Client Account Executive

A full or part time permanent role based in Cambridge, Norwich or Birmingham with occasional travel to other offices and hybrid working

The 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.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of the secondment, we will conduct pre-transfer screening that includes a disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Mills & Reeve Business Services career structure

We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework.  Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels.  For the purposes of the framework, this role is at an Advisor level and the role profile that details the outcomes and activities expected of across the firm is included with this job description.  Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure is available from the HR team.

The package

As you would expect, the firm offers a generous salary and benefits.  The firm’s standard benefits are detailed in the following link:

https://www.mills-reeve.com/careers/benefits

The firm

What really sets Mills & Reeve apart from other law firms is the way we work with our clients. We understand that clients, in the 21st century, no longer want a traditional law firm – they want one that embraces forward thinking approaches to service, billing, commercial know-how, innovation, people management and community engagement.

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements and endeavour to achieve the right balance for both our people and the business. This attitude to flexible working ensures we continue to provide outstanding service to our clients, whilst allowing our people to develop their careers in the knowledge that personal priorities will remain just that.

Mills & Reeve is committed to promoting equality, diversity and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment. Please click the link below to find further information regarding our diversity policy.

https://www.mills-reeve.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion 

If you would like any more information about Mills & Reeve, you can visit our website by clicking on the following link:

http://www.mills-reeve.com/