Business Manager

Base salary range: $120,000 – $160,000, with bonus potential tied to achieving tailored objectives.

Bousquet Holstein PLLC is a full-service law firm with offices in Syracuse and Ithaca, New York, with a team of 124 individuals (including 54 attorneys) serving a broad array of clients concentrated in Central New York, the Southern Tier, and greater New York City. The firm is committed to an interdisciplinary and team-based approach and has been guided since inception by a set of core beliefs which prioritize professional ethics and quality of service, community service, diversity, teamwork, respectful honest communication, and opportunity.

We are seeking an experienced Business Manager to oversee and manage our day-to-day business and financial operations and to work with our Board of Managers (the “Board”) and Members to establish and implement strategic plans/goals for the future, all in a manner that is consistent with our core beliefs. The Business Manager will be situated in our Syracuse office, will report directly to the Board, and will inform and participate in Board meetings relating to all aspects of the Firm’s business.

Responsibilities

Our Business Manager will:

• Work closely with the Board, practice area leaders, and Members to establish and implement the Firm’s short-term and long-term financial and business objectives.

• Manage the day-to-day financial and cash operations of the firm.

• Assist practice area leaders with planning, analysis, monitoring, and development of new practice area opportunities.

• In collaboration with the Board, prepare agendas for the Board and Member meetings, and attend meetings.

• Participate in and implement accurate, effective, and appropriate communication of information and decisions to the firm.

• Work with the Board and the Firm’s Director of Human Resources, Controller, Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development, IT Manager, Director of Records Management, and Director of Marketing and Facilities (“Professional Management Team”) to develop the annual expense budget and revenue budget for the firm.

• Work with the Board on negotiation, analysis, integration efforts and communication across multiple offices.

• Serve as member of retirement benefits committee and oversee required filings in coordination with Controller, plan administrator, trustees, and participants.

• On a monthly basis, work with the Controller to report on and project the financial performance of the Firm, the practice areas, and individual attorneys using accrual-basis accounting principles.

• Work closely with the Firm’s accountants to oversee and report on the Firm’s financial activities, including:

• Establishing, monitoring, and maintaining internal accounting and financial controls; and

• Preparation of annual tax return (including the New York pass-through entity tax and related tax credit) and accrual-basis financial statement preparation, including tracking and maintaining the Members’ capital accounts.

• Have direct responsibility for the Firm’s business and financial relationships with all third-party vendors, including lease negotiations, insurance relationships, banking relationships, and technology procurement and support, and with retired or retiring Members of the Firm.

• Maintain the Firm’s professional liability insurance, understand all aspects of coverage, and coordinate with the Board and Firm counsel when issues or questions arise.

• Lead the Firm’s Professional Management Team and implement the Firm’s policies and Board directives as needed, and will:

• Directly supervise the Controller, Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development, IT Manager, Director of Records Management, and Director of Marketing and Facilities;

• Collaborate with the Director of Human Resources, who also reports directly to the Board, on compensation and benefits for non-attorney personnel and other matters within the purview of human resources;

• Provide analytical support to Board in the establishment of Member compensation and in the design of compensation of “of counsel” attorneys.

• Oversee the Firm’s record keeping and document management systems;

• Oversee implementation of the firm’s IT strategy & plans and work collaboratively with the IT Manager, and work closely with third-party vendors to maintain and advance the firm’s IT infrastructure and cybersecurity; and

• Oversee implementation of the Firm’s marketing strategy and work collaboratively with the Firm’s marketing committee, its Director of Marketing, and third-party marketing consultants.

Requirements:

• Educational background and/or substantial work experience in finance, accounting, and management.

• Experience working closely with banks, accountants, insurance brokers, and third-party vendors.

• Demonstrable track record of hands-on business and financial management experience consistent with an ability to perform the responsibilities of the job including collaboration with owners and top management and supervision of multiple functional units or departments.

• Detailed understanding of accounting and finance principles and best practices, including implementation of effective internal financial controls.

• Strong quantitative skills are a must, including full understanding of accrual based financial statements, the operation of a cash basis business model, and the ability to analyze and organize complex financial information using Excel.

• High level project management experience (and related contract negotiations) including experience with lease negotiations and leasehold improvements, procurement of goods and services.

• Good business sense and judgment, excellent communication skills (including the ability to present complex financial and tax concepts to the Board and the Members), organization, attention to detail, follow-up, and analytical skills.

• Ability to contribute to a positive and effective working environment and to maintain healthy morale.

• Ability to take responsibility for results of own actions and decisions and to hold oneself accountable to commonly held values.

• The highest level of personal and professional ethics and a detailed understanding of a law firm’s professional responsibilities with respect to its business and financial relationships with clients, including establishing and collecting fees and the custody of retainers, escrows, and other funds held in trust.

• Experience with or an understanding of consensus-based decision making, a professional services environment with multiple owners, and the operation of a business serving a variety of markets is desirable.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Lisa Bachar, Director of Human Resources, at lbachar@bhlawpllc.com