Sr. Billing Client Specialist
Administration and OperationsAll Practice AreasSeattleJob Description
At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place. We are seeking a Sr Client Billing Specialist to join the Seattle office. A senior level biller is responsible for the more complex billing process including, but not limited to audit, review, edit, prepare and submission of complex invoices electronically accurately and timely in accordance with the firm and client guidelines for each assigned office. Compensation Salary is $68,000-$102,000/ year. The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors. ABOUT THE FIRM K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals. For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page. Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility. BENEFITS K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include: EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internally, responsible for communicating with timekeepers, other local billing groups, Firmwide Accounting/Finance, Directors of Administration, practice assistants, and administrative support staff. Externally, responsible for working with ebilling vendors, AP vendors and responding to client driven inquiries.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Performs daily billing activities to support attorneys, practice assistant, and client
• Manage complex billing processes that require additional research and revisions
• Edit attorneys monthly proformas (pre-bills)
• Generate monthly invoices
• Ensure matters are set up correctly in the Accounting system by verifying rates, AFAs, billing notes and instructions
• Detailed review and audit unbilled time and costs, update with significant revisions, proofread, update spreadsheets, reconcile invoices, search and replace key words, spellcheck, review and approve expense reports, audit vendor and client invoices and enter vendor invoices for complex matters per client guidelines and internal protocols
• Update and proofread time and disbursements with revisions, spelling check, global changes
• Maintain detailed charts on invoices, rates, holdbacks, budgets
• Coordinate with other billing departments on joint billings
• Reconcile final invoice to accounting system and verify supporting documents before submitting to client
• Ensure all timekeepers and rates are up-to-date on e-billing sites; submit timekeepers and rates for approval as needed
• Submit electronic invoices to clients via their designated electronic billing system; manage e-billing rejections, short pays, errors – research and promptly resolve, including working with the lawyer, practice assistant and clients to resolve
• Submit non e-billed invoices to practice assistant/lawyer for mailing/emailing to the client and follow up to ensure invoices were sent out
• Oversee timekeeper approval process including matter access for time entry
• Review, Audit and Enter vendor invoices
• Follow write off approval protocol, monthly internal audits of write offs and pull invoices and approvals during internal and external audit
• Monitor e-billed invoice status, follow-up on rejected and short-paid invoices
• Research, respond and/or recommend corrections to information requests related to any billing issues
• Assist the AR department in reviewing the status of unpaid electronic invoices to aid collection efforts.
• Create, edit, streamline, summarize and present complex data in legible formats for attorneys, clients or other administrative staff
• Assist Billing Manager or Manager of Accounting with training, guiding and quality control for Client Billing Specialists in all aspects of the billing and e-billing process
• Continually evaluate opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness when resolving issues
• Serve as primary escalation point to internal Billing team for complicated billing issues regarding support to all internal clients
• Prepare ad-hoc reports for internal and external clients, allocating invoices per each client’s specific requirements
• Maintain client reports and databases based on each client’s specific requirements
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
• Perform other duties, responsibilities or special projects as directed by Billing Manager, Manager of Accounting, and/or lawyers.
EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED
• Bachelor’s degree, accounting or finance strongly preferred, or equivalent legal /e billing experience preferred
• 3 - 5 years legal billing experience and e-billing experience required
• Experience working with e-billing using 3rd party vendors
• Proficiency in MS Outlook, Word
• Advanced proficiency in Excel required
• Proficient on 3E
• Knowledge of the HUB e-billing software
• Knowledge of paperless proforma
• Advanced proficiency with Elite as well as various e-billing sites
• Must be committed to providing superior customer service to clients and attorneys while producing a high quality work product.
• Ability to handle a large volume of work while ensuring a high level of accuracy.
• Must have patience to work with invoices which may be revised or rejected repeatedly
• Must have effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities while maintaining a professional attitude
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all firm and client related information
• Must be self-directed with a strong work ethic, capable of working independently as well as working effectively in a team environment
• Must be motivated, organized, detail-oriented with strong analytical, time management and problem-solving skills and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and prioritize workload while working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to new assignments and deadlines in a fast-paced, highly demanding, deadline driven environment while utilizing excellent judgment and decision making skills is required.
ADDITIONAL ABILITIES REQUIRED
• This job operates in an office setting and is largely sedentary, requiring the routine use of a computer and other standard office equipment.
• The ability to open file cabinets, lift files, bend, and stand on a stool may also be required.
• May require ability to work adjusted work schedule, overtime and evenings/weekends/holidays in order to meet firm deadlines.