Costs Negotiator

Davies; Bolton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal firm is seeking a Costs Negotiator to join their clinical negligence team in Bolton. The successful candidate will review and negotiate costs matters, providing essential advice and maintaining client relationships. This role requires strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage a caseload effectively. The firm offers a supportive environment with a focus on teamwork and professional development.

Benefits

25 days holiday per year

Family Cover Private Medical Insurance

Simply Health Care Cash Plan

24/7 online GP and mental health support

Death in Service

Critical Illness Cover

Income Protection

Pension Contribution

Cycle to Work Scheme

Gym Flex

Qualifications

• Experience of negotiating costs and preparing points of dispute.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to handle own caseload and meet service level agreements.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload using in-house case management system.
• Negotiate costs advantageous to clients.
• Draft relevant applications and conduct own advocacy.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Decision Making

Teamwork

IT Skills

Education

3 GCSE's grade C or above

Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD

Job description

Costs Negotiator

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Bolton

Description

To review, assess and negotiate settlement of costs matters within our clinical negligence team and deal with all procedural aspects and pleadings until settlement or assessment of costs. To provide costs advice to clients and the main teams, and to negotiate costs on a variety of matters delivering savings for our clients.
It is important that the job holder can quickly review files & formulate initial costs strategy, provide comprehensive advice to clients, commence early telephone negotiations with other side and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.
You need to be able to build strong working relationships with both your colleagues in Costs and with the wider business.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for management of own caseload using in-house case management system including timely and accurate maintenance of the system along with billing and management information – ensuring completeness of records to aid business decision making.
• Reviewing, advising and negotiating end of life costs claimed, including drafting Points of Dispute and considering and responding to replies.
• Responsible for achieving a daily chargeable hour target, managing workload to meet service level agreements and critical dates.
• Delegation of tasks where available and appropriate to other members of the team.
• Reviewing files, including strategy setting and identifying strengths and weaknesses and preparing a document to reflect this.
• Preparing cost strategy reports, updating through the life of the case.
• Provide written updates by email or letter to clients detailing case activity to ensure that they receive up to date and accurate information about progress when requested.
• Undertaking periodic reviews of files in line with Client requirements.
• Negotiating costs advantageous to our clients.
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls.
• Meeting agreed performance targets.
• Drafting relevant applications and/or opposing applications Instruct Counsel or Costs Lawyer to attend Detailed Assessment or alternatively conduct own advocacy.

Working Hours
35 hours per week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. Primary location for this role is Liverpool

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential Skills and Attributes:
• Experience of negotiating costs, including preparing points of dispute, considering replies proceeding cases to PA and DA.
• Good standard of education – 3 GCSE’s grade C or above or equivalent, including maths and English
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal including previous experience of client liaison.
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• Previous experience of handling own caseload, and meeting service level agreements and key performance indicators.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Ability to make decisions.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to act as part of a team.
• Proficient IT skills.

Desirable:

• Education – Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD or equivalent.
• Conducted own advocacy.

Values
Our culture is focused on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our four values are at the heart of everything we do;

We are connected
We are Dynamic
We are Innovative
We succeed together

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Family Cover Private Medical Insurance ( Bupa) - will automatically be at single cover level but can opt into family option within first month of joining.
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
• Death in Service
• Critical Illness Cover
• PHI/Income Protection ( Private health insurance)
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
• Cycle to Work Scheme*
• Tech Scheme*
• Season Ticket Loan*
• Gym Flex*
• Access to Online Discount Sites
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
• Discounts at local retail outlets

*after successfully completing probation