Practice Analytics Senior Manager

Manatt Phelps & Phillips•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$175,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is seeking a Practice Analytics Senior Manager to lead its Practice Analytics team and partner closely with Practice Management leadership and Industry and Service Leaders. The role translates financial and operational data into actionable insights that support revenue growth, margin improvement, profitability, pricing, matter budgeting, forecasting, utilization, and collections, helping leaders focus on guiding their teams. The position owns practice-group financial planning and analysis, develops profitability reporting and models, and provides clear analysis and recommendations to leadership. It also supports financial processes and data integrity, resource planning, rate strategy, business development goals, and lateral partner diligence and integration. The role reports on financial objectives and performance, identifies trends and risks, and works across the firm to improve financial outcomes. The firm follows a hybrid schedule with in-office presence Tuesday through Thursday and optional remote work on Mondays and Fridays. Employees must remain available for onsite work up to five days a week as business needs dictate; flexibility is required. Travel between firm office locations may be necessary. The base annual pay range is $175,000–$190,000, with the offered amount depending on skills, qualifications, experience, location, and internal equity. Benefits are offered, with the range dependent on the position.

Requirements

At least seven years of progressive experience in practice management, pricing, FP&A, or related financial analysis roles within a professional services environment.
Prior experience advising partners and practice leadership.
Demonstrated expertise in law-firm financial performance drivers, including rate strategy, realization, leverage, utilization, matter profitability, WIP/AR management, and collections.
Understanding of financial performance metrics and levers in a client-centered professional services environment; partnership and/or law-firm experience is preferred.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence partners and collaborate with Finance & Accounting, Billing, Attorney Development, Recruiting, and other business professionals.
Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
Reliability and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a hybrid team environment.
Proficiency with advanced Excel functions and experience with legal financial/billing systems and reporting tools; strong Word and PowerPoint skills.
Ability to evaluate financial performance data and recommend proactive changes to improve revenue and profitability for assigned practice groups.
Executive presence and sound judgment, including discretion in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
Self-directed approach and ability to prioritize competing demands, meet varying deadlines, and drive improvements with limited direction.
Flexibility to work onsite up to five days per week when business needs require it.
Ability to travel between firm office locations as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field is preferred.
Advanced degree (MBA, JD, or Master’s) is preferred.
Experience in a partnership and/or law-firm environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the Practice Analytics team and work with the Senior Director of Financial Analytics on team strategy and key initiatives.
Serve as the lead analytical partner to assigned Industry and Service Leaders, providing insights and recommendations to support revenue growth, margin improvement, and annual targets.
Own practice-group FP&A, including annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, variance analysis, and KPI reporting.
Develop and maintain client/matter and timekeeper profitability models and reporting, including realization, leverage, utilization, and effective rate; identify drivers and recommend corrective actions.
Oversee monthly and quarterly financial packages for leadership meetings, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities with clear narratives and recommendations.
Manage tracking and reporting of financial objectives, and establish consistent definitions, dashboards, and a cadence for performance review.
Work with the Director of Financial Analytics on scheduled reports and financial presentations for the Board of Directors.
Partner with Finance & Accounting and practice leadership to address billing and collection performance, including aging reviews, action plans, and escalation of at-risk matters.
Partner with Marketing and Business Development to create and implement strategic goals and track performance over time.
Monitor matter financial health across the lifecycle, including budget-to-actual, WIP, AR, and write-downs/write-offs, and drive issue resolution with partners and billing teams.
Improve data integrity and financial processes related to matter setup, rate structures, budgeting tools, and reporting workflows; ensure consistent adoption within assigned groups.
Coordinate resource planning and workload analysis for associates, staff attorneys, contract lawyers, and paralegals to support utilization goals and efficient leverage.
Track significant group developments, including new clients, key matters, and lateral arrivals or departures, and translate them into financial and capacity implications.
Monitor industry, regional market, and competitor developments, focusing on rate, pricing, and profitability benchmarks.
Support annual rate processes and practice-specific rate strategies with Finance and firm leadership.
Contribute financial diligence, modeling, and onboarding support for lateral partners and portable practices, including post-integration performance tracking.
Travel between firm office locations as necessary.