Partnership Accounting Manager

Overview

Cleary Gottlieb is a pioneer in globalizing the legal profession. We have 16 offices in major financial centers around the world, but we operate as a single, integrated global partnership and not a U.S. firm with a network of overseas locations. The firm employs approximately 1,100 lawyers from more than 50 countries.

Since 1946 our lawyers and staff have worked across practices, industries, jurisdictions and continents to provide clients with simple, actionable approaches to their most complex legal and business challenges, whether domestic or international. We support every client relationship with intellectual agility, commercial acumen and a human touch.

Reporting to the Director of Partnership Accounting and Tax, the worldwide Partnership Accounting Manager position is responsible for a wide array of partnership accounting activities of the firm including partner earnings, partner mobility, related balance sheet management, implementation of procedural improvements and development of effective business relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage Equity Partner payment process, including: monthly draw and guaranteed salary payments, and periodic special distribution payments.
• Maintenance of Paid in Capital, including: annual contributions, interest on capital, liquidations related to partner retirements and withdrawals, paid in capital modeling and projections.
• Manage Retired Partner Benefits process, including: Retired partner calculation projections, cash-flow modeling, communications and coordination of monthly payments.
• Lead Partner mobility reporting, including headcount reporting.
• Manage Partner expatriate payments, related activities and analysis.
• Responsible for the accurate and timely recording of Partner Receivables (or payables), including personal charges.
• Partner with Treasury Manager on treasury activities including on projections and timely execution of payments.
• Review monthly journal entries and account analysis of critical balance sheet accounts.
• Coordinate and maintain partner banking information (e.g., bank instructions for Treasury, etc.).
• Responsible for the accurate and timely preparation and review of audit schedules in support of the global firmwide audit as well as select schedules for the annual pension plan audits.
• Participate in annual budget process with respect to the above activities.
• Collaborate with Benefits team, HR team, Chief of Staff to ensure partner profiles are accurately maintained in Workday.
• Develop an effective relationship with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff, Global Controller, Treasury Manager Senior Accounting & Compliance Manager, Financial Reporting and Budgeting Manager and other Firm Leaders.
• Partner with Tax Manager to assist with the mentoring and development of a highly capable partnership accounting and tax team.
• Ensure all business activities are executed with a strong discipline surrounding internal controls.
• Manage operational activities with a specific focus on efficiency and internal and external client service.
• Manage special projects as required.

Qualifications

Ideal Experience:

• Experience in a similar senior role at a professional services firm. Public accounting, including experience at a Big Four accounting firm, a plus.
• Familiarity with a partnership model including knowledge of cash-basis accounting and audit issues.
• Broad financial experience and technical skills, including audit and financial reporting for US or International firms.
• Experience in implementing procedural improvements.
• A CPA is required.
• Proficient in Excel.

Critical Competencies for Success:

• Finance acumen: Demonstrated broad experience across major finance disciplines, including accounting, tax and audit. Attention to detail and focus on accuracy required. 
• Communication/Influencing skills: A person with solid management presence, a sense of urgency and the ability to build effective working relationships with key members of the Firm.  A confident, proactive individual who uses reasoned, fact-based arguments to anticipate and overcome objections and who is unflappable in challenging, complex situations.
• Management skills: While this role does not manage any direct reports, at the Manager level, a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, consensus-driven, partnership environment with highly skilled professionals is required.

Other Personal Characteristics:

• An excellent communicator who is effective at all levels, particularly with attorneys; an individual who listens carefully, articulates positions clearly, and conveys confidence.
• An individual who is well organized, establishes priorities, plans realistically and is available to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines.
• A team player who shares credit for accomplishments with others and keeps the Firm’s best interests foremost.
• A person of unquestioned integrity whose personal behavior reflects positively upon the Firm.
• A self-confident individual who is able to work equally with lawyers and administrative staff.

The estimated base salary for this position is $155,000- $165,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including skills, education, training, credentials, experience, scope and complexity of role responsibilities, geographic location, and performance. 

Cleary provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits. More information can be found here: Benefits

At Cleary Gottlieb, all members of our community deserve respect as individuals and appreciation for the contributions they make to our community.  We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating equal opportunities to develop and succeed.

Salary : $155,000 - $165,000