Director of U.S. Accounting

About the role

McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. The firm celebrates excellence, collaboration, and community and has been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. It is also certified by Great Place to Work.

About the role

At McDermott, the firm invests in and accelerates careers through support both in and outside of the office. Its award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity, encourages employees to be themselves, and welcomes unique viewpoints and ideas. The firm’s benefits program supports physical, emotional, mental, and financial health with an emphasis on work-life balance.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the firm’s accounting strategy to support organizational growth, operational excellence, and long-term business objectives
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and governance frameworks that ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of accounting standards, reporting requirements, and financial control enhancements
• Oversee the integrity of the firm’s general ledger and financial reporting processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and transparency
• Partner with leadership to enhance financial reporting capabilities, analytics, and business performance insights
• Monitor key financial trends, performance indicators, and balance sheet activity to proactively identify risks and opportunities impacting the firm
• Lead cross-functional transformation projects involving accounting systems, reporting platforms, workflows, and data governance
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that streamline accounting operations, strengthen controls, and improve service delivery
• Establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms to assess control performance and compliance with firm policies

Job Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; CPA and/or MBA preferred
• At least ten (10) years of related work experience
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)
• Advanced knowledge of statistical analysis concepts, frameworks, and principles
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information

Pay

Target Hiring Range: $203,000 – $288,000. Quoted salary ranges are not guarantees; base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is one component of the Total Rewards package, which includes discretionary bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package for full-time positions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.

Work Environment
Typical indoor office environment.