Senior Costs Manager

Stewarts; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Stewarts is seeking an experienced Costs Lawyer to provide internal advisory support on cost issues. This permanent, full-time role is structured as a hybrid position with duties spanning cost budgeting, reporting, and advisory activities for complex disputes.

The candidate will draft bills of costs and assist with the assessment process, coordinating with Cost Associates, paralegals, and draftsmen while contributing to internal training and thought leadership within the Costs Department.

Qualifications

• Qualified Costs Lawyer with experience in commercial disputes.
• Experience in litigation, arbitration and cost budgeting.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail; able to prioritise work.

Responsibilities

• Lead costs services for fee-earning groups with multi-million budgets.
• Advise on cost and litigation funding issues.
• Draft and maintain costs-related documents, budgets, and QRGs.

Skills

Costs law

Litigation budgeting

Communication

Education

Qualified Costs Lawyer

Tools

Cosine

Job description

Purpose of role: To advise and assist internally on cost issues

Hours: Permanent, full-time, hybrid

Reviewed: July 2026

Job responsibilities:

• Primary responsibility for the provision of costs services to one or more fee-earning
• groups with annual budgets exceeding £5 million.
• Advising on cost and litigation funding issues where appropriate
• Advising on the drafting of retainer and other funding documents when necessary
• Preparing internal and external cost budgets/estimates
• Undertaking active costs management and monitoring budgets through Cosine
• Software
• Assisting the Risk and Funding Committee and Senior Cost Analyst with the delivery
• of reporting, analysis and advice.
• Drafting formal bill of costs, statement of costs and assisting with the detailed
• assessment process Advising on inter partes costs and solicitor own client issues
• Monitor and manage the financial performance of Cost Associates and Cost
• Paralegals, ensuring consistent achievement of departmental KPIs.
• Draft and maintain costs-related information documents, quick reference guides
• (QRGs), templates and best-practice resources.
• Taking lead in internal and external training initiatives.
• Strengthen the profile of the Costs Department both internally and externally.
• Represent the firm through seminars, conferences, training events and industry
• forums.
• Produce thought leadership material, including journal articles, guidance notes and
• technical publications
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the department's business plan
• Team working with other Cost Lawyers, Cost Draftsmen and Litigation fee earners
• Undertaking any other reasonable duties as requested

Qualifications & Experience:

• Previous experience as a qualified Costs Lawyer
• Experience of dealing with commercial disputes (litigation, arbitration and
• Commercially minded and solutions-focused.
• Well organised, uses initiative, prioritises appropriately, applies self, shows attention
• to detail, manages own workload and meets deadlines
• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills (respectful, positive,
• articulate, professional and sympathetic)
• Delivers helpful internal services with a “can do” approach, shows commercial
• awareness and represents the department/firm appropriately
• Shares information and ideas
• Accepts and follows instructions, listens, makes notes, questions appropriately, co
• operates
• Shows sound judgement and decision-making skills; acts within boundaries
• Shows commitment, passion and enthusiasm
• Is a respectful, reliable and supportive team player