Global Revenue Manager

About Ashurst:

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law.

Department/Role overview:

Billing & WIP Management is part of the firm's global Working Capital team based in Australia and UK.

The Global Revenue Manager will be responsible for managing and supporting a global team of Billing & WIP Analysts based in the UK and Australia, as well as delivering exceptional client service to stakeholders.

Monitor & support timely billing of WIP for the supply of legal services, with a view to reducing unbilled WIP levels, aged WIP and potential losses. A key focus will be to identify key roadblocks through regular WIP reviews, ensure root causes are resolved, monthly billing schedule, complete billing forecasts and drive quality billing against target.

Main responsibilities:

• Manage and motivate a global team of Billing & WIP Management specialists to continually achieve agreed billing and aged WIP targets with a focus on reduction in WIP days
• Proactively engage with key stakeholders to deliver the firm's financial goals.
• Manage the firm's global Work-In-Progress (WIP) portfolio, ensuring timely billing and minimizing unbillable hours.
• Implement strategies to reduce WIP days and increase the velocity of cash collection.
• Daily coordination of billing related requests, ensuring requests and completed in accordance with service level agreements.
• Collaborate with partners, fee earners, and finance teams to review, manage, and monitor WIP balances, whilst supporting billing actions.
• Provide insightful, data-driven reports and forecasts to senior leadership on WIP status and potential risk areas and billing volumes.
• Develop processes, systems and procedures to continually improve efficiencies and client experience.
• Ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place and operate at all times.
• Identify key client onboarding roadblocks & actions to unblock, working closely with relevant internal teams.
• In conjunction with the Head of Global Working Capital, establish service level agreements for all processes and manage service delivery such as to achieve defined service levels.
• Complete end of month WIP reviews, understanding reasons for non-billing and high WIP/lockup days.
• In conjunction with WIP Management team, identify aged WIP balances with potential losses and ensure that appropriate action is taken to minimise that risk.
• Monitor Invoice Reversal categories and root causes.
• Support complex client billing challenges.
• Monitor billing processing timelines.
• Track and prepare in month billing forecasts.
• Monitor & identify margin impact from out of scope work and overruns, disbursements not billed, etc.
• Provide Business Managers with key opportunities for their intervention.
• Quality coordinator across working capital cycle for high value matters.
• Develop the skills of the team so they can meet their KPIs; ensure they have SMART goals and development plans in place, to motivate and grow in-line with their personal development goals and future direction of the team.
• Proactively support transformation projects through SME support.
• Establish positive working relationships with key stakeholders and maintain regular contact responding to feedback and performance issues in a timely manner.
• Be a role model of the ASC Ways of Working in line with documented requirements, promoting and embedding the ethos and culture across the team, including meeting KPIs, to maximise quality and accuracy of outputs whilst monitoring feedback to inform improvements in process and performance.
• Work independently with limited supervision to complete assigned tasks while keeping in mind the needs of relevant Firm stakeholders and prioritising work as appropriate.
• Exchange ideas and information effectively, efficiently, and logically, while working with contacts globally.
• Address in a diligent and timely manner all inquiries and special projects from management.
• Accurately, timely and comprehensively report to management on status of assigned objectives and responsibilities.
• Proactively monitor the market for the latest thought leadership and best practice to allow us to be market leaders in our WIP Management offering and build a strong recruitment brand.
• Promote diversity across the team including steps to progress towards meeting the Firm's diversity targets through participation in local groups and events.
• Undertake any other ad hoc duties/projects as required by the Head of Global Working Capital.

Essential skills and experience:

• A bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field. A master's degree or professional certification (such as CMA, CPA) is desirable.
• Minimum of 3 years' global experience of Billing Management and/or WIP Management preferably in a legal or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Billing & WIP processes, reporting, and risk management.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and mentor your team.
• Proactive and self-motivated work ethos.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong ability to develop and maintain relations at various levels within and outside the firm.
• Strong global commercial awareness and understanding of client needs.
• Proactive, innovative and results-oriented.
• Ability to perform at high levels in a fast paced, ever-changing work environment and successfully adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to anticipate work needs and follow through with minimum direction, follow up on own initiative.
• Good numeric, analytical and problem solving skills with keen attention to detail.
• Strong MS Excel skills.
• Working knowledge of 3E practice management system or similar practice management system.
• Previous knowledge and understanding of SRA regulations.
• Develop processes, systems and procedures to continually improve efficiencies and client experience.

Background checks:

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.