Client Account Executive

Are you looking for your next role in finance? Mills & Reeve have a fantastic opportunity to join the Client Account team on a permanent basis.

The role

Role

This is an exciting opportunity to support Client Partners and their matter managers to manage their portfolio of clients. The role will report into the Client Account Executive Team Leader. The aim will be to provide financial and operational support by:

• working with the team and client to ensure that the matter inception to file closure process is as efficient as possible,
• developing relationships with client contacts,
• managing the billing and cash collection processes resulting in a positive client feedback and prompt billing/cash collection,
• supporting the partners to maximise the fees and profit from their clients and matters, through regular review of agreed rates, matter/client analysis, as well as monitoring and reporting internally or externally of progress against estimate.
  
  

The person

This role requires someone who ideally has experience of working in the legal industry or professional services firm and has a financial background, with a proven track record of delivering excellent internal/external client service.

It is likely that your background and experience will include the following areas of expertise:

• have a client service mind-set
• adopt a continuous improvement mind-set, identifying opportunities for improvement and ideas on how to implement these, as well as being willing to take on new responsibilities and challenges
• be self-managed, pro-active and confident in setting and prioritising your own work agenda
• have excellent written as well as verbal communication skills and be confident working alongside Partners
• be organised and methodical in how you approach your work
• have excellent attention to detail
• be a team player
  
  

The activities

Client / Matter Inception

• Providing research where necessary regarding new clients.
• Reviewing pending matters and liaising between the client inception team and fee earners to open matters.
• Monitoring WIP levels on unopened matters.
• Checking that rates have been set up correctly.
  
  

Matter planning

• Monitoring that engagement letters are prepared and sent out to clients, and appropriate confirmation from clients received.
• Preparing draft scope and estimates.
• Analysis on projected profit margins at outset of matters.
• Monitoring against estimates.
• Creating complex matter plans (to Client Partner requirements) and arranging phase/task setups in Matter planning tool.
  
  

Billing support

• Monthly housekeeping meetings with fee earners.
• Assisting with draft invoices.
• Active tracking of billing pledges throughout month and in build up to month end.
• Dispatch of invoices (Client facing).
• Billing helpline for partners and matter managers.
  
  

Client / Matter analysis

• Using systems and report to track profitability to manage current discounting and assist with pricing for clients.
• Ad hoc financial reports (with support from relevant Commercial Manager as required).
• Analysing profitability by grade and suggesting where changes to the resourcing profile could be made to enhance margin.
• Supporting partners with their quarterly validus and strategic client care reviews.
  
  

Debt support

• Providing periodic debt reports and insight.
• Contacting clients with “friendly” chasers to increase payment/ client query turnaround.
  
  

Adhoc support

• Re-assigning matter managers.
• Transferring WIP.
• Set up tasks to ensure tracking of WIP on files.
  
  

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The Benefits

As you'd expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits. Click here to find out more about our core benefit offering.

Pre employment screening

If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.

The firm

Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it.

We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don't offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations. Our 1,250 plus people and over 750 lawyers share one vision – achieving more for clients.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that's not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. Our mantra is “Achieve more. Together.”, which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase! We're also ranked in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and were recently awarded Platinum Investors in People.

and finally

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these.

To find out more about our diversity and inclusion work, visit our website .