Legal Aid Billing and Compliance Manager

My client is recruiting for an experienced Legal Aid Billing and Compliance Manager to join their team in Manchester, Greater Manchester.

This is an opportunity to take a lead role in legal aid billing, payments on account and compliance within a large multi office legal aid practice. The role will work closely with the Billing Manager and Head of Finance, with a particular focus on improving billing turnaround, cash collection and legal aid compliance.

The Role

• Overseeing civil final bills from case conclusion through to payment, ensuring bills are drafted, approved and submitted to the Legal Aid Agency promptly.
• Managing the payments on account process across certificated cases and ensuring claims are submitted on time.
• Monitoring controlled work submissions and Legal Help escape claims.
• Reviewing legal aid assessments and reductions and supporting appeals where appropriate.
• Managing relationships with external costs drafting firms and supporting the transition of routine drafting in house.
• Acting as the firm's main point of contact for legal aid billing and compliance queries.
• Preparing for and supporting Legal Aid Agency contract audits across crime and civil work.
• Managing statutory charge cases, recoupments, inactive case reviews, contingent liability contracts and out of time bills.
• Supporting Legal Aid Agency file transfers, including bulk transfers.
• Supporting billing on Very High Cost Cases and case plans.
• Producing monthly management information covering fees, cash, live matters and work in progress.
• Providing weekly reporting on Legal Aid Agency remittances and expected income.
• Reviewing matter balances, aged debtors, client balances and files ready for closure.

The Candidate

• Have proven experience in a legal aid billing management role within a substantial legal aid practice.
• Have detailed working knowledge of CCMS and CWA.
• Have strong knowledge of payments on account, final bills and legal aid assessments.
• Understand civil legal aid remuneration, including hourly rates, fixed fees, FAS and escape cases.
• Have working knowledge of the SRA Accounts Rules, particularly client money, disbursements and office credits.
• Have experience with Legal Aid Agency contract audits and compliance, including branches, statutory charges, recoupments and file transfers.
• Be confident using Excel for reporting, reconciliation and management information.
• Be able to explain legal aid billing requirements clearly to fee earners and support staff.
• Be able to demonstrate measurable results from previous billing and compliance roles.
• Experience of care proceedings and family billing, including Very High Cost Case plans, would be advantageous.

Benefits

• Hybrid working.
• Opportunity to take a lead role within a substantial legal aid practice.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Supportive working environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to improvements in billing, cash collection and compliance processes.

Should you have any questions or wish to apply please do not hesitate to contact Clear Legal and Financial.

Please Note: Due to the number of applications we receive we may be unable to respond to every application directly