Billing Assistant (12 month FTC)

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Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below,

we show respect to everyone

we are there for one another

we are open with each other

we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don't just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn't just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

The Freshfields Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Function Overview

The Finance Support function in Manchester provides centralised global support to the firm across its network of offices. Teams currently include Billing, Procurement and Management Accounting.

The Billing team is an essential part of the wider Finance department of the firm and is expected to deliver an exceptional service to our fee earners and clients. The Billing function is extremely fast-paced and our role is to assist fee earners across the network with all aspects of invoice review and processing.

The Global Procurement team, located in Manchester and Frankfurt, is responsible for leading sourcing initiatives, developing and implementing category strategies within the firm. In addition, the team provides support and guidance to the rest of the business with regard to supplier relationship management, spend analytics, procurement compliance and training.

The Group Management Accounts team works alongside the firm's Chief Financial Officer, senior management partners and global support heads to provide the financial information required to run the business. In addition to the prompt provision of financial data and analytics, the team is expected to manage, develop and control the production of management data across the firm's local finance functions, providing them with support and guidance through continual review and development.

Qualifications

Role summary/purpose of job

The Billing Assistant will work with the Germany, US and London Billing teams to prepare and process client bills for the firm ensuring that invoices are sent out efficiently and on a timely basis. The team work closely with their associated Business support group and form an important part of the larger Finance function.

This is a role which will involve working with a large Billing team, split across the firm's offices in London, US and Germany; we are looking for a flexible team player who thrives in a very busy working environment. The role demands a sharp eye for detail, a good head for figures and a proactive approach to problem solving.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Order work in progress reports, audit reports and draft bills from the Firm's global practice management system.

Create and format time reports in excel to accompany draft bills, for those clients that require them.

Accurately process cost transfers, write offs and deletions, in the Firm's global practice management system.

Review instructions received from partners and PAs to ensure they meet local regulations and do not contravene internal billing policies.

Process client bills on to the Firm's global practice management system, ensuring that client fee deal agreements, local regulations, tax requirements and internal billing policies have been adhered to.

Investigate any billing queries raised and report back to the relevant individual, offering suggestions/solutions where necessary.

Prepare, process and upload electronic invoices to clients via various ebilling systems, understanding the specific requirements of each.

Be a point of contact for partners, fee earners and business support colleagues in local offices, for any billing related questions or queries.

Train new team members on billing processes, as required.

Key requirements

GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Good knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Good numeracy skills - (should be confident with numbers and able to reconcile) - essential.

Previous experience in a billing environment and knowledge of billing systems is desirable.

Flexibility - able to work non-standard hours, sometimes at short notice

Competencies

Clear and concise written and oral communication skills.

The ability to build working relationships with a range of people at all levels.

Good presentation skills.

Proactive approach with a 'can-do' attitude.

Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve the way that work is done.

Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage tasks efficiently.

Works successfully as part of a team, sharing knowledge, collaborating with and supporting colleagues.

Excellent customer service skills with a helpful and responsive approach.

Flexible in approach and adaptable to change.

Resilient and calm under pressure.

Motivated, results and delivery focused with a commitment to quality of work and attention to detail.

Takes ownership of tasks and gets things done.

Actively looks for personal learning and development opportunities.

Demonstrates sound judgement.

A commitment to the highest level of integrity.

Focuses on analysis of issues and finding the right solutions.

An understanding of working across cultural boundaries.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Please note that, in line with the requirements of the UK Border Agency, non-EEA candidates may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled EEA candidate can fill the position.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision