Head of Client Accounting

The firm DMH Stallard is an award winning South East law, Legal 100 firm with offices in London, Brighton, Gatwick, Guilford, Horsham and Hassocks. DMH Stallard has grown rapidly since it was established in 1970, and has a headcount of approx 380. Our firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial, dispute resolution and litigation, employment, cyber security and cyber-crime, corporate, intellectual property, real estate and technology, media and telecoms advice to both businesses and individuals. Our clients, our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success. The department Our Accounts Team manage all accounting and financial functions of the firm in compliance with the Solicitors' Accounts Rules. Job overview To lead and manage the firm’s client accounting team. To provide business partnering to firm’s partners on the financial and commercial aspects of client matters. Client accounting team responsibilities and duties Management of all the financial transactions and balances on client matters (except for those which are the specific responsibility of the cashiering or credit control teams). Time recording – Ensuring that time is being recorded on a timely and accurate basis and making any necessary adjustments. Disbursements – Management of the firm’s disbursement purchase ledger including ensuring that disbursements are recorded on an accurate and timely basis, and payments are made in accordance with the firm’s policies. Billing – Ensuring that bills are generated on an accurate and timely basis, and fee earners are helped to maximise recovery rates. Matter housekeeping – working with department / group heads and individual fee earners to ensure:       Work in progress and disbursements are billed on as timely a basis as possible.       Irrecoverable work in progress and disbursements are written off without undue delay.       Client balances are cleared as soon as possible, and client money is not held after the reason for doing so has ceased.       Client matters are closed as soon as possible after they are finished. Ensuring accurate and timely transfers as necessary both between office and client accounts, and between client matters Ensuring compliance with the SRA Accounts Rules Ensuring compliance with VAT regulations in respect of client billing and the disbursement purchase ledger Calculation of amounts due to consultants. Management of records of undertakings given to other firms of solicitors Provision of components of the firm’s management information. Minimisation of the risk of financial losses to the firm, including through fraud. Efficient and effective co-ordination with the other accounts’ teams. Assistance with the firm’s annual audits. Assistance with development of the firm’s financial systems. Assistance with any mergers undertaken by the firm Any other tasks as reasonably required by the Finance Director. Other information Knowledge, skills and experience Extensive experience of client accounting within firms of solicitors. Detailed knowledge of, and extensive experience in applying, the SRA Accounts Rules. Extensive experience of staff management including recruitment, delegation, workload management, coaching, motivation and performance appraisal. High level of accuracy and numeracy. Well organised with good time management and able to work under pressure to strict deadlines. Focus on continual improvement and a pro-active approach to problems solving. Excellent IT skills, including high level Excel skills and experience of system report writing. Extensive experience of solicitor practice management and financial systems. Ability to build good working relationships with all contacts both inside and outside the firm. Experience of minimising fraud risks and promotion of fraud awareness. Ideally hold Institute of Legal Finance & Management Associate qualification. Willingness to travel to other offices when required. Benefits:  25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period), plus Birthday holiday, plus Bank Holidays. Life Assurance Private Healthcare Employee Assistance Programme Sodexo Discounts Pension Scheme Interest free season ticket loans Cycle to work scheme Discounts on Legal work Please upload a covering letter along with your application to cover your experience of the following: Financial management of provision of professional services Systems enhancements Business partnerting Staff management, coaching and development