JOB TITLE: Temporary Trust Accountant REPORTS TO: Director of Administration / Partners DEPARTMENT: Paralegals SUMMARY: Under supervision of the Director of Administration and attorneys and according to established policies and procedures, performs a variety of Trust accounting and administration duties for the firm as assigned. Maintains positive contact with clients, attorneys and staff and observes confidentiality of client matters. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: “Essential functions” are primarily job duties which personnel must be able to perform unassisted or with some reasonable accommodation made by the employer and include the following listed functions. Other duties may be assigned. Regular daily attendance is required. Work may require more than 35 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position. The trust accountant is responsible for managing and maintaining the financial records of client trust accounts, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards by accurately recording all transactions, preparing reports, and monitoring account activity to prevent commingling of funds, all while adhering to specific regulations governing trust accounting within the legal industry; this role requires a detailed understanding of legal procedures and fiduciary responsibilities, along with strong accounting skills to accurately track and report client funds held in trust. Key responsibilities may include:
Maintaining trust account records:
Accurately recording all transactions related to client trust funds, including deposits, withdrawals, disbursements, and interest earned.
Compliance with regulations:
Staying informed about and adhering to state and federal trust accounting rules, including proper segregation of client funds from firm operating funds.
Generating reports:
Preparing regular trust account statements and reports for clients and attorneys, detailing account balances, transactions, and any discrepancies.
Reconciling bank statements:
Verifying the accuracy of trust account bank statements against internal records.
Handling client inquiries:
Responding to questions from clients and attorneys regarding trust account activity and balances.
Identifying potential issues:
Monitoring transactions for any potential conflicts of interest or compliance concerns and reporting them to appropriate parties.
Auditing and review:
Participating in internal and external audits of trust accounts to ensure accuracy and compliance. Required skills and qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field or relevant work experience in legal field preferred
Strong understanding of trust accounting principles and legal ethics
Proficiency in accounting software and legal practice management systems
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
Detail-oriented with high accuracy standards
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with clients and attorneys
Possesses thorough understanding of the firm’s overall mission and supports that mission in their approach to communicating with office personnel and through job responsibilities.
Demonstrates the following characteristics/skills: ownership and commitment to the job, excellent interpersonal skills, team building skills, analytical and problem solving skills, decision making skills, effective written, verbal and listening communications skills, attention to detail at a high level of accuracy, adept at proofreading for content, grammar and accuracy, very effective organizational skills, and stress and time management skills.
Adapts to changes in the work environment; able to deal with change, delays, or unexpected events.
Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position and inspires the trust of others.
Operates office equipment including computer, telephone, fax machine, copier and printer in order to prepare reports, standard correspondence, emails, memoranda and other administrative documents.
Completes other projects and functions as assigned by the Director of Administration and Partners.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Five (5)or more years of trust accounting or related legal industry experience. Bachelor’s degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university with a degree in related subject matter preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos; ability to write complex correspondence; ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to firm members, clients and business partners with courtesy and tact. REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral format; ability to think independently and possess good judgment; and ability to recognize and resolve problems effectively, independently or together in a team environment. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel in order to manipulate general office equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and have the ability to retrieve and distribute print volumes, push and pull packages, and retrieve and replace objects from shelves of up to 7 feet high. COMPUTER SKILLS: Must type accurately at a level of at least 50 words per minute. Approximately five years on the job experience using Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel & Word, and experience with PerfectLaw accounting software a plus. WORKING CONDITIONS: Working conditions include a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature and the like.
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