Staff Accountant

Wiggin and Dana LLP; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Wiggin and Dana LLP in New Haven, CT is seeking a Staff Accountant to ensure the accuracy of the general ledger and financial reporting while supporting profitability analysis. You will prepare monthly statements, review journal entries, and participate in the month-end close, including trust accounting responsibilities to maintain trust and escrow accounts.

Collaborating with the Senior Accountant, Assistant Controller, and Controller, you will compile standard and ad hoc reports and respond to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• At least 5 years’ accounting experience.
• Experience in a law firm or professional service organization preferred but not required.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Create and enter journal entries.
• Review and reconcile General Ledger accounts.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and reports.
• Assist in the month-end close process and system reconciliation.
• Coordinate trust accounting for trust and escrow accounts.
• Respond to attorney and staff inquiries regarding ledger entries.

Skills

Journal entries

Reconciliation

Month-end close

Financial reporting

Trust accounting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Elite Enterprise

Excel

Job description

The Staff Accountant is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the firm’s general ledger and financial reporting, as well as profitability analysis. This includes reviewing and reconciling the ledgers, as well as interacting with the Senior Accountant, Assistant Controller, and Controller to prioritize and define the firm's financial reporting. The Staff Accountant will also participate in the month-end close process and compile relevant reporting, both standard and ad hoc, as required. Additionally, the staff accountant will share in Trust Accounting responsibilities to ensure the trust and escrow accounts are accurately maintained in accordance with requirements and will respond promptly and accurately to client and attorney direction.

Job Duties

The following are essential job duties and responsibilities of the Staff Accountant. This list is not exhaustive, and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

• Create and enter journal entries.
• Review journal entries from other sources (HR - Benefit Bills, Payroll, AP – reclasses) and enter as appropriate.
• Reconcile General Ledger accounts to ensure proper classification of entries and identify correcting entries as needed.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, reports, and records by collating, analyzing, and summarizing account information.
• Determine proper classification and accounting for Fixed Assets.
• Calculate lease payment schedules and residual amounts for leased assets.
• Assist in the monthly closing process, ensure accounting system balances, and aid in system reconciliation.
• Compile standard month-end reports for review by the Executive Committee, Finance team, and Department Chairs.
• Compile daily reporting on Cash status, Fee Collections, and Billing
• Compile ad-hoc reporting for Senior Administrators and other stakeholders as required, including Actual vs Budget reporting and transactional detail requests.
• Handle attorney and support staff inquiries regarding general ledger entries.
• Direct the firm’s year-end audit as the main source for compiling information.
• Participate in the firm’s budget and reforecast cycles to provide data and analysis.
• Complete special projects on an as-needed basis.
• Demonstrate continuous focus to improve operations and automate processes.
• Keep information confidential.
• Handle attorney, support staff, and client inquiries regarding trust transactions and balances, and other matters.
• Process trust account transactions, including deposits and disbursements by wire, ACH, or check.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance or relevant experience.

Experience: At least 5 years’ experience in an accounting role.

Law firm or other professional service organization experience is preferred, but not required.

Knowledge/Skills and Abilities:

• A strong understanding of accounting principles and their application.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent motivational, interpersonal, leadership, and customer service skills.
• Analytical, numerically astute with strong demonstrated problem-solving and reporting abilities.
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle emergency situations.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and attend to multiple tasks at one time.
• Strong computer skills, including knowledge of accounting software programs. Experience using Elite Enterprise would be helpful but not required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, with emphasis on Excel skills required.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and organize workflow, as well as a willingness to take the initiative to use these abilities to work collaboratively in meeting deadlines with a sense of urgency.
• Maturity, professionalism, and a high level of discretion are required.
• Ability to sit for an extended period of time.
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time.
• Ability to deal with stress due to workload pressures.