Director Of Client Operations Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Cooley is seeking a Director of Client Accounts to join the Accounting & Finance team. The role partners closely with attorneys and firm leadership to drive strong billing practices, support overall financial performance, and enhance billing efficiency.

The Director of Client Accounts will leverage technology and process improvements to optimize billing workflows and shorten the billing cycle while maintaining high standards of accuracy and service.

• Lead and manage US and Asia direct reports, including staffing, workload oversight, and employee lifecycle activities in partnership with HR.
• Oversee end‑to‑end billing operations, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and timely month‑end close, and deliver performance reporting to CFO and Director of Revenue.
• Drive continuous process improvements to eliminate inefficiencies and enhance billing workflows.
• Monitor, report, and escalate unbilled WIP aging to partners and leadership, ensuring visibility to revenue exposure on matters where work has been performed but invoices have not yet been billed.
• Work closely with New Business to evaluate new and updated Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs), propose amendments, identify non‑compliant or unfeasible requirements, and determine overall acceptability of engagement terms.
• Oversee Intellectual Property (IP) billing operations, including management of patent fixed‑rate structures, annual rate updates, creation and retirement of task codes, guidance on billing procedures, and implementation of invoice template changes.
• Serve as a resource to billing partners, providing guidance on billing best practices, including discounting, matter closures, financial analysis, and effective invoice presentation.
• Oversee biannual PwC audit processes by coordinating the collection of approved pro formas and supporting documentation, ensuring all billing approvals (including write‑offs and discounts) are properly documented, validating compliance with client billing guidelines, and managing submission of audit materials through the PwC portal.
• Track and manage secondment agreements, including identifying new agreements and coordinating with the team to issue monthly secondment services for prior periods.
• Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports, providing day‑to‑day supervision, ensuring compliance with assigned work hours, and monitoring for compliance with all firm and department policies.
• Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time‑off requests, support business professional development and continued educational opportunities, and participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination, and other employee lifecycle events in collaboration with HR.
• Perform all other duties as assigned or required.

• 10+ years of directly relevant exempt level experience in the field with 5+ years of management experience in relevant roles.
• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications.
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required, and travel as required.
• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred).
• Supervisory experience.
• Prior law firm experience.
• 3E experience highly preferred.

• Entrepreneurial by nature.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to facilitate and solve problems.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines.
• Ability to drive projects to completion and achieve goals.
• Strong judgment.
• Team‑player with a collaborative spirit.
• Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, and client data.
• High level of professionalism at all times.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent.
• Proactive, analytical mindset.
• Effective presentation skills.

• Hourly pay range: $280,000 - $340,000. Final offer will depend on geographic location, experience, and skill set.
• Full range of elective benefits: medical, health savings account (with applicable plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre‑tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long‑term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults, and other parental support benefits.
• Firm‑paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short‑term medical benefits.
• 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays each year.
• Generous parental leave and fertility benefits.
• Detailed benefit orientation for new employees.

Cooley is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE.