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Accountability
The goal of this exercise is to be very clear on who is accountable for each role in your firm. It is not necessarily about reporng or management
structures at this stage.
Step 1: Think about all the roles/responsibilies within your firm (we'll help get you started):
First, every firm needs a visionary. This creave entrepreneur generates new big ideas, challenges the firm, and solves big problems
with new ways of thinking. Oen, this person is not as effecve with day-to-day management or details.
Who is your firm's visionary?
Next, you need the manager or integrator. This person manages the firm's people and processes. They make sure the trains run on
me and every area of the firm funcons in harmony. They hold people accountable and focus on generang great results. They can
take the visionary's plan and make it happen.
Who is your firm's integrator?
Visionary
Manager
Page 2 of 5
The day-to-day firm funcons fall into one of three basic buckets: Markeng/Business Development; Delivering client services; and
Finance/Operaons. ONE person is responsible for each area. You could have other roles that fall under these five primary roles. For
now, keep things streamlined and be 100% clear on who is responsible for each major area and what is expected of them.
Who is accountable for your firm's sales/markeng? What are their 5 major roles?
Who is accountable for your firm's delivery of amazing client services? What are their 5 major roles?
Who Is accountable for your firm's finance and operaons? What are their 5 major roles?
Sales/Marketing
Finance/Operations
Lawyering/Delivering
Client Services
Page 3 of 5
Another way to think about your accountability chart:
Visionary
President
Partner in Charge of Marketing:
Brand/Marketing strategy;
website/social media;
PR/Outreach/publications/speaking
: events; database manager
Client Intake Specialist
Partner in Charge of
Amazing Client Services:
Client onboarding; client
satisfaction
Attorneys/Paralegals/Admin
Team
Partner in Charge of
Finance/Operations
Accounting Mgr:
Invoicing/AR/Collections;
AP/Vendors;
Budgets/Cash Flow
Mgmt/Taxes; Payroll
Facilities Mgr: Lease;
Equipment; Supplies
Technology Mgr: Software;
Hardware; Doc Retention
HR Mgr:
Policies/handbook; Hiring;
Training;
Evaluation/Discipline;
Terminations; Benefits
Page 4 of 5
Here are potenal responsibilies for each role:
Leadership:
Vision/strategy
New ideas
Creave problem-solving
"Face" of the firm
Strategic Relaonships
Integrator/President:
Leadership/Management
Driving business plan
forward
Special projects
Managing ongoing
relaonships within and
outside firm
Markeng/Business Dev:
Brand/markeng strategy
Implemenng markeng
process
Content - publicaons,
blog
PR - speaking, events
Client engagement process
Website/social media
Client Services:
client onboarding
client communicaons
receponist
legal assistants
paralegals
invesgators
aorneys
virtual support staff
Financial:
budgeng/forecasng
invoicing/AR/collecons
accounts payable
bookkeeping/tax planning
payroll
cash flow control
banking/line of credit
trust accounng
insurance
Human Resources:
policies/handbook
hiring
training
evaluaon
discipline/terminaons
benefits
Facilies Manager:
lease/office space;
office supplies
office equipment
managing vendors
housekeeping
technology
Page 5 of 5
List the person responsible for each area of the firm. Idenfy the main responsibilies for each role (no more than 5).
Your Firm: ______________________________________
Visionary:__________
Marketing/Bus Dev.:__________
Delivering Client
Serv.:__________
Finance/Operations:__________
Integrator:__________