GHJ Search and Staffing serves as the recruitment division of GHJ, a prominent national accounting and advisory firm. Our team provides qualified Accounting and Finance professionals on a temporary and permanent basis across a broad range of industries. GHJ’s relationship with our Global Advisory and Accounting Network provides the resources needed to better understand client’s needs, attract a higher caliber of candidates and assess candidate potential.

A well-established, multi-office law firm is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as the firm’s senior business executive and trusted partner to the Managing Partner. This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished professional services leader to take ownership of firm administration, strengthen the organization’s people and processes, and help shape its next chapter of growth and leadership succession.

The COO will lead the firm’s non-attorney administrative functions, with a particular focus on human resources, recruiting, people management, and practice operations . The role is designed for a hands-on, highly organized leader who can bring structure and accountability to firm operations while building trusted relationships across attorneys, staff, and firm leadership.

Financial acumen is important, but this is not a traditional CFO role . An established Controller oversees day-to-day accounting and finance, allowing the COO to focus more broadly on people, operations, strategic initiatives, and organizational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Lead HR, recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and retention initiatives

Oversee benefits strategy and renewals, including relationships with brokers and providers

Lead firmwide administrative operations and establish clear, scalable procedures and accountability

Evaluate staffing needs, resource allocation, workflows, and operational efficiency





Serve as a trusted advisor to the Managing Partner and support firm leadership on strategic initiatives

Help capture and institutionalize critical operational knowledge while supporting long‑term succession planning

Negotiate major vendor, insurance, benefits, and legal technology contracts

Maintain strong working knowledge of legal technology and business systems and support new implementations

Partner with the Controller on budgeting, financial planning, KPIs, and business performance

Foster a collaborative, high‑performing culture while providing leadership and mentorship to administrative teams

Qualifications

Significant progressive leadership experience within a law firm, accounting firm, or other professional services setting

Solid background in HR, recruiting, employee relations, and people leadership

Demonstrated success improving operations, workflows, and organizational processes

Experience managing and negotiating significant vendor and service‑provider relationships

Familiarity with legal or professional services technology and business systems

Strong financial acumen and ability to partner effectively with finance leadership

Exceptional judgment, discretion, organization, and follow‑through

Executive presence with the ability to build credibility across partners, leadership, and staff

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field

Why Join?

Serve as the senior business executive of an established law firm with direct access to the Managing Partner

Take ownership of a broad operational function where your impact will be highly visible

Play a meaningful role in leadership succession and the long‑term evolution of the firm

Join a relationship‑driven culture that values collaboration and long‑term employee retention

Competitive $350,000–$450,000 base salary , plus bonus opportunity and comprehensive executive benefits

#GHJSS #LI-MC1

#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Chief Operating Officer (COO) (Manitoba)
🏢 GHJ
📍 Manitoba