duties and projects, while executing and actively participating in the monthly close process, including journal entries, subledger-to-GL reconciliations, result reviews, and on-schedule completion of all activities. This role will be located in our Global Services Office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Other key responsibilities include:

• Performing detailed general ledger and bank reconciliations, identifying discrepancies, and independently resolving issues through research, adjustments, and process corrections
• Maintaining and balancing the general ledger across multiple entities, books, and currencies, ensuring accounts are fully supported, reconciled, and aligned with transactional activity, including FX remeasurement and related entries
• Managing ongoing maintenance of the general ledger structure (books, entities, account mappings), applying a strong understanding of book structure and mapping logic to ensure consistent, compliant transaction recording
• Preparing monthly financial statements, management reports, and trend analyses, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely information for leadership review, tax and statutory filings, and year-end audits
• Maintaining accounting records and audit-ready documentation (reconciliations, schedules, system reports) and supporting external audits by preparing required workpapers and responses
• Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Exhibit demonstrated analytical skills, with the ability to interpret financial data, analyze variances, and perform detailed account reconciliations
• Possess advanced knowledge of accounting principles, including both cash and accrual accounting
• Display high level of attention to detail, with the ability to review and proofread work to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance

And have:

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, business or related field
• A CPA, preferably
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in General Ledger accounting, preferably in a corporate or professional services environment
• A minimum of five (5) years of cumulative experience

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional development programs
• Employee discounts
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.

Latham & Watkins LLP will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO).

#MidSenior #LI-ZW1

Pay Range

USD $115,000.00 - USD $140,000.00 /Yr.