We are conducting a confidential search for a Chief Financial Officer to join a 200-person, multi-office law firm with a sophisticated, partner-led governance structure and a strong national platform. This is a top tier opportunity for an Am Law caliber CFO seeking a next level “seat at the table” opportunity with meaningful influence, direct access to firm leadership, and long-term institutional impact.
The CFO will serve as the firm’s senior financial leader and trusted advisor to equity partners and the Management Committee, owning financial operations while elevating the clarity, speed, and decision utility of financial reporting and analysis. The firm reports on an accrual basis and is enhancing leadership reporting with a cash focused operating view to support liquidity planning, partner distributions, forecasting, and strategic decision making. Success requires executive judgment, discretion, and the ability to lead across offices in a partner driven environment, improving outcomes without disruption or change for its own sake.
Ideal Profile & Core Capabilities:
- 15+ years of finance leadership experience, including 10+ years in a law firm CFO or CAO role.
- Prior experience as CFO/CAO at an Am Law 100–200 firm or elite litigation boutique strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success advising equity partners and management committees in a partnership-model environment.
- Deep command of law firm economics: WIP, AR, realization, billing velocity, collections, partner compensation and liquidity.
- Expertise reconciling accrual results to cash performance, with the ability to clearly explain timing differences, liquidity impact, and partner-level implications.
- Proven ability to translate complex financial data into concise, partner-level decision framing (options, tradeoffs, timing, consequences).
- Leadership of cash conversion discipline across WIP, billing, and collections, driving predictability without damaging partner relationships.
- Executive level budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modeling aligned with firm priorities.
- Treasury, banking relationships, and financial risk oversight.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with senior partners and firm leadership.
- Institutional mindset and long term stewardship (not a turnaround or systems overhaul).
Candidates should possess an advanced credential appropriate for an Am Law caliber CFO role (MBA and CPA strongly preferred). This role can be based in New York or Los Angeles, with regular interaction across offices. Compensation includes salary ($440K to $490K+) as well as performance based bonus and a comprehensive executive level benefits package.
Discreet inquiries may be made via LinkedIn or directed confidentially to:
Jonathan Sheppard, President & CEO
jsheppard@jsheppardassociates.com
This search is highly selective. Initial outreach should include a brief summary of relevant law firm CFO/CAO-level experience, including firm size, governance exposure, and multi-office oversight. Qualified candidates should also be prepared to briefly describe how they reconcile accrual results to cash performance for partner leadership, including how they explain timing differences, liquidity impact, and implications for distributions or planning.
