Assistant Manager, Accounting

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

About the role

Based in Los Angeles or Orange County, the Assistant Manager, Accounting will be an integral part of the accounting department, working independently on key month-end, reporting, fixed asset, and tax functions along specialized and technical lines, while providing guidance, direction, and technical review to accounting staff. This role requires considerable independent judgment, initiative, and discretion in analyzing financial data across multiple accounts, determining the appropriate accounting treatment for complex and non-routine transactions, and handling confidential matters. The candidate must be flexible, highly committed to quality, customer service, teamwork, and supporting Firm and department goals in a fast-paced environment. This role reports to the Assistant Controller.

Responsibilities

• Own key components of the month-end and year-end close process, including reviewing results for reasonableness and determining the appropriate accounting treatment for non-routine transactions.
• Prepare and review complex and non-recurring journal entries, exercising judgment as to appropriate classification, accounting treatment, and supporting documentation.
• Reconcile bank and balance sheet accounts monthly, investigating and resolving variances and determining the appropriate corrective action.
• Serve as the Firm’s subject matter expert in the general ledger and chart of accounts in the Firm’s accounting system, ensuring transactions are properly recorded, and perform analysis across multiple accounts to identify trends, anomalies, and errors to recommend corrective action.
• Manage the fixed asset accounting process, including reviewing the fixed asset subledger, recording additions and disposals, and maintaining depreciation schedules in accordance with current tax regulations, and determining appropriate capitalization thresholds, useful lives, and depreciation methods.
• Become a subject matter expert in Sage, the Firm’s fixed asset software, in addition to CMS Aderant, the Firm’s accounting system.
• Prepare and analyze reporting that supports domestic and international offices' annual tax returns, research multi-jurisdictional and cross-border reporting requirements, and coordinate with external tax advisors.
• Prepare property tax and sales and use tax filings, research and interpret applicable requirements across jurisdictions, and determine the appropriate treatment.
• Compile audit schedules for annual external financial statement audits and provide other supporting documentation as requested for internal and external audits.
• Own, develop, and document accounting policies and procedures, and recommend and implement modifications that improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
• Respond to information requests, research and interpret data, and answer accounting and financial inquiries from other departments.
• Identify and implement process improvements proactively.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports and analyses independently.
• Support the Assistant Controller on treasury functions, including cash positioning, banking relationships, and liquidity reporting, and on special projects and ad hoc analyses affecting the Firm’s general business operations.
• Provide guidance, direction, and technical review to accounting staff, and supervise, train, and develop direct reports as the team grows.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field is required.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience is required, including prior supervisory or lead responsibilities.
• Experience designing and implementing process improvements preferred.
• Experience with systems such as CMS Aderant, Sage, and Emburse is a plus.
• Must be able to work with large volumes of data and possess advanced proficiency in Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, and macros).

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate is self-motivated, detail-oriented, and effective in problem solving.
• Must possess strong leadership skills and the ability to provide guidance, direction, and mentorship to accounting staff.
• Must be able to work independently, exercising discretion and sound judgment on matters of significance to the Firm.
• Must be committed to quality, customer service, teamwork, and supporting department goals.
• Requires strong written and verbal communication skills, exceptional attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Must demonstrate strong technology skills and the ability to master and leverage accounting systems and new technology solutions.

Pay

The annual compensation range for this position is $110,000 – $130,000. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits

• Health care
• Retirement benefits
• Paid days off, including sick time and vacation time
• Parental leave
• Basic life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Discretionary, performance-based bonuses