Forensic Accounting & Litigation Director

#LI-MC2 #LI-Onsite

Essential Functions and Primary Duties

• Specializes by completing an applicable accreditation such as CFE (ACFE); ABV, CFF (AICPA); or ASA (ASA). 
• Stays up to date on published case law within specialty(ies). 
• Actively seeks speaking engagements in areas of specialized knowledge and support preparation of other managers and directors in preparing for presentations. 
• Actively networks and participates in events or activities to develop and maintain a professional network. Actively interacts with and develops relationships with clients and referral sources. 
• Identifies new engagement opportunities through existing clients. 
• Sets achievable, quantifiable goals as part or personal advancement plan (i.e., increasing number of potential client contacts, revenue generation, etc.). 
• Achieves revenue generation and management goals or is making progress toward those goals. 
• Participates in campus recruiting, capable of conducting interviews with potential Associate candidates. 
• Ability to identify lateral talent and bring them to the attention of the SMD for evaluation (there are many considerations here, including not picking a fight with competing firms). 
• Serves as a career advisor and participate in the performance review process. 
• Master at specialized templates by practice area within CBIZ FCG (i.e., document inventories, historical tax return summaries, valuation templates, etc.) 
• Mastery of specialized third-party software and websites utilized by CBIZ (i.e., Economic Research Institute (ERI)™, Able2Extract™, PDF2CSV™, Essential Forms™, DissoMaster™,). 
• Identifies technologies and tools used by other CBIZ service lines that could potentially provide support. 
• Publicly recognized expertise in one or more of the following: 
  • Family law terminology, case law, statutory law and procedures. 
  • Fraud examination principles and procedures; 
  • Civil litigation terminology, case law, statutory law and procedures; 
  • Business valuation principles and procedures; and/or 
  • Insolvency and Restructuring terminology, case law, statutory law and procedures. 
• Understands confidentiality and other restrictions of client documents, CBIZ FCG work product as well as engagement specific requirements regarding the communication of confidential subject matter. 
• Ensures that deliverables conform to any prescribed legal requirements, regulatory requirements, or industry standards, such as expert reports, reports to regulators, insurance companies, etc. 
• Possesses knowledge of the applicable State and Federal rules of civil procedure for expert witness reports and testimony. 
• Understands CBIZ requirements on document and information security as well as record retention guidelines. Ensures that deliverables, including written reports, conform to CBIZ policies. 
• Understands and utilizes relevant local and/or national cross-Line of Business service offerings. 
• Leverages available industry specialists and resources to obtain information and guidance for various client service matters. 
• Shares industry knowledge with others. 
• Contributes to industry expertise of the firm by participating in the development and delivery or relevant industry training of staff and in internal training events. 
• Coaches team members in developing their industry knowledge and awareness of available resources. 
• Contributes to thought leadership development and presents at relevant internal and external industry events. 
• Expands and maintains network of internal industry specialists across CBIZ. Fosters relationships and introduces team to industry specialists and is regarded as a resource within the industry. 
• Understands the types of engagements that FCG may be precluded from performing (i.e. outside of area of expertise, against public accounting firms, etc.). 
• Coordinates submission of RFPs and proposals and ensures compliance with CBIZ guidelines. 
• Handles client objections and requests for modifications in accordance with our policies. 
• Develops sound cost estimates and revenue projections for each phase of work. 
• Updates client on a timely basis regarding unplanned costs. 
• Invoices clients timely (at least once per month) and/or within proscribed billing terms pursuant to the engagement letter. Follows up with client at least once per month for any past due invoices. 
• Manages expectations around billing monitoring and collections. Quickly escalates billing concerns which can put CBIZ at financial risk or which could be indicators of quality concerns. 
• Develops overall project plan and timeline to meet client/counsel expectations and timing of deliverables. 
• Ensures that enough staff with the requisite experience and skill level are assigned to the engagement such that client /counsel deadlines and quality of deliverables are achieved. 
• Manages client/counsel expectations such that deliverables realistically reflect information made available by client and/or counsel. 
• Aware of project deadlines and milestones; effectively manages self and engagement team within assigned tasks to meet deadlines. 
• Effectively communicates progress toward and achievement of project deadlines and milestones with supervisors. 
• Accountable for budgeted hours in relation to a particular task or engagement and ability to explain any material variances. 
• Actively manages firm realization goals and able to complete assigned tasks on time and within budget constraints. 
• Identifies key information necessary to meet the engagement objectives. 
• Applies professional skepticism and makes critical assessments of information being analyzed. 
• Understands and helps obtain and analyze key information necessary to complete assigned tasks. 
• Uses tools and technologies effectively to develop work product. 
• Ensures that necessary documents and information are gathered from client and/or counsel. 
• Coordinates the development of any necessary models or other tools necessary for the execution and completion of the engagement. 
• Develops and/or augments models and financial analyses as necessary. 
• Coordinates with managers and other directors regarding engagement staffing assignments. 
• Is available to respond timely to emails, phone calls, Teams messages, etc. during assigned working hours. 
• Coordinates internal and external communications with client/counsel and staff (and engagement leader, if applicable throughout the engagement planning and administration process. 
• Communicates frequently with team members and supervisors about progress of assigned tasks. 
• Communicates questions, observations and findings in a timely manner. 
• Communicates as needed with clients and is available for questions, concerns and assistance during an engagement. 
• Ensures that Associate, Senior Associate and Supervising Senior Associate tasks are completed within prescribed parameters. 
• Reviews the work product of team members for accuracy and completeness and completes work papers as requested. 
• Prepares testimony-quality reports and analysis. 
• Provides constructive review points to subordinate engagement team members. 
• Ensures that deliverables associated with high risk/high exposure engagements are subject to review and QC by a second engagement partner or service line leader.
• Effectively articulates the rationale and basis for opinions and conclusions of any reports and analyses that are performed. 
• Ensures that all work product and deliverables are both substantively reviewed, and quality checked (i.e. checked for mathematical accuracy, spelling, grammar, etc.) at the appropriate supervisory level. 
• Ensures that deliverables such as written reports, presentations, schedules, slides, etc. conform to client/counsel expectations. 
• Ensures that deliverables and presentations are marked appropriately (e.g. “Privileged and Confidential – Attorney Work product”) and are restricted to certain users if applicable. 
• Actively communicates availability and willingness to assume client responsibilities when available. 
• Achieves or exceeds communicated billing goals for client work. 
• Enters time incurred on client engagements accurately to the 1/10th of one hour (0.1) – unless otherwise instructed – including accurate descriptions of time incurred. 
• Chargeable time is to be entered daily. Released no less than weekly by 10:00 am Monday of the following week or as needed to comply with financial reporting requirements (i.e. end of month) or client needs. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree required

• 8 years of experience in public accounting or related field

• 6 years of supervisory experience

• Must have active CPA or equivalent certification

• Ability to manage deadlines, work on multiple assignments and prioritize each assignment as necessary

• Proficient use of applicable technology

• Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and in writing throughout all levels of organization, both internally and externally

• Proven high level of business integrity, client service and leadership skills

• Must be able to travel based on client and business needs