Staff Accountant

Job Description

Staff Accountant – Budgeting & Reporting | Sidley Austin LLP

The Tone:
This is a full-time Staff Accountant role at Sidley Austin LLP, located in Chicago, IL. Sidley Austin LLP is a 5,067-person organization operating as a global law firm, providing comprehensive legal services to clients across diverse industries. This position is integral to the firm’s financial operations, directly supporting the production of accurate financial reporting and budgets. The Staff Accountant ensures the integrity of financial data, provides critical analyses to management, and acts as a key financial liaison for various internal departments, significantly contributing to the firm’s overall financial health and strategic planning.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person Chicago, IL
• Pay: $70000–$84000 yearly
• Team: Reports to the Accounting Associate Manager and supports other department staff.
• Mission: To produce accurate financial reporting and budgets, serve as a financial liaison, and identify opportunities for financial improvement within the firm.
• Tech Stack: Advanced Excel functions

What You’ll Actually Do
• Produce Financial Reports: Contribute as an integral part of a team responsible for producing accurate financial reporting and comprehensive budgets for the Firm, ensuring data integrity and timely delivery.
• Develop Financial Analyses: Create and maintain complex Excel spreadsheets using advanced functions to prepare detailed financial analyses and various reports as required by the firm.
• Review General Ledger: Analyze general ledger transactions and accounts, applying technical judgment to verify that all financial transactions are properly recorded and classified according to accounting principles.
• Participate in Budgeting: Actively engage in the firm-wide annual forecasting and budgeting processes, contributing to the development and consolidation of financial plans.
• Conduct Variance Analysis: Perform thorough monthly account reviews and detailed variance analyses to identify significant trends, discrepancies, and provide insights to management.
• Serve as Liaison: Act as a primary financial liaison to multiple internal departments, understanding their business needs and providing financial support and insights to service those needs effectively.
• Implement Initiatives: Analyze, manage, and assist in the implementation of various financial initiatives, identifying opportunities for process improvement and offering recommendations to management.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience: Proficiency in developing and maintaining Excel spreadsheets for preparing analyses and reports.
• Skills: Advanced Excel proficiency, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail, strong interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Bonus: Financial reporting experience, CPA or candidate for CPA certification.