CFO Finance & Accounting

Cassiday Schade LLP (CS) is a mid-sized litigation defense law firm headquartered in Chicago, with a presence throughout the Midwest. With experience in virtually all areas of civil litigation, CS has a diverse client base, and its attorneys provide companies of various sizes with legal counseling and comprehensive case handling services. This detail-oriented individual will be responsible for the fiscal affairs of the Firm including analysis and planning (both short and long term), managing the budget process and accounting functions. The Director of Finance will function as strategic business partner, reporting directly to the Firm’s Managing Partners and Executive Committee. This role will require emotional intelligence to be an effective departmental leader providing support and mentorship to the Accounting Department as well as similar support throughout the Firm.

Enhancing Employee Development & Experience: Foster a supportive employee culture and develop a skilled workforce that provides job satisfaction through coaching, mentoring and training

Influential Leader: Mentor and motivate the team (and others) to achieve desired results efficiently and effectively while providing exemplary internal and external client service regarding financial issues across all levels of the organization

develop and implement creative solutions mindful of risks vs. Ownership of the Financial Process: Safeguard the strength of the Firm’s financial position by ensuring the proper infrastructure is in place while creating the expectation of success

Assess the current state of the finance and accounting function and lead a comprehensive departmental improvement plan

Oversee all financial functions, including accounting, payroll, billing and 401(k) plan administration

Assess the current financial system to ensure it is scalable and aligned with the firm’s strategic objectives

Establish clear financial governance that emphasizes accountability, and quality control reporting standards

Attend and participate in monthly Executive Committee meetings serving a trusted financial advisor to firm leadership and partners

Accounting, Controls & Compliance

Review current accounting policies and procedures for proper alignment with best‑practice and strong internal controls around billing, collections, trust/IOLTA accounts, expense management, and cash flow

Ensure compliance with firm operating procedures, partner compensation structures and both firm‑specific and outside regulatory requirements

Coordinate and facilitate the annual budget, forecasting, and variance analysis processes

Lead the Finance team in providing timely reports to management and partners providing information on utilization, billing, realization and providing visibility into matter revenue

Lead and manage the Finance team in creating and delivering management reports that help drive decisions regarding resources and ensure that the firm is on track to meeting monthly, quarterly, and annual objectives

Enhance profitability analysis to provide visibility to performance by practice area, client, matter, and attorney

Provided analysis, forecasting, scenario modeling, insights to help drive decisions regarding resources to support growth, lateral hires, and strategic investments

Systems, Process & Infrastructure Improvement

Continuous assessment of financial systems to optimize the ability to meet the changing needs of the firm and its clients

Partner with IT and outside vendors to ensure systems support firm operations and growth

Lead, coach, and develop the finance and accounting team

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred

10+ years of progressive finance/accounting leadership experience

Law firm or professional services experience strongly preferred

Proven track record of implementing best‑practices and establishing strong internal controls, policies, and procedures

Demonstrated success in department turnaround, process improvement, and control implementation

Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Aderant, Chrome River) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Strong knowledge of partnership accounting, billing, collections, and trust accounting

Ability to lead change and effectuate improvement in a financial environment

Adeptness in interpreting complex financial information and communicating with Executive management, partners and stakeholders

Proficiency in exploiting current technologies to maximize return on investment