Court of Protection Accounts/Billing Administrator

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

At Shoosmiths we have a large dedicated Court of Protection Team and can offer a full, professionally managed Deputyship service. Our Court of Protection (COP) solicitors are acknowledged as being among the UKs leading practitioners in this highly specialised and sensitive area of law.

This a new role and exciting role offering the successful candidate the opportunity to manage and develop the systems and procedures relating to our Court of Protection (COP) Team’s billing strategy.

COP matters are generally billed in a process which involves raising three interim bills (one at each quarter) for up to 75% of the WIP for the year over the course of a Deputyship year. At the end of each client’s respective Deputyship year, we then arrange to have our files costed by a costs draftsman who prepares a formal bill of costs which is subsequently submitted to the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) and assessed by a Costs Officer. The Costs Officer will then determine whether the work that has been done is fair, proportionate and reasonably necessary.

The team has approximately 100 clients who go through the above process each year. This does not include any ad-hoc matters like statutory will/gift/private instructions.

It is essential that the costing process is managed to the highest standards of accuracy and the successful candidate will have an eye for detail and be extremely diligent. They will ensure the correct amounts are billed and recorded due to the importance of ensuring that the client is billed correctly (with the correct WIP and billing period) to ensure that the OPG report and costs budget are correct. The ideal candidate would already have an understanding as to the costs rules and procedure, although this is not essential if the candidate meets the other criteria.

The successful candidate would be solely responsible for billing for the team including preparing interim bills on monthly basis as they fall due and overseeing the costing process for the end of year final bills. This would include;

• Managing and maintaining a dairy system of when interim and year end bills are due 
• Preparing and recording interim bills
• Preparing annual files and documents to be sent to costs draftsman to include using software to bundling and printing the same
• Liaising with the legal advisor and cost draftsman in respect of the drafted bill
• Checking draft bills
• Collating and supervising the preparation of any additional documents
• Lodging bills for assessment with the Senior Courts Costs Office
• Checking assessed figures 
• Checking recalculation 
• Recording data and utilising this to improve efficiencies
• Write offs
• Preparing OPG105 costs budgets

The Successful Candidate

The ideal candidate would ideally have a finance/account management background or experience. However, if the candidate has the right aptitude, this would not be essential. However, the candidate would need to be dynamic as the role is demanding and requires analytical thinking. The role attracts a significant amount of responsibility, not only in respect of ensuring the billing processes are overseen and clients billed accurately, but also in overseeing and authorising payments.

The candidate would ideally be based in Birmingham, alongside our support team, to oversee the administrative elements of the role. 

Essential Skills

The successful candidate will have and be able to demonstrate at interview the following essential skills;

• Excellent proven numeracy and organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent and proven time and diary management skills
• Excellent computer skills and be proficient in all Microsoft applications
• Ability to build and maintain relationship with costs draftsman to encourage two way feedback to improve working practices and efficiencies

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.