Accountant

Summary:

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

We are seeking an experienced Accountant to provide day-to-day accounting and finance support to our newly established Madrid office. Working closely with the Firm's Finance Department, the Accountant handles the Accounts/Finance Department functions of the office, including but not limited to monthly reporting; local bookkeeping; tax filings with the assistance of the Firm’s external tax advisor preparing bills; managing the cash requirements of the office; and payroll management.
This is a hands-on role at a foundational stage of the office's development, offering the opportunity to help establish local finance processes and systems within a leading global law firm.
The Accountant is responsible for ensuring that all tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner, to the highest standard, and in accordance with all regulatory and statutory requirements

This role reports to the Head of Finance (currently based in London) and works very closely with the Director of Administration of the Madrid office.

Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for billing, payments, receipts, journal entries, etc.
• Maintain the books and records in accordance with Firm policy
• Perform the monthly close, including expense estimates and accruals and reconciliation of bank and other ledger accounts
• Prepare monthly reporting for the Firm's Finance Department and reconcile local records to firmwide reporting as needed
• Prepare client bills and ensure compliance with Spanish invoicing and electronic invoicing requirements and with Firm Billings policies
• Monitor receivable status and prepare outstanding bill summaries when required
• Answer enquiries from partners, legal assistants and the global finance team
• Monitor cash flow and prepare cash forecasts for cash funding from headquarters
• Manage day-to-day banking and payment operations and maintain the local bank relationship
• Prepare revenue reports and review the work of the local accounting firm for local tax filings (including VAT/IVA, IRPF withholdings, corporate income tax, and informative and intra-EU returns), ensuring regulatory requirements are met with accuracy and on time
• Liaise with the bank, local accounting firm and external auditors to ensure compliance with Spanish accounting and tax rules, including statutory accounts, the annual audit and filings with the Commercial Registry
• Ensure compliance with local rules and regulations and with the Firm's global financial controls and policies
• Work with external payroll consultants and the local accounting firm on preparation of the monthly payroll.
• Coordinate Social Security contributions, withholdings and related filings, maintaining strict confidentiality of payroll and personal data
• Play a liaison role between the partners, legal assistants and the accounts team as required
• Provide orientation to new employees to ensure the Firm's financial policies and procedures are complied with
• Support the Director of Administration with vendor payments, office expenditure and cost control
• Contribute to the establishment of finance processes and systems in a newly opened office and support local and global finance initiatives

Qualifications:

• The ability to solve problems, be innovative, organised and detail oriented
• Ability to prioritise work and resolve issues
• Good communication skills, interacting professionally with people at all levels within the firm, with clients and with outside vendors
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and change in a newly established office
• Ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions and tight deadlines, and willingness to work additional hours as and when required to meet deadlines, especially during the year end push
• Diplomacy and flexibility

Experience:

• Minimum of five years' experience working in a similar finance position in a law firm or professional services organization
• Demonstrable skills and experience in a finance and accounting background; a degree or professional qualification in accounting, finance or economics is preferred
• Strong working knowledge of Spanish accounting, tax, payroll and Social Security requirements
• Experience organising projects and systems related to Finance departments; experience supporting a new or scaling office is an advantage
• Fluent in Spanish and English, both written and spoken
• High level working knowledge of CMS Aderant/Elite and Emburse would be an advantage
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and Outlook

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.