Serious Injury - Costs Assistant

Minster Law Ltd; Durkar; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Minster Law is seeking a Serious Injury Costs Assistant to provide internal administrative and financial support for the Serious Injury Costs team. You will handle case progression, billing processing, and maintain case management data with accuracy.

We value organised, detail-focused individuals who communicate clearly with stakeholders and adapt to changing priorities. Hybrid working in Wakefield is available, with growth opportunities within the department.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in administrative/finance roles.
• Excellent MS Word and Excel skills.
• Ability to interpret and analyse complex information in written and numerical form.
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform at a high level in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Ability to use own initiative to prioritise workloads and deadlines.
• Desirable: experience using Proclaim.
• Desirable: experience in personal injury or costs administration.
• Desirable: understanding of Civil Procedure rules in terms of cost settlement.

Responsibilities

• Liaising with Cost Draftsman to maintain healthy relationships.
• Managing key stakeholders such as file handlers, leadership and finance colleagues.
• Ensuring progression of cases in line with internal SLAs and civil procedure rules.
• Preparing Fast Track and Intermediate Costs Schedules through to conclusion.
• Managing workload effectively through the case management system.
• Making and taking calls to progress cases efficiently.
• Processing damages and costs payments including disbursements and activity.
• Pursue outstanding costs and commence costs enforcement where required.
• Data interrogation, numeracy reconciliation and Microsoft Office usage.
• Comply with SRA Accountancy Rules and internal processes.
• Electronic data input and reconciliation, correspondence processing.
• Assist in internal bill approval and signature processes within timescales.
• Maintain and update the case management system.
• Support the team in reducing the timeline of cases in sales reserve.
• Assist in archiving and closure of cases.

Skills

Administrative experience

Finance experience

MS Word

MS Excel

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Tools

Proclaim

Job description

Job Title: Serious Injury Costs Assistant

Level: Colleague

Reports to: Serious Injury Costs Team Leader

Job Summary

To provide an internal administrative support service to our serious injury teams, in relation to progressing cases post settlement. The Serious Injury Costs team deal with the administrative aspects of liaising with cost supplier to ensure case progression, billing and processing of all monies, sales reserve management, recovery of fees on cases and administration of all tasks arising from our internal Billing Governance Process, to drive efficient collection of fees and the closure of cases.

The team will be collectively responsible for delivery of internal service level agreements set up to support with achieving overall business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a flexible approach and be able to respond to rapid changes in working schedules and priorities. For this you will need to be organised and be able to communicate clearly with people at all levels, both verbally and in writing. Analytical skills and attention to detail are above essential characteristics.

An interest in law and the legal system are all important attributes too.

Core Responsibilities

• Liaising with Cost Draftsman to maintain healthy relationships.
• Managing key stakeholders such as file handlers, leadership and finance colleagues.
• Ensuring of progressing of cases in line with internal SLA’s and civil procedure rules.
• Preparing Fast Track and Intermediate Costs Schedules and progressing until conclusion.
• Managing workload effectively through case management system.
• Making and taking phone calls to progress cases efficiently.
• Processing of all damages and costs payments including processing of disbursements and payment activity.
• Proactively pursue outstanding costs and where required, commencing costs enforcement procedures.
• Data interrogation, numeracy reconciliation and ability to use Microsoft Office.
• Comply with internal processes to ensure that SRA Accountancy Rules are adhered too.
• Electronic data inputting and data reconciliation.
• Correspondence processing and replying.
• Facilitate internal bill approval and signature processes within designated timescales.
• Maintain and update the case management system.
• Follow processes regarding the pursuance and recovery of Payments on Account.
• To play a key part in the internal Billing Governance Forum in assisting the Technical Legal Counsel in making decisions on recovery of costs which includes presenting accurate financial information.
• Utilising the system in place to assist in preparation of Budgets.
• Ensuring internal procedures are followed by being able to identify when a case poses a potential financial risk to the business.
• Reviewing reports on a monthly basis and identifying to ensure all cases are recognised correctly financially.
• To undertake any other tasks as deemed relevant and reasonable by the business.
• Support the Team Leader in reducing the timeline of cases in sales reserve.
• To ensure the archiving and closure process of cases is adhered too and completed.

Key Performance Indicators:

The following KPIs will apply to you; this is not exhaustive and may change as the business develops:

• Delivery of internal and external SLAs.
• Settlement timescales.
• Reduction of write offs.
• Increase of costs recovery, both Payments on Account and Final Costs.
• % of Aged cases in sales reserve.
• Overdue Actions.
• To demonstrate development and competence of cases after settlement.

You will have regular one-to-one meetings with your line manager to review your performance against these objectives and identify any areas for development and/or required support.

Person Profile

Essential

• Proven experience of working within an administrative/finance role.
• Excellent MS Word and Excel skills.
• The ability to interpret, analyse and process complex information in both written and numerical format.
• Organisational skills to a high standard.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and influence outcomes.
• Ability to perform to a high level in a fast paced, large volume turnover environment.
• Being able to use own initiative in order to prioritise workloads and deadlines.

Desirable

• Previous experience of Proclaim desirable but full training will be given.
• Previous experience of working in a personal injury or costs administration role is desirable but full training will be given.
• Right first-time philosophy, logical thinker and solutions orientated.
• Flexible working approach.
• Robust - able to deal with changing circumstances and challenging situations whilst still achieving objectives.
• Takes opportunities to develop and stretch yourself, and be passionate about learning the Civil Procedure rules in terms of cost settlement.

Personal Development

There is the opportunity for high performing individuals to move into different departments across the business to expand their knowledge and experience and develop a career within Minster Law.

Travel

This role is based in Wakefield. The team currently operate on a hybrid model.

Equal Opportunities

Minster Law is committed to equality and diversity and being a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

We’re an equal opportunity and disability confident employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, neurodiversity, or disability status.

You can read more about our commitment to equality and diversity on the Minster Law website.