Compensation Controller Jobs in McCook, IL (NOW HIRING)

Our client is a privately owned, growing law firm seeking a hands-on Controller to lead accounting, billing, payroll, timekeeping, and office financial operations. This is a key leadership role for someone who enjoys improving processes, supporting a small team, and working closely with ownership in an entrepreneurial environment.The ideal candidate will be comfortable stepping into an established business, learning existing systems, identifying efficiencies, and helping the office operate smoothly. This person should be practical, organized, detail-oriented, and able to work with a wide range of personalities in a professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting and financial operations for the firm.
• Oversee general ledger activity, journal entries, month-end processes, reconciliations, and QuickBooks management.
• Manage banking, cash controls, financial approvals, wires, ACHs, and sensitive financial transactions.
• Support financial risk controls, fraud prevention, and proper handling of confidential financial data.
• Oversee client billing, collections, accounts receivable, accounts payable, vendor payments, employee credit cards, and related workflows.
• Help manage retainer tracking, client trust account activity, and other law firm financial processes.
• Maintain and improve billing, timekeeping, and accounting systems, including separate systems for time tracking/billing and QuickBooks.
• Build, maintain, and update billing rate tables, employee billing rates, and related backend system data.
• Oversee payroll processing, time entry monitoring, benefits setup, onboarding documentation, and compliance tracking.
• Manage and support a small accounting and operations team covering AP, AR, billing, payroll, office administration, and employee support functions.
• Provide coaching, structure, accountability, and day-to-day direction to team members.
• Partner with outside CPA, payroll provider, benefits provider, employment counsel, insurance providers, and IT vendors.
• Support annual compliance and administrative projects, including workers’ compensation audits, 401(k) census and 5500 filing, insurance renewals, benefits oversight, and related reporting.
• Assist with employee handbook updates, HR templates, internal documentation, and process improvements.
• Review existing workflows and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, reporting, and internal controls.
• Step into special projects as needed, including office operations, vendor coordination, internal reporting, and owner-requested initiatives.

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a Controller, Accounting Manager, Finance Manager, or senior accounting operations leader.
• Experience working in a small to mid-sized privately owned, founder-led, or entrepreneurial law office.
• Strong hands-on accounting experience, including journal entries, bank reconciliations, AP, AR, payroll, month-end close, and general ledger maintenance.
• Strong QuickBooks experience required; QuickBooks Desktop experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with legal billing, timekeeping systems, Sage Timeslips, client trust accounts, or professional services billing is strongly preferred.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with reports, reconciliations, rate tables, and operational data.
• Experience overseeing or supporting payroll, employee timekeeping, benefits administration, and compliance-related processes.
• Ability to work in an environment where systems may not be perfect and processes may need to be improved over time.
• Strong process improvement mindset with the ability to rebuild, organize, or enhance accounting, billing, payroll, and reporting workflows.
• Comfortable learning how work flows across billing, payroll, payables, receivables, banking, and office operations.
• People-focused management style with the ability to earn trust, coach team members, and provide structure.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and attention to detail, especially with cash controls, bank access, wires, and sensitive financial information.
• Flexible, entrepreneurial mindset with the willingness to step outside a narrow job description when needed.
• Calm, responsive, and decisive when working with ownership in a fast-moving environment.
• Willingness to work in-office 5 days per week, especially during the transition and training period.

Why This Opportunity

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership of accounting and office operations within a stable, growing firm. The role offers visibility with leadership, the ability to improve systems, and the chance to make a meaningful impact across finance, payroll, billing, and office operations. Our client is looking for someone who can learn the current processes, support the existing team, and help the business continue to run efficiently as responsibilities transition from a long-standing internal leader.