Assistant Credit Control Manager
£43000 + Bonus + Benefits
Chelmsford, Essex

THE COMPANY
Growing firm of solicitors.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Detailed working knowledge of credit control processes and effective collection techniques
  • Strong knowledge of working in a law firm
  • Excellent analytical and financial skills with good attention to detail both personally and for the team
  • Ability to lead and motivate a team including goal setting and performance management

THE ROLE
To work within the Financial Operations team, working closely with the Credit Control Manager and another Assistant Credit Control Manager, to assist in the day-to-day management of the firm's credit control function

  • Daily supervision of team members to ensure the correct workflow and accuracy of work;
  • Maintaining a well organised credit control function, ensuring adequate staffing to provide cover so that the Credit Control team can chase debts and respond to all related queries in a timely and efficient manner;
  • Ensuring active management of the firm's aged debt to meet collections and lock up targets;
  • Ensuring all credit control processes and procedures are under continual review, recommending improvements to increase efficiency and/or streamline collection processes;
  • Identifying opportunities for improved automation and control;
  • Managing credit control team projects through to completion;
  • Motivating, mentoring and providing leadership to the Credit Control team
  • Continually monitoring staff performance;
  • Setting and reviewing performance objectives on a regular basis using the formal appraisal process and other informal approaches;
  • To ensure a high standard of work output and quality of information within the Credit Control team;
  • To ensure that collection processes comply with the requirements of the jurisdictional Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR) and VAT/GST regulation;
  • To ensure that bill delivery and collection processes comply with the requirements of client SLAs;
  • Ensuring the team complies with and adheres to the firm's working practices, quality procedures and uses the information security systems as specified by the firm;
  • To ensure controls are executed on a timely and accurate basis in compliance with firm policy and SAR;
  • Liaising with the external SAR Reporting Accountants to provide effective jurisdictional audits and to action any points raised by those audits;
  • Advising the Credit Control Manager, Accounting Services Manager, Head of Financial Operations and other managers on any changes to SAR, VAT regulation or client SLAs and the actions required for the firm to comply with those changes;
  • To provide regular credit control reports to executive and senior management as requested/required;
  • To work with Matter Managers, Partners, executive/senior management and other Finance teams to improve cash-flow and reduce days' debt;
  • To ensure the prompt and accurate allocation of bill receipts, identifying and resolving discrepancies immediately;
  • Ensuring the team regularly update the credit control database with current activity summary;
  • Ensuring the team respond to information requests promptly;
  • To refer any contentious issues to the Credit Control Manager;
  • To ensure a proactive approach is taken to carrying out all duties to maintain/improve client relations and goodwill;