Our client is an award-winning international law firm that can trace it roots to the late 1800s. Perhaps uniquely among major firms, they have retained a major client from this time. The firm now has a global reach spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America.
They are now looking to hire a Head Legal Cashier to join the accounts team on a permanent basis. The accounts team is made up of several sections: management accounts; purchase ledger; partnership accounting; credit control; cashiering and billing.
Responsibilities
- Responsibility for the London office Cashiers function, including managing team of 5 cashiers, training and team development & appraisals;
- Responsibility for ensuring Cashiering policies, procedures, and controls are appropriate to ensure smooth and efficient running of the function and adapted as business needs evolve, to include liaison with the Finance Systems team;
- Liaison with auditors as part of the Solicitors Accounts Rules audit work.
- Overall responsibility for processing client and/or office account payments, receipts, transfers, and direct debits1
- Oversight of the bank reconciliation process, reviewing the reconciliations prepared by the team and ensuring that reconciling items are cleared promptly;
- Responsibility for managing client balances and ensuring these are handled in accordance with the Solicitor's Accounts Rules, including accounting for interest on client funds in accordance with Firm policy
- Responsibility for processing the firm's disbursements, including Counsel and Experts fees, Foreign payments and any UK disbursements/recharges;
- Responsibility for operational Treasury Management. This includes preparation of cashflow forecasts and presenting the same in Treasury meetings to ensure the firm has adequate funds at its disposal to meet cash needs.
- Manage and optimise operational level banking relationships, including negotiations of interest returns on client funds, and monitor foreign exchange requirements and manage FX transactions to minimise risk and maximise value;
- Dealing with setup and closure of bank accounts and deposit accounts as needed;
- Involvement in managing the relationship with the Bank's operational teams, and key suppliers which fall into the Cashier area;
- Amendments to / closures of Clients and Matters on Aderant, in line with Law Society and anti-money laundering regulations;
- Involvement in Firmwide projects to review and improve processes across the Finance function. Future projects include carrying out a review of the disbursements processes, working with Finance Systems team and Solutions team to map current processes and identify and implement improvements;
- Delivery of training to staff around the Firm, to ensure awareness of the Firm's procedures and controls over cash and client monies; and
- Ensure compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and support ongoing audits and compliance checks.
Candidate Profile
- An in-depth knowledge of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules to ensure compliance with the regulations;
- A track record of identifying and delivering process improvements;
- Experience of managing a team effectively;
- Logical and methodical approach with excellent numeracy skills and attention to detail;
- Clear communication skills, and an approachable demeanour;
- Excellent organisational skills and ability balance day to day and project tasks;
- Knowledge of Aderant desirable but must be familiar with either using this, or equivalent practice management systems;
- Proficiency in using Excel and knowledge and experience of windows-based packages such as Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook etc);
- Sound understanding of VAT recovery processes;
- Understanding of billing and/or credit control is desirable but not essential.
- Clear and concise written and oral communication.
Important Notice
It is Career Legal's policy, as a matter of courtesy, to respond to all applications within three working days. However because of the volume of applications, we are sometimes unable to respond to individual candidates. If we have not contacted you within three working days your application has been unsuccessful and your details have not been retained. Please apply for any other position that you may see in the future. Thank you.
Career Legal is a Recruitment Agency and is advertising this vacancy on behalf of one of its clients.