Finance Operations Analyst

About the role

You will own the precision execution of central billing and inventory processes that underpin the firm's financial integrity and client service excellence. You craft meticulous resolutions for complex partner inventory challenges, translating nuanced fee agreements into actionable workflows. You deploy creative analytical strategies to resolve outstanding work-in-progress and accounts receivable items across a global client base. You act as a key liaison between billing, collections, and finance to ensure alignment on critical firm goals. You maintain unwavering flexibility and commitment to quality in a fast-paced, high-stakes legal finance environment. You escalate and resolve problematic balances while safeguarding the firm's financial controls and reputation. You support proactive write-off and transfer strategies to optimize the accuracy of partner financial records. You contribute to ad hoc initiatives that strengthen the overall efficiency and integrity of the firm's billing operations.

Key facts

What you'll do

Conduct comprehensive research and settlement of work-in-progress and on-account partner inventories based on directives from the Legal Finance Operations Manager.

Perform detailed reviews of partner inventory aging reports to pinpoint balances requiring escalation, resolution, or corrective action.

Collaborate with management to retrieve and analyze WIP, A/R, on-account, and trust balances, then recommend appropriate steps such as write-offs, transfers, or collections.

Coordinate directly with the Billing Team to apply on-account balances against outstanding invoices and reduce firm-wide exposure.

Lead the preparation of documentation and justification packets to support escalation and approval processes for write-offs.

Assist in the thorough reconciliation and clean-up of partner inventories resulting from departures, lateral moves, or matter reassignments.

Monitor the lifecycle of escalated inventory items to ensure timely follow-up and strict adherence to firm policy and SLAs.

Partner with Finance, Collections, New Matters, and Pricing teams to resolve complex billing matters and enhance overall inventory accuracy.

Participate in special projects and one-off initiatives as requested by the Legal Finance Operations Manager to address evolving operational needs.

Utilize advanced MS Office Suite skills, with a strong focus on Excel, to build robust reports and tracking mechanisms for finance operations.

Apply analytical rigor to interpret complex fee agreements and translate them into precise billing and inventory controls.

Communicate proactively with internal stakeholders to gather data, clarify issues, and drive efficient outcomes for critical billing cycles.

Requirements

Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel, including senior partners and cross-functional stakeholders.

Must demonstrate excellent attention to detail to ensure accuracy in complex billing and inventory scenarios.

Must thrive under pressure and manage multiple priorities in a demanding, fast-paced legal finance setting.

Must have outstanding written and verbal communication skills to articulate issues and resolutions clearly and professionally.

Must exhibit strong organizational skills to coordinate tasks, track deadlines, and maintain accurate records independently.

Must hold an analytical mindset capable of understanding, executing, and communicating intricate fee arrangements and financial policies.

Must have a Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field as the foundation for financial operations competence.

Must bring a minimum of two years of prior experience in legal billing, pricing, or finance to apply practical knowledge to firm-specific processes.

Must possess strong technology skills, including advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Excel, to leverage tools in daily work processes.

Practical notes

The role is based in Los Angeles, Orange County, New York, or Washington, D.C., providing flexibility in work location within the firm's established practice areas.

This is a full-time position with standard firm hours expectations in a professional services environment.

No specific visa sponsorship details or travel requirements are outlined in the source material beyond standard firm policies.

Candidates must apply through the official Gibson Dunn recruiting channel and adhere to the firm's application procedures as referenced in the technical difficulties contact note.