Job Description for COO
About the Position
Reporting to the firm's Management Committee, the COO will have overall responsibility for implementation and execution of Management Committee decisions and for overseeing the firm's accounting, technology, human resources, facilities, marketing and administration departments.The COO will have broad-spectrum responsibilities extending from day-to-day business issues to longer-term issues such as strategic planning and assessing growth and succession opportunities.
Key Success Factors
The COO must establish and maintain productive, cooperative, and mutually respectful relationships with the partners and be perceived as a credible and trustworthy colleague whose judgment is respected by the partners.
The COO must understand and be comfortable in a professional services environment. Experience and skill in managing all levels of human resources is of key importance. The COO will value and respect the contributions made by all employees and will encourage personal and professional development at all levels of the firm.
Responsibilities
Finance and Accounting
- Prepares annual operating and capital budget for approval of Management Committee.
- Assists the Management Committee and the firm's Accounting Department in maintaining the firm's banking relationships, and in the negotiations of borrowing facilities as necessary.
- Supervises the collection of accounts receivable.
Human Resources
- Assists the HR Partner in overseeing all staff recruitment and hiring activities, including interviewing, selection.
- Oversees the administrative team for on-boarding, and training.
- Ensures the human resource policy manual is developed, maintained, and followed.
General Management
- In cooperation with the Management Committee, develops strategies to manage and support the growth and success of the firm.
- Ensures the Management Committee has all the necessary information to make effective decisions in a timely fashion.
- Develops and maintains all operating and administrative procedures and policies of the firm.
- Coordinates (and attends if necessary) the firm's Partnership meetings and any committee meetings, including agenda preparation, minute-taking and follow-up.
- Assists the Insurance Partner and HR Department in administering the firm's various professional liability insurances.
- Assists Head of Operations by participating in oversight of office administration including records management, space utilization, facilities, maintenance, office services, insurance, purchasing, mail and messenger services, and special projects.
- Assists Head of Operations in evaluating and supporting all marketing and business development activities of the firm including website, advertising, events, newsletters, and communication.
- Maintains files related to complaints and claims (if any) filed against the firm through LSO.
Technology
- Assists the IT Partner in overseeing all technology including hardware, software, telecommunications, and other tools necessary to meet the firm's business needs.
- Ensures that new and emerging technologies are assessed to determine their potential value to the firm and reports to the IT Partner in respect of same.
- Supervises the training of staff (including lawyers) on how to use the firm's technology and its applications in the most productive way.
The Preferred Candidate
The successful candidate must operate comfortably across a broad spectrum of responsibilities including hands-on financial and administrative work to issues involving information technology, human resources, business judgment, and strategic planning.
The successful candidate will have at least 15 years' experience and a proven track record in a dual financial and general administrative role in a professional services firm, preferably a law-firm. The successful candidate will have a proven ability to drive process improvements, manage administrative teams, optimize recruitment strategies, manage budgets, improve efficiencies and align strategic goals throughout the firm.
Preference will be given to candidates with an MBA.
In addition, it is anticipated that the successful candidate will possess the following personal characteristics and capabilities:
- A highly organized self-starter with strong administrative, management, and leadership abilities.
- Ability to work with limited direction and provide direction and guidance to staff firm-wide.
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities in a time-sensitive environment.
- Ability to analyze issues, anticipate consequences, make decisions and initiate action.
- Ability to communicate complex information effectively, both orally and in writing, firm-wide.
- Ability to build consensus and to work in a collaborative manner, including when dealing with challenging situations.
- Ability to encourage and motivate staff to accomplish their respective objectives and goals while maintaining consistent office practices and procedures.
We offer a work environment that affords equal opportunities and embraces diversity. We offer a competitive compensation package, inclusive of benefits.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those under consdieration will be contacted for interview.
