Job Title: Revenue Controller
Reports To: Working Capital Manager
Why Bates Wells?
Making a profit is core to all businesses but our goal is to combine this with a real social purpose. Our values are pivotal to us, they shape our decisions and the way we live and work.
We focus on positive social impact as much as we focus on being a successful law firm. Our top tier legal advice is coupled with a real desire to drive change and we were the first UK law firm with B Corp certification, awarded to businesses that balance purpose and profit.
Today, our clients are diverse – from corporate household names, to public bodies, to start ups. We’re also the firm of choice for thousands of charities and social enterprises. We continue to lead the market we helped to shape.
Bates Wells challenges what is possible in legal expertise delivery.
The role
The Revenue Controller is a key member of the finance team and is expected to deliver an excellent WIP management service to the practice. The role provides support to all departments in control, management and billing of Work in Progress (WIP) and disbursements, including regular communication with partners, fee earners, and secretaries. This is a busy role that is instrumental in our achievement and maintenance of an optimum lock-up cycle.
Key responsibilities
- Establish strong working relationships with all matter partners and matter fee earners through regular review meetings; ensure that focus is maintained on timely billing in order to meet agreed targets and billing timetables.
- Ascertain when transactions will complete, the levels of fees expected, and the anticipated bill date and requirements – taking any action required to facilitate the billing process.
- Ensure that regular billing patterns, and where possible monthly billing cycles, are established, taking care that any special billing arrangements are observed. Work with fee earners to ensure that engagement letter terms reflect appropriate billing cycles.
- Distribute WIP and disbursement lists as required and action requests which result from their return e.g. transferring WIP between files, arranging write offs and closures.
- Review and approve write offs, identifying and tracking common issues; provide feedback on process and other changes required to mitigate those issues.
- Ensure that estimates, WIP and credit limits are updated to reflect any changes.
- Undertake monthly reviews of WIP and disbursements to identify write-offs and provisional balances, adhering to all relevant policies and procedures.
- Provide detailed input to the accurate valuation of WIP and disbursements on a periodic basis including the treatment of contingent matters.
- Action requests from partners and fee earners for information e.g. reporting on fee levels to specific clients over a period of time. Develop a suite of reports to enable fee earners to access up to date information on WIP and billing.
- Prepare management reports, applying advanced Excel functionality as necessary, to provide the practice, finance team and other colleagues with timely and relevant information.
- Liaise with Credit Control on billing issues and queries.
- Reviewing the weekly credit exposure matters list and following up with fee-earners with a view to reducing our credit exposure.
- Undertake ad hoc responsibilities and projects as required.
- Provide input into the design of processes and controls around working capital management, billing and cashflow management in the firm’s new case management system.
Specific tasks may change over time, so we’ll need you to be adaptable and flexible as we continue to meet our clients’ needs.
About you
- You have solid, proven experience in a similar role preferably in a legal or professional services environment.
- ILFM diploma qualification desirable.
- You see the value in Bates Wells as a career choice and view Bates Wells as a high quality employer.
- You share our values and want to make a difference.
- You want to feel that you are a part of the Bates Wells experience and ‘belong’.
- You are not afraid to test assumptions and challenge.
- You want exposure to a variety of challenges that will allow you to innovate.
- You are technically excellent, commercially minded and have great people skills.
About us
- A one firm approach means working together and improving to achieve common goals and to provide a consistent Bates Wells experience.
- As a values-driven firm we show commitment to our clients, our people, the environment and society. We take into account the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis in developing our business strategy.
- We work with exceptional clients to offer the very best work.
- We want to have a positive impact on our people who are our greatest asset so that they can have a positive impact on others. Purpose is baked into our partnership deed.
- Looking for better ways of working is always our priority.
- We promote a strong work/life balance with 25 days holiday with the opportunity to buy more and a ‘Summer in the City’ early-Friday-finish.
- We have an agile working environment – this means you might sit next to a different colleague every day or choose to work from our rooftop garden if you are in the office. We are currently reviewing our policies to enable a hybrid model moving forward.
- Our culture encourages clear and honest dialogue and cross-team support
- The firm review salaries annually as part of the appraisal process in July of each year. However, we encourage our staff to engage with their supervisors throughout the year on feedback and objective setting.
- We recognise success and contribution at any time of the year through our Recognition Scheme
- Our benefits and wellbeing package includes firm matching pension contributions, private medical insurance plus a medical benefit cash plan, discretionary bonus arrangements, life assurance, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme and a firm-wide profit sharing scheme.
- Everyone gets a bonus if there is one - a proportion of the LLP profit is distributed to our people when we exceed our financial thresholds.
- We are committed to your wellbeing and offer physical and mental support in the way of subsidised gym membership, private health care and in-office Mental Health Awareness Ambassadors.
About the Finance team
Permanent role for someone working in a Finance team of 9 people. This person would relish the opportunity to work at an esteemed legal firm in the charities sector in the City. The successful candidate will join the Working Capital team consisting of 3 people within the Finance team.
How to find out more about us
Don’t forget to review our website (https://bateswells.co.uk/) and ask around about us to find out more and whether we’re the right fit for you.
NB We will normally have at least 2 interviews – to test your skills and competencies to work with us and to see if your values align with ours. |
