Controller with CFO Track

About Richmond Vona, LLC

Richmond Vona, LLC is a personal injury law firm located in Buffalo, NY, that’s changing the game for both client and employee experience. We’re setting a new standard in how personal injury law is practiced and delivered. Our mission is to provide a superior level of service to our clients through personal connection and continuous communication, while also creating a high-potential, rewarding workplace for our exceptional team. We’ve been recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s Best Workplaces in America and named one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies, ranking as the 4th fastest-growing law firm in the country. Locally, we’ve also been honored as a Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work. These recognitions reflect our commitment to building something different for both our clients and our people. We believe great results come from great people, strong systems, and a culture rooted in accountability, professionalism, and teamwork. Our core values- Winning, Always Ready, Precision, High-Level Communication, Professionalism, Service, and Accountability- guide how we operate every day. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing organization during an exciting growth phase and help build the financial infrastructure that supports long-term success.

The Opportunity

Richmond Vona is seeking an experienced and motivated Controller to lead the firm's accounting and financial operations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves while also thinking strategically about how finance supports growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. The Controller will oversee all core accounting functions, financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, settlement accounting, and internal controls. In addition, this individual will serve as the financial owner of the firm's settlement disbursement process—one of the most critical operational functions within a plaintiff personal injury practice. Reporting directly to firm leadership and partnering closely with our Director of Operations, Fractional CFO team, external CPA partners, and operational leaders, this role offers a unique opportunity to gain exposure well beyond traditional accounting responsibilities. We are looking for someone who understands the importance of details but can also see the bigger picture—someone who wants to help build systems, improve processes, support leadership decision-making, and play an active role in the firm's continued growth.

Why This Role Is Different

This is more than a traditional Controller position. At Richmond Vona, you will work alongside an experienced team of financial and operational professionals, including Fractional CFOs, Controllers, ownership, and external accounting advisors who actively support the firm's strategic growth initiatives.

This Role Provides An Uncommon Opportunity To

• Expand beyond traditional accounting into strategic finance and business operations through forecasting, profitability analysis, cash flow strategy, and growth planning.
• Learn from experienced finance leaders and advisors. Gain hands-on experience and training from our Fractional CFO to develop your skills and advance toward the CFO pathway.
• Develop leadership and management skills while helping build scalable systems and processes.
• Play a meaningful role in shaping the financial infrastructure of a rapidly growing organization.
• Gain unique exposure to law firm financial operations, trust accounting, contingency fees, and settlement disbursement management.

For an ambitious accounting professional, this position offers a unique opportunity to accelerate both technical and leadership development while making a visible impact on the future of the firm.

What Success Looks Like

The ideal candidate is:

• A self-starter who takes ownership and drives results.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Curious, adaptable, and eager to learn.
• Able to balance tactical execution with strategic thinking.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• An effective communicator who can translate financial information into actionable business insights.
• Passionate about process improvement and continuous learning.
• A collaborative leader who builds trust and accountability across teams.
• Excited by the opportunity to build systems and help shape the future of a growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Accounting Operations

• Lead all day-to-day accounting functions, including accounts payable oversight, accounts receivable, general ledger management, reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete financial reporting on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Maintain accounting records and financial systems with a high level of accuracy and integrity.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, banking relationships, and liquidity planning.
• Develop and maintain internal controls that protect firm assets and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and accounting standards.
• Oversee relationships with external CPA partners, auditors, banking institutions, and financial advisors.
• Ensure accurate month-end and year-end closing processes and support annual tax preparation and audit activities.

Settlement Accounting & Financial Operations

• Serve as the financial owner of the firm's settlement disbursement process from funding through final client distribution.
• Ensure settlement proceeds, attorney fees, case costs, lien payments, medical reimbursements, and client disbursements are processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with firm policies.
• Maintain compliance with all trust accounting requirements and internal control procedures.
• Reconcile settlement and trust accounts regularly and proactively investigate discrepancies.
• Partner with attorneys, paralegals, and operational leaders to improve settlement workflows and reduce processing delays.
• Develop reporting and tracking mechanisms that provide visibility into settlement pipeline activity, funding timelines, and cash flow impacts.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties, approvals, and controls throughout the settlement process.
• Continuously improve settlement procedures while maintaining exceptional client service, compliance, and financial accuracy.

Strategic Finance & Decision Support

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
• Prepare financial analyses and key performance indicators that support strategic decision-making.
• Analyze trends in revenue, expenses, profitability, staffing, and operational performance.
• Present financial information and recommendations to leadership in a clear and actionable manner.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Support growth initiatives by evaluating financial implications and providing strategic guidance.
• Assist leadership in developing financial plans that align with the firm's short- and long-term objectives.

Process Improvement & Scalability

• Evaluate and improve accounting workflows, systems, and controls.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures.
• Identify opportunities for automation and technology enhancements.
• Create scalable financial processes that support continued growth.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement across financial operations.
• Help establish the financial infrastructure necessary to support future expansion.

Leadership & Team Development

• Partner closely with Operations, ownership, department leaders, Fractional CFOs, and external advisors to support organizational goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and support to accounting team members as the department grows.
• Oversee the firm's accounting support function, including future remote accounting resources, while maintaining ownership of financial controls, reporting, and strategic initiatives.
• Help build a scalable finance and accounting infrastructure capable of supporting the firm's continued growth.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or 7+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• Experience leading full-cycle accounting operations.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, reconciliations, internal controls, and accounting best practices.
• Experience managing or mentoring staff.
• Advanced proficiency with accounting systems such as QuickBooks Online.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• CPA or CPA-track.
• Prior Controller, Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, or similar leadership experience.
• Professional services experience strongly preferred, including law firms, accounting firms, consulting organizations, medical groups, or other service-based businesses.
• Experience with accounting software, budgeting tools, financial reporting systems, and process automation initiatives.
• Experience supporting a growing or entrepreneurial organization.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with firm contribution.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Summer hours program.
• Hybrid work flexibility following successful onboarding.
• Free onsite parking.
• Team recognition and rewards programs.
• Ongoing professional development and leadership growth opportunities.

Our Core Values in Action

Success in this role requires more than technical accounting expertise.

We Are Seeking Someone Who

• Pursues excellence and delivers results (Winning).
• Takes initiative and stays prepared (Always Ready).
• Maintains exceptional accuracy and attention to detail (Precision).
• Communicates proactively and effectively (High-Level Communication).
• Demonstrates integrity and professionalism in every interaction (Professionalism).
• Serves teammates and clients with urgency and care (Service).
• Takes ownership and follows through on commitments (Accountability).

If you are excited by the opportunity to build, lead, learn, and make a meaningful impact within a growing organization, we encourage you to apply.

Key skills/competency

• Financial Leadership
• Accounting Operations
• Settlement Accounting
• Strategic Finance
• Process Improvement
• Budgeting and Forecasting
• Financial Reporting
• Internal Controls
• Cash Flow Management
• QuickBooks Online