Client Accounts Project Manager - CT

DLA Piper LLP (US); Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,866 - 146,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

DLA Piper LLP (US) in Chicago seeks a Client Accounts Project Manager to support partners and client administration through financial management, reporting, and collaboration with billing, collections, and accounting teams.

You will convert billing and matter data into clear updates, drive collection strategies, and help ensure accurate cash flow while fostering strong client service delivery across global matters.

Qualifications

• Understanding of legal billing, AFAs, matter profitability, and client service delivery models.
• Experience with billing, collections, client accounting, e-billing, budgeting, accruals, and legal financial systems.
• Ability to reconcile billing across cross-jurisdictional systems.
• Experience managing global retainers and multi-jurisdictional matters preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day engagement with partners, clients, and internal teams to address financial administration needs with accuracy and urgency.
• Convert detailed billing, receivables, and matter information into clear updates and insights for decision-making.
• Produce recurring reporting and financial commentary on billing activity, collections, and account status.
• Drive follow-through on outstanding items by coordinating with stakeholders through resolution.
• Research and resolve invoice questions, charge allocations, budget alignment, and payment barriers.
• Support electronic billing by addressing submission errors, reductions, or rejections.
• Track accruals, budgets, alternate fee arrangements, and matter financial activity to identify risks.
• Evaluate aged receivables and open balances to improve cash flow.
• Maintain visibility into client payment activity and support collection strategies.

Skills

Legal billing & client accounting

Billing systems

Budgeting & accruals

Project management tools

Microsoft Office

Communication & leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Law, Business Administration or related

Tools

Aderant

Intapp

Job description

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive. Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm. Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career. Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Client Accounts Project Manager, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, plays a key role in supporting partners who manage complex client portfolios. This position serves as a trusted liaison among partners, clients, and internal client administration, billing, collections, and accounting teams to support effective financial management, timely communication, and strong client service delivery.

Location

This position is located in our Chicago office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day engagement with designated partners, clients, and internal teams to ensure financial administration needs are addressed with accuracy, urgency, and professionalism.
• Convert detailed billing, receivables, and matter information into clear business updates, insights, and recommendations that support informed partner and client decision‑making.
• Produce recurring reporting and financial commentary covering billing activity, collection progress, account status, and related performance trends.
• Drive follow‑through on outstanding items by coordinating with clients, partners, billing personnel, collections staff, and client administration teams through resolution.
• Research and resolve invoice questions, charge allocation issues, budget alignment concerns, and payment barriers in coordination with appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Support electronic billing by helping address submission errors, reductions, or rejections.
• Track accruals, approved budgets, alternative fee arrangements, and matter‑level financial activity to identify exceptions, emerging risks, or profitability concerns requiring escalation.
• Evaluate aged receivables and open balances, partnering with responsible parties to remove obstacles, strengthen collection efforts, and improve cash flow outcomes.
• Maintain ongoing visibility into client payment activity and help execute focused collection strategies that support annual financial goals.
• Recommend and implement practical enhancements to workflows, communication practices, reporting methods, and service delivery processes.
• Establish reusable guidance, operational standards, and knowledge‑sharing resources that promote consistency across the department and support broader strategic initiatives.
• Complete additional responsibilities as requested in support of departmental and firm priorities.

Desired Skills

• Strong understanding of legal billing, alternative fee arrangements, matter profitability, realization rates, and client service delivery models.
• Experience with billing, collections, client accounting, e‑billing, budgeting, accruals, legal financial systems, and matter financial management.
• Ability to perform analysis and reconciliation between cross‑jurisdictional billing and financial systems.
• Experience managing global retainers and multi‑jurisdictional matters preferred.
• Familiarity with legal financial systems such as Aderant and Intapp preferred.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Asana, or Trello.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent communication, analytical, relationship‑building, problem‑solving, and leadership skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, work effectively with partners, clients, and cross‑functional internal teams, and drive consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, follow up consistently, and drive work to completion in a deadline‑driven environment.
• Strategic mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, innovation, operational excellence, and high‑quality client service.

Minimum Education

• High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred Education

• Bachelors Degree in Finance, Law, Business Administration or related field.

Certificates

• LPM, LPP, LPA, or equivalent project management certification preferred.
• PMP certificate with legal experience also desirable.

Minimum Years of Experience

5 years’ experience in legal financial operations or project management.

Essential Job Expectations

• All DLA Piper employees are expected to demonstrate excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people, upholding our firm values as part of our culture.
• Specific expectations include:

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and external audiences.
• Produce high‑quality work and respond to correspondence in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and commit to meeting high standards.
• Comply with firm policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidences as required in a law firm environment.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: This is primarily sedentary work, requiring occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. The role involves sitting for extended periods, with occasional walking and standing, and occasional travel, both domestic and international.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement combining remote and in‑office work. The specific arrangement will be determined at the time of hiring and may be modified at the firm's discretion.

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at‑will nature of employment.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position or participate in the selection process. For accommodation requests, please contact [e-mail].

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

Salary

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $110,866 - $146,900 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location.

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).
• Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntarily and are not eligible for relocation assistance.
• Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

Equal Opportunity

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Recruitment Agency Footer

Recruitment agencies are per the terms of our agreement, all candidates must be submitted through the firm’s agency portal for consideration. If you have an agreement with the firm, please log in to the agency portal via the following link to review positions accepting agency submissions. Lawyer Positions Only: If you do not have an agreement with us and would like us to consider candidates, please send a blind candidate profile to [e-mail].