About Withers
A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration.
For the past 130 years, we have supported some of the world’s most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives. 40% of our business comes from Europe, 40% from the US and 20% from Asia and we are one profit sharing partnership globally.
We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.
Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle some of the world’s most difficult problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.
Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, buying a home or protecting and defending their interests.
To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. And we are agile – focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy.
Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for a proactive, confident and enthusiastic legal Cashier to join our busy accounts team. Reporting to the Head Cashier, you will have the ability to act as both client and office cashier and prioritise a voluminous and pressurised workload, whilst maintaining accuracy, attention to detail and compliance with the SRA Accounts Rules. The cashiering team experience very high volumes and the ideal candidate will therefore work on a variety of different tasks daily. Detailed knowledge of, and experience working with, the SRA Accounts Rules is essential, whilst experience with Elite 3E is desirable. The ideal candidate must be comfortable with integrated, multi-currency Practice Management Systems (PMS) and have good experience of Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel and Word.
In addition to core cashiering responsibilities, the role places significant emphasis on the proactive management and clearance of residual client balances. This is a key regulatory control area within the firm, requiring strict adherence to the SRA Accounts Rules and internal policies. The successful candidate will play an important role in mitigating regulatory, compliance and audit risks by ensuring residual balances are actively monitored, investigated and resolved in a timely manner.
This role would suit a strong communicator with high levels of interpersonal skills. You will be highly-organised, personable and professional.
Areas of focus and responsibilities
Day-to-day tasks
- Processing client and office payments – CHAPS, BACS and international payments via the firm's online banking portals. Making the corresponding postings to the current PMS - Elite 3E.
- Identifying and processing electronic and cheque receipts into the client and office accounts, ensuring prompt and accurate allocation. Promptly sending communication to the relevant fee earners of monies received. Following up and resolving any queries quickly.
- Daily and monthly client and office account bank reconciliations.
- Investigating and promptly clearing any entries temporarily posted to the suspense ledgers.
- Cancelling out of date cheques, investigating the initial payment and re-issuing payments where necessary.
- Monitoring, investigating and resolving residual client balances on a timely basis, including liaison with fee earners and matter teams to ensure appropriate action is taken in line with regulatory requirements.
- Ensuring all residual balances are supported by clear audit trails, appropriate documentation and approvals in accordance with SRA Accounts Rules and firm policy.
- Escalating aged or complex balances where required and contributing to the reduction of overall residual balance exposure across the firm.
Regulatory and risk responsibilities
- Escalating aged or complex balances where required and contributing to the reduction of overall residual balance exposure across the firm.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the SRA Accounts Rules, particularly in relation to the handling, retention and return of client money.
- Ensure residual balances are dealt with promptly to prevent breaches of regulatory requirements and minimise risk to the firm.
- Support internal and external audit processes by ensuring all residual balance activity is fully documented, traceable and compliant.
- Promote a culture of compliance within the cashiering team by highlighting risks and driving best practice in residual balance management.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.
Skills and attributes
- Good communicator, both verbally and in writing, with high levels of interpersonal skill.
- Knowledge of, and experience with, the SRA accounts rules.
- Organised and accurate - paying attention to detail.
- Excellent knowledge and experience of Excel and Word.
- Use initiative and be self sufficient
- Can deal with a high volume of work and work well under pressure.
- Confident and comfortable dealing with senior finance staff and fee earners in a timely way, inspiring confidence in your ability.
- A positive, committed and ‘can-do’ attitude.
- A good team player with the ability to be flexible and willing to help others when necessary.
- Strong understanding of regulatory risk in relation to client money and residual balances.
- Ability to challenge and follow up effectively with stakeholders to ensure regulatory deadlines and compliance requirements are met.
The Essentials
- 9.30am to 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
- Hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days per week worked in the office
- 12 week probation period
- 4 week notice period
- Flexible benefits package including pension, private medical, season ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, on site café.
Information for Recruitment Agencies
Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.
Equal Opportunities Employment Statement
It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.
