A leading professional services firm is seeking an experienced Controller to oversee firmwide accounting operations and help drive strategic financial initiatives. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys building strong teams, optimizing financial processes, and partnering with executive leadership to support long-term growth.
Reporting to executive leadership, the Controller will lead all accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance while overseeing a large accounting team. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership experience, a strategic mindset, and a background in professional services or law firm accounting.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all accounting operations, including AP, billing, collections, payroll, cash receipts, and general ledger functions
- Manage and develop accounting leadership and support the growth of the broader finance team
- Oversee month-end close, journal entries, bank reconciliations, and financial statement preparation
- Partner with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning initiatives
- Develop financial reports, dashboards, and analytics to support business decisions
- Drive process improvements, system enhancements, and workflow automation
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards, internal controls, and regulatory requirements
- Serve as the primary liaison for external audits and year-end financial reporting
Qualifications
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 3+ years in a management role
- MBA or CPA preferred
- Experience in a law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred
- Familiarity with Elite 3E, Aderant, or similar accounting systems is a plus
- Advanced Excel skills and strong Microsoft Office proficiency
- Excellent leadership, analytical, communication, and organizational skills
Why Join?
- Executive-level leadership role with direct impact on firm operations and strategy
- Opportunity to lead and mentor a large, high-performing accounting team
- Hybrid work schedule with a collaborative, growth-oriented culture
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, HSA/FSA, 401(k), commuter benefits, and pet insurance
Skills Required
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 3+ years in a management role
- MBA or CPA
- Experience in a law firm or professional services environment
- Familiarity with Elite 3E, Aderant, or similar accounting systems
- Advanced Excel skills and strong Microsoft Office proficiency
- Excellent leadership, analytical, communication, and organizational skills
What We Do
GHJ is an accounting and advisory firm that specializes in nonprofit, food and beverage, entertainment and media and health and wellness companies. Previous recipient of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Employee Champion For Life Work Harmony Award and named a “Best Places to Work” by the Los Angeles Business Journal eight times since 2008, GHJ is passionate about helping clients and its people #BeMore by focusing on building thriving businesses and creating a better future. GHJ works as a business advocate for its clients — providing personalized service and building long-term relationships to help position our clients for growth. Through its affiliation with HLB International, a global network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers, GHJ is able to partner with other top firms across major cities throughout the U.S. and the world. GHJ’s audit, tax and advisory teams leverage the HLB network to better serve its clients and give clients access to member firms in over 158 countries across the globe and over 775 offices worldwide. Also ranked as a top-20 largest accounting firm on the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Book of Lists, GHJ has 15 partners and more than 160 staff members that serve over 3,000 clients. GHJ is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), the California Society of CPAs and the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofit).
