We are seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our leadership team and help drive the financial strategy of our rapidly growing, entrepreneurial law firm. This is a unique opportunity to build and shape the financial foundation of an innovative firm that is redefining the traditional legal services model. The CFO will be instrumental in supporting our continued growth trajectory while preserving the firm’s entrepreneurial energy and its commitment to clients, colleagues, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Financial Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the firm’s aggressive growth objectives and entrepreneurial vision.
• Partner with the Management Committee to drive strategic decision-making and business planning.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting across multiple practice areas and firm entities.
• Provide financial insights and analysis to support decision-making, practice group reviews and growth opportunities.
• Oversee the financial management of Point of Difference Strategies (PoDS), a separately owned lobbying/government affairs entity with common ownership.

2. Financial Management & Operations

• Oversee of the firm’s financial operations including accounting, billing, payroll, collections, trust accounting, and cash flow management.
• Refine and optimize financial systems, workflows, and controls to support scalability and operational efficiency.
• Manage banking relationships, credit facilities, and capital structure decisions.
• Serve as liaison with the firm’s external tax advisors.
• Possess strong knowledge of third-party timekeeping and billing systems and oversee their integration and effectiveness in supporting client service and profitability.

3. Business Analytics & Performance Management

• Elevate the firm’s financial reporting and analytics to support data-driven decision making at all levels.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for attorney productivity, practice group profitability, client profitability, and utilization.
• Lead pricing strategy initiatives and design of alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) to support client engagement and revenue optimization.
• Conduct financial modeling and due diligence for lateral partner hiring, office expansions, and potential acquisitions.
• Partner on compensation model design and analyses, including annual performance-based bonus program.

4. Risk Management

• Establish and maintain rigorous internal controls, and risk management strategies, and financial compliance frameworks.
• Ensure adherence to all trust accounting compliance requirements and best practices in client funds management.

5. Human Capital & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing finance and accounting team that reflects the firm’s entrepreneurial and inclusive culture.
• Collaborate with existing accounting, billing and finance internal resources to enhance efficiency and integration across the department.

Qualifications

Minimum 10+ years of senior financial leadership experience, with experience in a professional services or law firm environment.

Proven success in leading financial operations for rapidly growing organizations.

Hands-on experience leading and managing internal financial teams, including accounting, billing, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.

Other Competencies

Entrepreneurial Mindset: Able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth, innovative environment.

Strategic Thinking and Analytical Rigor: Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights.

Leadership, Communication, and Influence: Exceptional leadership abilities with strong communication skills to engage with finance team, attorneys, staff, and external stakeholders.

Agility and Growth Orientation: Comfortable and Flexible with change and committed to continuous improvement as the firm scales.

Location: Chicago

Job Type: Full-Time

Benefits

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres and Point of Difference Strategies contributes to voluntary medical, dental, and vision plans. Offers FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits. Firm-paid STD & LTD. Retirement savings plan. Flexible paid time off days.

We are WBE Certified and a member of the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of CFDB and PoDS not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This applies to all employment decisions.

About Us

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is a growing law firm headquartered in Chicago, with a team of over 100 attorneys and staff. Formed by partners who worked at preeminent international law firms, with a deep bench of sophisticated and experienced corporate lawyers and litigators, our team provides exceptional legal service while affording our clients the benefits of working with an agile and entrepreneurial-minded team of results-oriented, well-rounded professionals. We are driven by our core values: humility, respect, collaboration, partnership, and innovation.

We represent a diverse group of interesting clients, which include private equity firms, founders, startups, venture capital investors, family offices and public companies (among others), in sophisticated and complex legal matters and transactions.

Point of Difference Strategies is one of the largest lobbying and government affairs firms in Illinois. With offices in Chicago and Springfield, PoDS offers top-tier government affairs and lobbying services at the federal, state, and local levels. PoDS proudly serves a diverse client base, including local governments, trade organizations, Fortune 100 companies, and nonprofits.

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres and Point of Difference Strategies partner in providing the best, most comprehensive legal and government affairs services to their clients.