Fenwick & West

Compensation

Full Description

Job Description Summary:Fenwick is seeking a Client Accounting Specialist who will be responsible for all financial aspects of managing the assigned partners’ portfolio of clients which are performed in accordance with departmental standards. The Client Accounting Specialist will work closely with the finance management team and integrate best practices while delivering best in class service internally to our partners and externally to our clients. Job Description: Review Client and Matter set up (including rates, discounts, invoice formats and deferrals, etc.) to ensure adherence to engagement letters, billing guidelines, manage to attorney preferences and address any differences timely to provide accurate billing. Maintain documentation of all non-standard billing requirements. Update the Client and Matter Billing Instructions in Aderant, CET data base to ensure they remain current. Monitor work in progress to ensure all matters are billed per approved agreement and schedule, ensure necessary billing systems reflect current status. Produce, review and distribute prebills on a monthly basis and as needed for review by attorneys, coordinate with secretarial team to obtain prebills by monthly due date. Perform various billing functions as required to produce client invoices (edits, write downs, transfers, discounts, etc.). Audit all edits once pushed into Aderant (narrative and mathematical calculations), ensure calculations are correct and in accordance with special billing requirements prior to posting. Ensure client invoices are mailed or delivered timely in accordance with firm guidelines as well as any client guidelines. Manage attorney and client deadlines; estimate due dates as required for monthly accruals and/or closings and monthly billing due dates. Meet with billing attorneys on a regular basis to discuss new clients and matters, any special billing arrangements, aged WIP and aged Accounts Receivable or issues/disputes that require action. Actively monitor accounts receivable balances while upholding and maintaining the firm’s collection policies and procedures; escalate significant or delinquent balances to the attention of billing attorneys and management in timely manner, actively suggest collection strategies and monitor as necessary, maintain ARCS categories to reflect current client status. Maintain regular client contact to follow-up on aged billings, payments and/or promise to pay. Research and resolve client disputes timely. Engage attorney’s assistance as necessary to resolve issues promptly. To minimize financial risk exposure on aged accounts, develop and maintain collection strategies, negotiate payment arrangements and/or propose payment schedules as necessary with partner consent. Effectively utilize Aderant, ARCS, EIS, and other reports to assist with the collections process and reporting (including the Intranet). Work with Cash Receipts staff to research and resolve misapplied payments, unapplied cash/trust balances are kept to a minimum. Prepare write-off/write-down requests as necessary; ensure all proper approvals are received prior to processing adjustments. Assist attorneys, secretaries and clients with all billing and collections related questions and/or requests. Maintain client files and correspondence (iManage). Monitor billing hotline and time correction DTE alias on a rotational basis. Share system process enhancement ideas. Propose client support enhancement ideas to attorney/management (streamline efficiencies). Utilize LinkedIn Learning for increased growth in skills, software and/or industry. Perform other related duties as assigned. Desired Skills & Qualifications Ability to handle complex accounts with limited assistance. Strong attention to detail, accuracy and organizational skills. Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. Ability to use judgment to assess various courses of action and potential impact. Communicate effectively; both verbal and written with attorneys, staff professionals and clients. Supportive of business changes within the workplace. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Strong teamwork skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook). Reporting to the Client Accounting Manager, the ideal candidate will have 5+ years of legal billing experience with automated billing systems and an understanding of legal industry’s standard billing requirements. Experience with Aderant expert (previously CMS) and/or automated accounting systems required. Bachelor’s degree required. Benefits and Compensation Details: At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. The anticipated range for this position is: $60,800 - $86,000 Depending on the role, the actual base salary offered may depend upon a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. A discretionary bonus for eligible employees may also be available based on performance. Additional information about employee eligibility for benefits and discretionary bonus will be made available upon request. Our Story For more than five decades, Fenwick & West has helped some of the world’s most recognized companies become, and remain, market leaders. From emerging enterprises to large public corporations, our clients are leaders in the technology, life sciences and cleantech sectors and are fundamentally changing the world through rapid innovation. Having worked alongside such progressive and cutting edge companies for so long, our culture has come to reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of our client base. Unlike traditional law firms, we move at our clients’ speed and have earned the reputation as a go-to law firm for growing companies that need insightful, strategic counsel to help tackle the challenging issues that arise when the law cannot keep up with their pace of innovation. With the same passion for excellence and innovation reflected in our client base, our firm is making revolutionary changes to the practice of law through substantial investments in proprietary technology tools and processes. Our clients demand—and deserve—new ways to receive best-in-class legal services more effectively. At Fenwick, we are proud to be shaping our legal services to do just that. We are proud to have been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area for the twelfth year. Fenwick & West LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and, as such, conducts all employment-related activities without regard to unlawful consideration of race, religion, color, marital status, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, gender, genetic characteristics or any other classification protected by applicable local, state or federal employment discrimination laws. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all. At the discretion of the recruiting department, we accept submissions by agency recruiters when a fee agreement has been established between the firm and the agency. Agency recruiters, please submit candidates here. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. To view our privacy policy click here.