Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Summary

The Senior Manager of Collections will engage in, manage, and improve the Firm’s collection efforts and receivables management function, as well as lead the collections team. The position will collaborate with the Firm’s Finance Committee and members of the Billing Department’s leadership team to drive revenue and resolve issues related to collections. Further, the Senior Manager will work closely with the Senior Director of Revenue to advise and assist Partners with managing accounts receivable, collections issues, and client correspondence to ensure prompt resolution of discrepancies or issues.

Job Responsibilities

• Manages a team of two cash applications specialists and seven A/R collections specialists and consultants.
• Communicates with billing attorneys and clients to assist with appropriate collection efforts or write offs.
• Collaborates with other department members to resolve billing & collections issues, including electronic billing matters.
• Works with billing attorneys and clients to resolve billing & collections issues, including electronic billing matters and outside cousel guideline compliance.  Provides billing attorneys with regular monthly A/R reports immediately after monthly close and ad hoc reports as requested.
• Establishes and documents best practices for collections and A/R management. Implements proactive firm-wide solutions to streamline and improve deficient processes.
• Identifies delinquent accounts and provides regular updates of collection efforts to management.
• Develops and implements a reliable “reminder program” for clients having unpaid invoices beyond agreed upon payment terms.
• Prepares projections of monthly fee collections by client and progress against those expected collections on a weekly basis for the Firm’s CFO.
• Analyzes delinquent accounts and prepares reports to identify clients with the highest risk of non-collection and make recommendations for resolutions.
• Provides support to Firm’s internal bankruptcy attorneys for Firm clients that file for bankruptcy.
• Oversees posting of daily receipts (checks/wires/ACHs) and communications with billing attorneys regarding overpayments, short payments, duplicate payments, and proper allocation of payments.
• Together with Senior Director of Revenue, negotiates payment programs with clients; identifies accounts that require third-party collection efforts or possible legal action and coordinates same with third-party vendors.
• Meets monthly with Firm’s General Counsel’s Office to identify clients with significant amounts due to the Firm which may require special attention or communications and where legal actions may be taken to assert our rights to payment.   
• Works closely with the Firm’s Client Trust Accounting team coordinating with Firm attorneys, management, clients and the bank on complex escrow related transactions.
• Leads the year-end collection process working directly with Partners, Senior Counsel and management team to develop Q4 collections targets and provide weekly reports to management and Partners on progress against those goals.
• Performs routine audits of work performed by collections consultants to ensure internal controls are being followed.
• Works with other Firm leaders to plan for potential business disruption, ensures critical data is backed up properly and creates business continuity solutions by testing and implementing various recovery plans enabling the Firm to resume normal operations as soon as possible following a disaster.
• Protects Firm and client information by ensuring compliance with the Firm’s information security policies, safeguarding firm assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference and reporting security events or potential events or other security risks to management.
• Oversees the recruitment, performance management, development, training and motivating of team members managed.

Requirement:

Education

The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting or Finance.

Experience

The position requires a minimum of seven (7) years of increasingly responsible, directly related experience in billing and collections functions that included direct supervision of others on a regular basis.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise others, including hiring, training, assigning work, managing performance, counseling, and discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to provide quality client service to both internal and external contacts, regarding financial matters of a complex nature. Requires patience, creativity and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with management, staff, attorneys, clients, and vendors.
• Ability to appropriately delegate work to others, to meet deadlines, goals and objectives, develop skills and knowledge, build capacity and productivity of the unit.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work of a highly detailed nature in a dynamic and complex environment to meet deadlines and daily requirements.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of financial management and business intelligence systems such as Elite 3E, MS Suite with knowledge of SQL and/or MS Access preferred.
• Ability to represent the firm with honesty, integrity, and professionalism, consistently acting in an ethical manner.
• Demonstrated ability to apply innovation to the area and Firm challenges to identify problems, and propose and implement solutions.

Crowell & Moring LLP offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package which includes progressive options such as back up child care, wellness programs, cultural events and social activities. We take great pride in our positive, friendly culture that rewards hard work and success, at the same time recognizing the importance of family and community service.

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