Law Firm Controller Job in Dallas, TX: IOLTA, Payroll, and Financial Management
Published on: Jun 7, 2026
This Law Firm Controller role in Dallas, TX is a hybrid senior financial leadership position overseeing accounting, trust accounting, IOLTA compliance, payroll, and financial reporting for an established Dallas law firm. The search is led by Frontline Source Group, a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years, and every direct hire placement is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004, with 22 years in business, 32 plus offices, 5,619 plus placements, and a 98.94 percent executive placement retention rate. The firm is a Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firm ranked #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, and an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, with a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 666 plus verified reviews.
What is the Law Firm Controller role in Dallas, TX?
The Law Firm Controller serves as the senior financial leader responsible for the firm's day-to-day accounting and financial operations. Reporting directly to firm leadership, this individual manages all back-office financial functions, including accounting, trust accounting, payroll, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, and compliance. The position offers executive-level visibility, hybrid work flexibility, and a profit-sharing program at a highly respected, established Dallas-based law firm with a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture.
What are the financial management and reporting responsibilities?
The Controller oversees all accounting and financial operations of the firm. Core duties include preparing and analyzing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, managing month-end and year-end closing processes, developing financial reports and dashboards for firm leadership, monitoring firm profitability, cash flow, and performance metrics, and presenting financial results and recommendations to firm partners and leadership.
What accounting operations does the Controller direct?
The Controller directs all general ledger activities and account reconciliations and ensures the accuracy of financial records and accounting processes. Responsibilities include overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, collections, and expense management, maintaining internal controls and accounting policies, and coordinating external audits, tax preparation, and financial reviews.
What trust accounting and IOLTA compliance duties are involved?
Trust accounting is central to this role. The Controller manages attorney trust accounts (IOLTA) and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, maintains adherence to legal industry accounting requirements and ethical standards, ensures proper handling of client funds and trust reconciliations, and monitors compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations. Experience managing trust accounting and IOLTA compliance is a key differentiator for candidates.
What payroll and strategic planning responsibilities does the role include?
On the payroll side, the Controller oversees payroll processing and related tax compliance and ensures timely, accurate payroll reporting. On the strategic side, the role leads annual budgeting and forecasting, assists firm leadership with long-term financial planning and growth initiatives, provides financial analysis to support business decisions, and evaluates opportunities to improve efficiency, profitability, and financial controls.
What background and qualifications are required?
Candidates need a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, plus 8 plus years of progressive accounting and financial management experience. Required skills include strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls, experience overseeing payroll, accounting operations, and cash management, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, and excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
What qualifications are preferred for the Controller role?
A CPA designation is strongly preferred. The firm also prefers prior law firm, legal services, consulting, public accounting, or professional services experience, demonstrated experience managing trust accounting and IOLTA compliance, prior service as a Controller, Director of Finance, Assistant CFO, or CFO, and familiarity with law firm accounting software and legal billing systems.
What are the features and benefits of this position?
The role includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, an annual bonus opportunity, a profit-sharing program, and a comprehensive benefits package. It also offers hybrid work flexibility and executive-level visibility with a genuine leadership opportunity inside the firm.
How do you apply for this Law Firm Controller position?
Candidates interested in this Dallas Law Firm Controller role can apply through the how to apply page. A Frontline Source Group recruiter on the accounting and finance desk reviews each application and reaches out to candidates whose experience aligns with the firm's requirements. Frontline also recruits across legal staffing and accounting and finance disciplines nationwide.
Why work with Frontline Source Group on your job search?
Frontline Source Group has completed 5,619 plus placements over 22 years and maintains a 98.94 percent executive placement retention rate, well above the roughly 70 percent industry average. As a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years and a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing Talent Award winner, the firm pairs candidates with roles built for long-term fit, and every direct hire placement is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions: Law Firm Controller Job in Dallas, TX
What is the Law Firm Controller job in Dallas, TX?
It is a hybrid senior financial leadership role at an established Dallas-based law firm. The Controller oversees accounting, trust accounting, IOLTA compliance, payroll, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, and compliance, reporting directly to firm leadership with executive-level visibility.
Where is this Controller position located?
The position is based in Dallas, TX at an established local law firm and offers hybrid work flexibility, combining onsite presence with remote work.
Is a CPA required for this Law Firm Controller role?
A CPA designation is strongly preferred but not strictly required. Candidates need a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, plus 8 plus years of progressive accounting and financial management experience.
What experience does the Controller role require?
The role requires 8 plus years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, with strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls, plus experience overseeing payroll, accounting operations, and cash management.
What is IOLTA and why does it matter for this role?
IOLTA refers to attorney trust accounts that hold client funds. The Controller manages these accounts, ensures compliance with applicable regulations, maintains adherence to legal industry accounting requirements and ethical standards, and ensures proper handling of client funds and trust reconciliations. Trust accounting and IOLTA experience is a key differentiator.
What are the main responsibilities of this position?
Responsibilities span financial management and reporting, accounting operations, trust accounting and IOLTA compliance, payroll and benefits administration, strategic financial planning, and leadership collaboration with attorneys, firm partners, and administrative leadership.
What benefits does this Controller role offer?
The role includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, an annual bonus opportunity, a profit-sharing program, and a comprehensive benefits package, along with hybrid work flexibility and executive-level visibility.
What prior titles are a good fit for this role?
The firm prefers candidates who have served as a Controller, Director of Finance, Assistant CFO, or CFO, ideally with prior law firm, legal services, consulting, public accounting, or professional services experience and familiarity with law firm accounting software and legal billing systems.
How do I apply for this Law Firm Controller job?
Candidates can apply through the Frontline Source Group how to apply page. A Frontline recruiter on the accounting and finance desk reviews each application and contacts candidates whose experience aligns with the firm's requirements.
Does Frontline place candidates in other accounting and legal roles?
Yes. Frontline Source Group recruits across legal staffing and accounting and finance disciplines nationwide, from paralegals and attorneys to Controllers, CFOs, and Directors of Finance, in contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire engagements.
What is the 5-Year Placement Warranty?
The 5-Year Placement Warranty is Frontline Source Group's commitment to replace a placed direct hire candidate at no additional placement cost if the candidate leaves or does not meet expectations within five years, roughly 20 times the 90-day guarantee common in the staffing industry.
Who is Frontline Source Group?
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide professional staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004. With 22 years in business, 32 plus offices, and 5,619 plus placements, the firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years and a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner.
