Senior Collector

Clifford Chance LLP; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Clifford Chance US LLP seeks a Collections Manager to support growth and operational excellence across the Americas. Based in a US office, you will work with partners and the AR team to accelerate cash receipts and ensure compliance with global finance policies.

You’ll lead client collections discussions, resolve billing queries, and build strong relationships with client finance contacts while upholding the firm’s standards and risk controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Accounting or Finance preferred.
• 3+ years of related Collections experience in a law firm environment/business professional sector preferred.
• Proven track record of strong rapport at all levels of an organization with both internal and external clients.
• Ability to work under pressure and demonstrate flexibility with competing demands of internal and external clients.
• Effective time management, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be detail oriented with the ability to readily identify issues that could impede processes while taking the initiative to provide solutions.
• Systems experience of using AR/Debt management tools for focusing collections efforts and tracking queries.
• Strong team collaborator – across teams internally, across markets, and globally.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, team environment with minimal supervision.
• Must comply with the Firm's Agile Working Policy, which requires employees to work from the office at least three days per week.
• Must be independently legally authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Partner/Fee-earner collections meetings (working closely with billers to ensure seamless process, client agreement compliance and speedy query resolution).
• Chasing outstanding debts using the collections processes (as applicable).
• Investigating and resolving e-billing queries.
• Liaising with Collections Manager and Collections team to deliver collections solutions for onward delivery to partners/fee-earners.
• Timely escalation of queries with regard to speedy resolution of AR queries.
• Regular updates to Get Paid collections tool used for work allocation, escalations, priorities, cashflow and estimates.
• Timely and accurate escalation of outstanding bills at risk of non recovery and requiring a provision.
• Build a network of client finance contacts.
• Liaising with cashiers to assist with the daily and timely allocation of cash payments, client to office transfers and client funds reimbursements in accordance with the UK SRA client money rules.
• Sharing knowledge with the team in order to provide a smooth service to internal and external clients.
• Ad-hoc tasks as and when required

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Client focus

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, Accounting or Finance

Tools

AR/Debt management tools

Job description

As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.

Our culture is collaborative and inclusive, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.

We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.

We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.

Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.

Job Description

The role

This is a key role designed to support the Collections Manager in achieving the firm's strategic objectives around growth and operational excellence. The Americas business currently has four locations with incomes of circa +$600m pa and 700 FTE, with ambitious growth plans over the next couple of years.

The role will be based in one of the US offices and will support partners in that office and other offices, and client collections across all Accounts Receivable.

This role involves attending meetings with partners, getting to know client payment processes and cycles to ensure prompt receipt of cash to CC. The role holder will need to ensure compliance to global finance policies and any external statutory requirements in regards to client money/Escrow/withholding tax.

Accelerating cash receipts is a critical process in the Firm's growth ambitions, and prompt billing and resolving invoice queries a core focus of our good client relationships.

Key responsibilities:

Operational activities

• Partner/Fee-earner collections meetings (working closely with billers to ensure seamless process, client agreement compliance and speedy query resolution).
• Chasing outstanding debts using the collections processes (as applicable).
• Investigating and resolving e-billing queries.
• Liaising with Collections Manager and Collections team to deliver collections solutions for onward delivery to partners/fee-earners.
• Timely escalation of queries with regard to speedy resolution of AR queries.
• Regular updates to Get Paid collections tool used for work allocation, escalations, priorities, cashflow and estimates.
• Timely and accurate escalation of outstanding bills at risk of non recovery and requiring a provision.
• Build a network of client finance contacts.
• Liaising with cashiers to assist with the daily and timely allocation of cash payments, client to office transfers and client funds reimbursements in accordance with the UK SRA client money rules.
• Sharing knowledge with the team in order to provide a smooth service to internal and external clients.
• Ad-hoc tasks as and when required

Client focus

At Clifford Chance, we believe in bringing the client – both internal and external – to the centre of everything we do. To do this we need to understand, anticipate and fulfill the unique needs and expectations of each client. We call this “Client Focus” and to help deliver this core part of the business strategy, we want to recruit people who not only excel in their field but who are also client focused.

We are looking for people who:

• Can demonstrate a keen interest and enthusiasm to understand their clients priorities;
• Are self-starters but also team players ready to help others and contribute to the overall success;
• Listen, question and deliver; and
• Are reliable and responsive, who can put the needs of the client first.

In short, we are looking for people who are motivated by client satisfaction and who strive to exceed the expectations of their clients.

Qualifications

Your experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, Accounting or Finance preferred.
• 3+ years of related Collections experience in a law firm environment/business professional sector preferred
• Proven track record of strong rapport at all levels of an organization with both internal and external clients.
• Ability to work under pressure and demonstrate flexibility with competing demands of internal and external clients.
• Effective time management, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be detail oriented with the ability to readily identify issues that could impede processes while taking the initiative to provide solutions.
• Systems experience of using AR/Debt management tools for focusing collections efforts and tracking queries.
• Strong team collaborator – across teams internally, across markets, and globally.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, team environment with minimal supervision.
• Must comply with the Firm's Agile Working Policy, which requires employees to work from the office at least three days per week.
• Must be independently legally authorized to work in the United States.

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package. The salary range for this role is $88,000 - $100,000. The actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Additional Information

At Clifford Chance, we forge an inclusive culture, where all perspectives are recognised and valued. It’s a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and succeed, irrespective of background. We are guided by our values-based Code, which sets high standards of conduct and has a principle focused on being inclusive.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide consideration to all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We comply with the law and regulations in every location where we operate and across all aspects of employment, from recruitment and selection to development, progression, and day-to-day working life.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here