Chief Operating Officer (COO)

GHJ•Los Angeles, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

GHJ Search and Staffing, the recruitment division of GHJ, a national accounting and advisory firm, is partnering with a well-established, multi-office law firm to find an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO). This role is a unique opportunity for a professional services leader to manage firm administration, enhance people and processes, and contribute to the firm's growth and succession planning. The COO will oversee the firm's non-attorney administrative functions, with a primary focus on human resources, recruiting, people management, and practice operations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, organized leader who can implement structure and accountability while building strong relationships with attorneys, staff, and leadership. While financial understanding is important, this is not a CFO position, as a dedicated Controller manages daily accounting and finance. The COO will concentrate on people, operations, strategic initiatives, and organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

Significant progressive leadership experience within a law firm, accounting firm, or other professional services environment
Strong background in HR, recruiting, employee relations, and people leadership
Demonstrated success improving operations, workflows, and organizational processes
Experience managing and negotiating significant vendor and service-provider relationships
Familiarity with legal or professional services technology and business systems
Strong financial acumen and ability to partner effectively with finance leadership
Exceptional judgment, discretion, organization, and follow-through
Executive presence with the ability to build credibility across partners, leadership, and staff
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field

Responsibilities

Lead HR, recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and retention initiatives
Oversee benefits strategy and renewals, including relationships with brokers and providers
Lead firmwide administrative operations and establish clear, scalable procedures and accountability
Evaluate staffing needs, resource allocation, workflows, and operational efficiency
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Managing Partner and support firm leadership on strategic initiatives
Help capture and institutionalize critical operational knowledge while supporting long-term succession planning
Negotiate major vendor, insurance, benefits, and legal technology contracts
Maintain strong working knowledge of legal technology and business systems and support new implementations
Partner with the Controller on budgeting, financial planning, KPIs, and business performance
Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture while providing leadership and mentorship to administrative teams