Financial Systems Manager

Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.•Kansas City, MO

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Manages the suite of financial accounting systems to ensure they are secure, deliver proper accounting controls, are appropriately designed to address firm management/reporting needs, and meet business and audit requirements. This role ensures sound data governance and provides a path to efficiency and success for back-office users. The Financial Systems Manager serves as the primary resource for the analysis, development, management, and maintenance of the firm's core accounting system and all ancillary systems. They make recommendations and collaborate with the Director of Financial Systems to ensure continuous improvement and enhanced performance of the applications. This includes managing upgrades for financial systems, including research, testing, documentation, and implementation, and making appropriate adjustments to customizations and linked databases. The role also involves managing the month-end and year-end close processes for the accounting department, ensuring adherence to accounting procedures and processes, and ensuring accounting controls are in place, serving as an internal auditor in system balancing routines. The manager partners with accounting management to document, implement, maintain, and monitor standard operating procedures. They manage new business intake and overall master files governance for the core financial accounting system. Additionally, the role involves developing and maintaining documentation and procedural standards for routine system support and projects, including SQL databases, intranet, web applications, and custom programming. The manager develops, maintains, and supports end-user training for financial systems, applications, and custom programs, guiding users on system functionality, data output, queries, and new data requirements. They deliver onboarding orientation for accounting systems to new partners, attorneys, and professional staff, and partner with Learning and Development in creating and publishing curriculum for end-user learning. Collaboration on design, documentation, and implementation of system updates/upgrades, and recommendations to improve workflow are key. The manager participates on project teams and collaborates with the Director of Financial Systems and CFO in the design, planning, development, and implementation of new financial systems. They champion best practice principles to facilitate change and end-user adoption of new technologies, maintain in-depth knowledge of business objectives, and leverage opportunities for synergy across functions, processes, and departments. The role involves recommending, implementing, and supporting process improvement initiatives to enhance existing financial systems and create efficiency, creating and maintaining technical documentation of business processes, and performing data analysis to identify and resolve issues. The manager ensures the continuous operation and reliability of accounting systems and applications, functions as a financial systems subject matter expert, and exhibits initiative, innovative thinking, and drives best practices, demonstrating attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality.

Requirements

Bachelors' degree in finance, accounting, information systems, or related field (accounting preferred)
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in an accounting role or related discipline
Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles as well as company accounting policies, procedures and standards
Current knowledge of technology developments relevant to law firm operation
Clear understanding of law firm practice and operations and end-user needs, with emphasis on accounting and new business practices
Strong project leadership and team building skills
Substantial analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail
Ability to analyze and solve problems using learned techniques and tools
Knowledge of and experience with most or all of the following languages and applications: Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2010/2008R2, SQL Reporting Services, .NET, Microsoft Visual Studio, and other tools selected by the firm for similar purposes
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including creating and utilizing spreadsheets as well as accounting system applications

Nice To Haves

5+ years of IT systems experience a plus
Equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience with financial systems data flow and data structure is a plus
Possesses quantitative and qualitative analysis skills; ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner

Responsibilities

Manages suite of financial accounting systems
Serves as primary resource for analysis, development, management, and maintenance of the firm's core accounting system and all ancillary systems
Manages upgrades for financial systems upgrades, including research, testing, documentation and implementation
Manages month end close and year-end close process for accounting department
Ensures accounting controls are in place and serves as internal auditor in system balancing routines
Manages new business intake and overall master files governance for the core financial accounting system
Develops and maintains documentation and procedural standards relating to all routine system support and projects
Develops, maintains and supports end user training for financial systems, applications and custom programs
Delivers onboarding orientation for accounting systems to new partners, attorneys and professional staff
Collaborates on design; documents and implements system updates/upgrades and makes recommendations to improve workflow
Participates on project team and collaborates with Director of Financial Systems and CFO in the design, planning, development and implementation of new financial systems
Champions best practice principles to facilitate change and end user adoption of new technologies
Maintains in-depth knowledge of business objectives and leverages opportunities for synergy across functions, processes and departments
Recommends, implements and supports process improvement initiatives to enhance existing financial systems and create efficiency
Creates and maintains technical documentation of business processes
Performs data analysis to facilitate identifying and resolving of issues/problems
Ensures continuous operation and reliability of accounting systems and applications
Functions as a financial systems subject matter expert
Exhibits initiative and innovative thinking and drives best practices
Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy and confidentiality