Sarah Schreier

Operations and Finance executive with over a decade of progressive leadership in legal and professional services. Expertise spans financial strategy, firm operations, workforce leadership, compliance, technology, vendor management, and executive reporting. Proven record of strengthening controls, modernizing operations, leading cross-functional change, and translating organizational priorities into disciplined execution.

Trusted advisor to senior leadership on planning, risk, and organizational change.

Director, Operations and Finance at Black Sutherland LLP (2025-11 – Present)

• Direct the adoption and governance of AI technologies, including policy development, risk assessment, implementation standards, employee guidance, and ongoing privacy, confidentiality, and professional-compliance oversight.
• Strengthen operational resilience through policy, control, security, and business-continuity initiatives, including disaster-recovery testing that validated a one-hour recovery time objective and six-second recovery point objective.
• Provide strategic oversight of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, financial reporting, and expenditure controls across operational functions, strengthening visibility and decision support for firm leadership.
• Lead and develop an 11-person support, accounting, and operations team, with responsibility for workforce planning, performance management, recruitment, employee relations, and organizational capacity.
• Advise firm leadership on organizational planning, staffing, risk management, vendor negotiations, business continuity, and firm-wide change initiatives.
• Oversee service-level commitments, operational KPIs, and reporting requirements for major institutional clients, aligning internal performance with client expectations and resulting in a 98% compliance rating for 10 key KPI targets within two quarters.

Operations Manager at Jones Kopp Litigation Partners LLP (2023-05 – 2025-07)

• Led technology modernization, including system upgrades, introduction of AI-enabled tools and legal software, vendor evaluation, implementation planning, and employee training to improve scalability and adoption.
• Implemented workflow and process improvements that reduced unnecessary costs, improved administrative efficiency, and redirected capacity toward client service and business development.
• Reduced annual employee turnover by approximately 71% from 28% to 8%, through targeted retention initiatives, engagement, training, and workforce management.
• Managed successful RFP and RFI submissions in partnership with lawyers and leadership, supporting competitive positioning and client-development efforts.
• Conducted fraud-risk assessments and internal compliance reviews, identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening financial and operational controls.
• Led cross-functional brand, marketing, engagement, and culture initiatives designed to improve market positioning, recruitment, and retention.

Office Manager at David Myers Law (2015 – 2023)

• Built the operational, financial, and people-management foundation for a growing legal practice, overseeing day-to-day administration, staffing, client service, technology, and workflow.
• Managed accounts receivable, accounts payable, trust and operating accounts, WIP, billing, budgets, cash flow, and long-range forecasting in accordance with Law Society of Ontario requirements.
• Developed weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial reporting that identified revenue trends, operational inefficiencies, profitability opportunities, and emerging business needs.
• Improved workload allocation and internal processes based on client priorities, court deadlines, employee capacity, and operational requirements.
• Led technology upgrades, workflow redesign, and employee training while supporting business development, external partnerships, and expansion into new practice areas.
• Identified the business opportunity to expand into immigration law and supported development of the new practice area, which grew into a department generating approximately $300,000 in annual profit.

Treasurer at Newcastle Village and District Historical Society (2024-10 – Present)

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial reporting, and internal controls to support responsible resource allocation and long-term sustainability.
• Advise the executive team and Board of Directors on financial planning, organizational priorities, grant administration, compliance, and long-term funding strategy.
• Coordinate the annual financial review and charity filings with the Canada Revenue Agency, maintaining board-level accountability and regulatory compliance.

Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting – Athabasca University (2020)