Shipman & Goodwin LLP · 2 days ago
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
Hartford, CT
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
8+ years expShipman & Goodwin LLP is a law firm committed to helping clients achieve their goals through tailored financial solutions. The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is a senior finance leader responsible for delivering financial insights to support firm strategy and operational decision-making, while managing budgeting, forecasting, and profitability reporting.
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Responsibilities
Lead the annual budgeting process in partnership with the COO, incorporating revenue, expense, headcount, and capital planning
Develop rolling forecasts and scenario analysis tied to workload demand, hiring plans, and rate changes
Monitor monthly performance versus budget and forecast and compared to prior year; identify trends, risks, and corrective actions
Support Department Heads and Practice Group Leaders in understanding and managing financial performance
Partner with the COO and firm leadership on annual rate setting and rate increase modeling
Provide Department, Practice Group and/or client- and matter-level profitability analysis, including leverage, realization, and margin performance
Support pricing strategy for new matters, lateral proposals, and alternative fee arrangements
Utilize and adjust technology tools for accurate and real time reporting
Produce clear, concise monthly and quarterly financial reporting for the COO, Managing Partner, and Finance Committee
Develop dashboards and KPIs relevant to a mid-size firm (e.g., revenue per lawyer, utilization, realization, expense ratios)
Translate complex financial information into practical insights for attorneys and department leaders
Ensure consistency and accuracy of reporting across finance and practice management functions
Act as a trusted advisor to the COO on growth initiatives, lateral hiring, and cost management
Support multi-year financial planning and long-range strategic modeling
Evaluate financial impact of operational initiatives, technology investments, and staffing changes
Provide ad hoc analysis to support leadership and partnership decisions
Work closely with Accounting, Practice Management, and IT to ensure high-quality financial data
Leverage financial systems (e.g., Aderant, EIS, iTimekeep, PowerBI, InTapp) and Excel-based models to improve forecasting and reporting
Identify opportunities to streamline financial processes and enhance analytical capabilities without adding unnecessary complexity
Manage and mentor FP&A staff, if applicable, or operate as a highly independent individual contributor
Collaborate closely with Accounting, Billing, HR, and Practice Management to align financial insights with operational realities
Promote financial literacy and accountability across the firm
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred or equivalent law firm experience
8–12+ years of progressive financial planning and analysis experience; law firm or professional services experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated understanding of law firm economics, including billable hours, utilization, realization, leverage, and rates
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; experience with BI tools is a plus
Proven ability to partner with senior leadership and influence decision-making
Strong communication skills with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences
High degree of discretion, judgment, and professionalism
Preferred
MBA or CPA preferred or equivalent law firm experience
Experience with PowerBI and Aderant desired
Experience with Thomson Reuters Financial Insights useful
Company
Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Shipman’s value lies in our commitment -- to our clients, to the profession and to the community.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Aaron Levy
Partner
Alfredo G. Fernández
Partner
Recent News
2026-01-13
2026-01-05
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