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DLA Piper · 1 month ago

Client Accounts Operations Lead - CT/ET

Austin, TX

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$88K/yr - $130K/yr

5+ years exp

DLA Piper is a bold and collaborative law firm that values its people. The Client Accounts Operations Lead plays a critical role in managing complex billing portfolios and providing support to multiple billing teams, ensuring effective billing processes and training for staff.

AdviceLaw EnforcementLegalProfessional Services

No H1B

Responsibilities

Provide temporary managerial support in the absence of designated regional managers

Provide temporary functional supplemental senior-level billing resources during absences, unplanned vacancies and/or during periods of increased work content within a designated regional territory

Be the Subject Matter Expert to help provide legal billing surge support for several regional billing teams / managers. Internal assignments made on an as need basis to provide short-to-mid-term support for designated billing groups experiencing temporary production surges or shortfalls of required billing resources. Assignments may include splitting time and working in allocated incremental assignments for multiple managers providing billing for multiple-billing attorneys

Review data for accuracy prior to submitting it; gather and submit accrual information based on client requirements

Research and resolve electronic billing rejections

Research client billing data and provides detailed analysis to attorneys and support staff

Track and resolve tickets assigned by the Accounting Service Desk on a daily basis

Works across multiple teams of support specialists within both Legal Support Services and Accounting teams to provide effective, streamlined billing and client account services to attorneys of the firm

Responsible for analyzing and prioritizing responsibilities to ensure maximum contribution to the larger billing organization, which includes process and gap analysis to be incorporated into customized training and mentoring to other staff members on all billing procedures

Maintain an accurate description of all client billing requirements, which may also include guidelines established by the client’s general counsel. Update and track changes to the requirements as necessary

Interact with billing department stakeholders to understand business problems and define solution requirements

Analyze legal billing process and supporting systems and develop business cases, build metrics and perform reporting. Document and communicate functional and system requirements and build process-flow diagrams. Also, continually review internal processes for opportunities to improve efficiency

Apply best practices for effective communication and problem solving, create standardized department reports, analyze data and document areas requiring improvement

Support projects and report efforts and liaise with project participants and follow up routinely to ensure effective communication and completion of tasks

Interface with IT and various departments to support execution of cross-functional project requirements and perform system testing and requirements validation

For US clients: support the full billing cycle to reviewing and editing proformas, seeking requisite approvals for deferrals, write-offs, and time transfers. Field billing inquiries from adjacent support groups and attorneys. Create and maintain complex monthly reporting

For global clients: coordinate and lead global client unified billing, which includes reviewing data for accuracy prior to submission, managing global client account assignments and performing all full-cycle billing functions associated with both the firm’s and the client’s billing requirements. Create and maintain complex monthly reporting. Liaise with international attorneys and/or finance counterparts to obtain accurate accrual and forecasting information for monthly client reporting. Follow-up frequently with international counterparts to ensure that engaged locations stay within budget and issue invoices timely. Troubleshoot issues with finance counterparts as needed. Track and resolve tickets assigned by the Accounting Service Desk on a daily basis. Generate global client LEDES files for electronic billing based on client requirements

Develop training programs to ensure consistent billing processes across the team and provide training to attorneys and staff as needed

Finalize invoices and submit them directly to the client (per policy) or provide them to attorneys for transmission to the client (per approved exceptions to policy), also, includes other billing information as needed

Serve as a point of escalation and Quality Analyst to support and coach more junior Specialists; provide support, guidance, mentoring, and training to staff as needed

Qualification

Legal billing experienceAderant Legal BillingE-billing applicationsAnalytical skillsCommunication skillsProject managementAttention to detailMicrosoft ExcelTeam-orientedProblem solvingOrganizational skills

Required

Advanced job experience as a senior-level Legal Biller

Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills are required to interact with various colleagues and business stakeholders

Advance billing experience with a major law firm in a finance or billing assignment

Expert level of knowledge and experience with direct billing or client accounts (to include domestic, global, and e-Billing) for a law firm or professional services organization supporting legal billing

Strong knowledge in Aderant Legal Billing accounting system

Proficient in e-billing applications such as e-Hub or Bill Blast

Team-oriented and have the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Accurate proofreader and have strong attention to detail

Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex problems

Ability to work independently and is able to take direction well

Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with ability to recognize opportunities for efficiency improvements and coaching other billing employees on industry and process level optimization

Comfortable summarizing and communicating project scope and execution

Strong computer skills, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including in use of Lookup and PivotTable functions

Organized and a self-starter with the ability to handle a large number of projects at one time and meet multiple concurrent deadlines

Ability to prioritize assignments while accepting work assignments and providing backup billing support to multiple managers supporting a large base of dynamically (i.e. not permanently) assigned billing attorneys

High School Diploma or GED

5 years of senior-level legal billing experience managing high volume billing portfolio in a fast-paced customer environment, customer service and business analysis

Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties

Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner

Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product

Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required

Foster positive work relationships

Comply with all firm policies and practices

Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed

Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment