Client Support Specialist - Contract (Maternity Leave - 12 months)

Location:

Belfast

Workplace:

Hybrid

The opportunity:

The Client Support Specialist - Contract (Maternity Leave - 12 months) will help manage the overall health of the client relationship from a financial perspective, the role-holder will work as part of the team to provide comprehensive and commercially focused support across Intake, Billing, and Collections for a portfolio of clients.

Working at Baker McKenzie:

Baker McKenzie is the world’s leading law firm with offices all over the world. Our Belfast Centre is home to over 400 colleagues in both legal and professional services.

We offer one of the best workplace benefits packages in the business with comprehensive private health cover, income protection, life assurance and a full employee assistance plan. These and a host of other benefits make us one of the most desirable companies to work for in Belfast.

We are committed to promoting inclusion, diversity, and equity for all and are confident we can provide a career as individual and as exceptional as you.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Business Development Managers to liaise between the Client Service Directors and the client's legal operations team
• Stay informed about client KPIs, including overall WIP, AR, fees, profitability, and other risk areas that should be regularly brought to the attention of the Client Service Directors and in-market finance leaders
• Collaborate with center-based teams (e.g. Intake, Billing, Collections, Pricing, E-Billing, etc.) to ensure that each team has correctly understood client requirements
• Project manage various initiatives, such as implementing new Outside Counsel guidelines, changes to E-Billing infrastructure, new client-specific reports, or others as they arise
• Coordinate with Client Support Analysts to ensure budgets are managed and accruals are submitted timely and accurately to the client, including any client-specific reporting required on a regular or ad-hoc basis (across all clients). Ensure that budgets in SAP accurately mirror those in E-Billing systems.
• Where relevant, manage reporting requests related to Trademark portfolios that may require a working knowledge of flat fee schedules and intended use as agreed with Clients and IP Partners
• Provide input to Service Owners on any issue affecting the overall cash cycle (e.g. matter management, short payments, etc.)
• Special ad hoc projects (e.g. client bankruptcy)

Essential Criteria:

To be successful in this role you will need:

Skills and Experience:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to deal effectively at all levels throughout an international firm and with firm clients
• Proven ability to confidently influence, interact, and consult with senior leaders regarding finance processes, guidelines, and compliances
• Experience within a Finance function, demonstrating finance skills and experience applicable to the role, preferably within the legal industry but not compulsory
• A great financial all-rounder having worked in a range of finance teams or companies
• Demonstrated expertise in operational efficiency, strong in project management and systemic thinking
• Able to diagnose and solve problems quickly with positive energy, forward-thinking, and high ethical standards
• Keen attention to detail and effective organizational skills
• Must be confident to escalate and ask questions, especially when being asked to deviate from standard processes
• Able to prioritize and handle multiple tasks to meet deadlines
• Able to perform at high levels in a fast-paced ever-changing work environment and successfully adapt to changing priorities and work demands, including learning new skills when required.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Advanced experience in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, and Outlook); Strong Excel skills desirable
• SAP, Billing, or E-Billing experience desirable