Credit Controller

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

The team is responsible for the development and overall control of all matters relating to the firm's financial policies, financial affairs and administration.

Taking responsibility for specific practice areas and partner debts. You will ensure that your debtor balances are regularly reviewed and followed up in line with our internal processes, as well as assisting others when required. You will work closely with the Credit Supervisor and other credit control team members to work towards weekly and monthly cash collection targets. 

• Taking responsibility for specific practice areas and partners, you will be responsible for:
  • reviewing all aged debt within your group
  • following up regularly with partners and fee earners by email or virtual/face-to-face meetings   
  • effectively managing your collections to-do list to ensure that timely reminders are sent to debtors, and followed up in line with our internal processes
  • maintaining an organised diary and an up to date notes system
  • escalating aged debts/files to the Disputes team where appropriate
  • assisting with the monthly reporting of clients with high exposure
• Assisting with the allocation of funds received in settlement of bills, as required during team absences, ensuring that banking deadlines are met.
• Dealing with internal and external client requests via telephone and email, to include receiving payment for invoices via credit/debit card.
• Managing the credit control inbox, along with the team, to ensure that all queries are dealt with promptly, including responses from partners and fee earners in relation to alerts informing them that debts are approaching and are 30 days old.
• Assisting with the submission of invoices via the E-billing process as required.
• Helping the billing team during busy periods, particularly at the end of the month.

Other

• High levels of client liaison contact and interaction.
• Ability to deal with emails, telephone calls and in-person queries, in a polite and efficient manner.
• Assisting all members of the wider Finance department where possible.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines occasionally when transactions must be completed in a short period of time.

• At least two years experience at Credit Controller level, operating within a similar sized legal team. 
• Experience in using a Practice Management System, able to make use of systems, previous knowledge of Aderant or Elite is highly desirable.
• Confident in working with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience of engaging with Partners and Fee Earners and demonstratable examples of debt meetings and client liaison.

• Enthusiastic and a proactive team player, who takes a flexible, ‘can-do’ approach to work.
• Confident in working autonomously/independently to meet ever-changing deadlines.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to prioritise and organise workloads effectively.
• A willing and adaptable aptitude to provide support to the team when necessary, during busy periods or times of absence.
• Eager to contribute to firm events, projects, steering groups and committees.  Keen to support any relevant initiative or system implementation.
• Results driven.

The hours of work for this opportunity are 09:30am-5:30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand.

Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which consists of a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.