Lead – Financial Accounting

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

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401k

Paid holidays

PTO

Well-being programs

Professional development

Employee discounts

Affinity groups

Job summary

Latham & Watkins, a leading global law firm, seeks a Lead – Financial Accounting for our Global Services Office in Los Angeles. The role drives monthly closes, journal entries, reconciliations, and financial analysis, ensuring accuracy and compliance while supporting audits and statutory filings.

Hybrid schedule with some in-office presence is possible. Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor's in Accounting (CPA preferred) and have at least five years in General Ledger accounting in corporate or

Qualifications

• Demonstrated analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and perform variance analyses.
• Advanced knowledge of accounting principles including cash and accrual accounting.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy, completeness and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed general ledger and bank reconciliations, resolve issues through research and adjustments.
• Maintain and balance the general ledger across entities, books, and currencies; FX remeasurement and related entries.
• Manage ongoing maintenance of the general ledger structure, mappings, and account consistency.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, management reports, and trend analyses for leadership and audits.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support external audits with workpapers and responses.

Skills

Analytical skills

Accounting principles

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, business or related field

CPA, preferably

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 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) . Please click the link below to review the Ordinance.

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Pay Range

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