Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

Job Description

We're not looking for a caretaker. We're looking for an operator.

Cary Estate Planning is a 43-person, three-office firm that does something most of our competitors can't: we combine estate planning law, tax planning and preparation, and wealth management under one roof. Three businesses, one client relationship, one promise - Planning, Not Paperwork.

That integration is our edge. It's also our hardest operational problem. Our legal, tax, and wealth teams have to hand clients off seamlessly across four offices, and today, too much of that depends on the founder. We're hiring a Chief Operating Officer to own the day-to-day so the firm runs better without him in the room - and so we can keep growing.

In short: you run the firm. The founder runs the practice and the vision. You'll own people, process, finance, technology, and client experience across all four offices and all three service lines. You'll build the operating system - the meetings, scorecards, and accountability that keep 43 people aligned — and you'll carry the firm's P&L, not just watch it. There's a competitive base, a performance bonus, and a path to profit participation.

This is a build, not a turnaround. If you read "you run the firm" and felt energized rather than nervous, apply.

$150,000 - $200,000 yearly

• Serve as the founder's operating partner - translate vision and strategy into priorities, owners, and deadlines
• Own the firm's day-to-day operations end-to-end across three offices and three service lines (legal, tax, wealth), with more offices coming online in the next 12-18 months.
• Build and run the firm's operating cadence: leadership meetings, scorecards, and quarterly planning
• Own and improve the cross-service-line client journey so legal/tax/wealth handoffs are seamless
• Standardize and document the full matter lifecycle (intake → planning → drafting → signing → funding → ongoing maintenance) into repeatable, measurable processes
• Establish firm-wide KPIs and dashboards; manage by data
• Carry accountability for the firm's P lead budgeting, forecasting, and cash-flow management
• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, and retention across a 43-person, multi-site team
• Own the operational technology stack and champion responsible use of automation and AI
• Build the operational infrastructure required before adding offices, headcount, or capacity; support new-office launches and potential acquisitions

Required

• 7+ years of progressive operations leadership, including a senior operations role at a growth-stage organization
• Direct P&L ownership and strong financial fluency (budgeting, forecasting, margin management)
• Proven track record of building scalable systems and processes - not just maintaining what exists
• People leadership across multiple functions and/or locations
• Fluency with modern operational technology, automation, and AI tools
• Able to regularly work on-site at the Cary, NC headquarters, with some WFH/Hybrid flexibility
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent operating experience

Preferred

• Experience in professional services (law, tax, accounting, financial services), healthcare, or another regulated or multi-site environment
• Experience implementing a structured operating system (e.g., EOS / Integrator model)
• Multi-location management experience
• Exposure to M&A, integrations, or new-location launches
• MBA or comparable business training

Cary Estate Planning is an integrated firm serving Triangle-area families across three offices in Cary, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh. Unlike a traditional law firm, we deliver estate planning legal services, tax planning and preparation, and wealth management through a coordinated, single-relationship experience built on one promise: Planning, Not Paperwork. We're a growth-stage firm with healthy economics, a differentiated model, and clear ambitions to expand - and we hold high standards for both performance and how we treat people.

Our Core Values

• Client-First – We prioritize the client experience in everything we do
• Teamwork – We collaborate across teams to support our clients and one another
• Integrity – We act with honesty, transparency, and professionalism
• Authenticity – We value genuine relationships and clear communication