Kennedys is looking for a Senior Biller to join our Financial Operations team. The successful Legal Biller will work as part of the Working Capital team, alongside the Cashiering and Finance Database teams, to provide a proactive billing and support service to the firm including revenue assistance, bill production and dispatch
Team
Kennedys Finance team support the firm globally producing timely and accurate financial and management information, reporting solutions and operational support to maintain the high standard of service offered to the firm's internal and external clients.
Our Finance team is made up of Financial Control, Financial Planning and Reporting, Management Accountants, Working Capital, Legal Cashiers and Financial Operations Database teams.
Our UK Finance team is based across the UK and have a presence in several global offices.
Billing Operations and Reporting
Manage the end-to-end billing process for a portfolio of complex client accounts.
Produce bills (maximising WIP captured) and prepare for delivery, in compliance with client SLAs, including the preparation of composite bills, bordereaux and other required schedules.
Ensure compliance with charge rates and client service level agreements (SLAs) across all client accounts.
Ensure any amendments are processed and permanently changed in billing set-up where appropriate
Ensure that fee earners are fully compliant with comprehensive time recording policies, register all disbursements to ensure accurate defence costs MI and engage with fee earners to ensure prompt billing to minimise WIP lock-up.
Liaise with the Financial Operations Database team to ensure the account system contains complete, up-to-date billing information in line with current SLAs
Track and follow up on outstanding or draft bills, providing regular updates and reports to Assistant Managers and Partners.
Maintain the billing ledger for one of the more complex teams
Produce and circulate missing time and WIP reports as required (monthly minimum)
Client and Stakeholder Relationship Management
Attend regular debt meetings with Partners to discuss points of escalation and support with client management.
Engage with Partners and fee earners to ensure prompt billing to minimise WIP lock-up
Develop and maintain strong relationships with Partners, fee earners, clients and internal stakeholders.
Maintain matter budgets and resolve billing related issues promptly to avoid delays to the revenue cycle.
Leadership and Team Development
Train new starters on both Elite 3E and relevant Finance platforms.
Provide ongoing coaching, support and development of junior team members.
Act as the escalation point for complex issues and respond to all queries and requests in a timely and efficient manner, escalating as appropriate.
Provide cover for Assistant Billing Managers, and other members of the team, during periods of absence.
Share best practice and contribute to continuous improvement across the team.
Work collaboratively with the Assistant Managers, Head of Working Capital, Cashiering and the wider finance team to improve processes and service delivery.
Desired Experience
A minimum of 5 years previous billing experience* within a legal environment is desired to demonstrate required experience of billing cycles in a variety of external environments.
Strong understanding of the legal billing process and revenue management processes.
In-depth knowledge of VAT and billing compliance requirements.
Strong Excel and finance systems skills. Elite 3E experience preferred but not essential.
Experience in training and mentoring colleagues.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Kennedys.
- where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.
