Role summary/purpose of job

The Senior Credit Analyst is responsible for driving the credit and collections process, working closely with the Commercial Finance Team which forms part of the larger Finance function and report to a Senior Commercial Finance Manager. We are looking for a flexible team player who thrives in a busy environment and is willing to be flexible in busy time periods.

The ideal candidate should be a committed, confident professional who can demonstrate an assertive and persistent yet tactful approach when dealing with clients, fee earners and support staff. They will need to establish relationships to gain knowledge about clients and the firm debts.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone with great customer service and people management skills and who is looking to develop their career within a leading law firm.

Location Overview: London

Our London office is at the heart of our global network, in one of the most exciting world cities. London is arguably the world’s greatest financial centre: all the world’s leading financial institutions have a significant presence here. It is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s largest companies.

Our London team has a reputation that is second to none. They are the team the world’s leading businesses turn to for help with their most challenging problems. They work with colleagues around the world on complex, cross-border deals, and disputes. Whether you join as a lawyer, a recent graduate or in a business services role, London is a great place to work.

You will have the opportunity to work on challenging, engaging work that will give you the opportunity to make your mark and progress your career. We believe there is no better place to work.

Function Overview

The global Finance function ensures robust financial control across our global operations, whilst partnering with the firm as a valued commercial advisor, influencing strategic decision making and driving long term profitable growth for the firm.

We achieve our vision with all our people working collaboratively with a shared culture and identifying themselves as part of one inclusive Global Finance team.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Set Credit Limit and Monitor exposure

• Set/adjust credit limits for Client entities within 3E as part of client/matter intake process.

• Use the Credit Limit value and report to automate monitoring of credit exposure and drive the right behaviours around improving lockup days.

• Ensure credit limits are applied to all client entities.

• Use Bureau van Dijk (or similar) credit limit score via an API, providing data on credit limit for to use for client entities, ensuring overrides such as retainers or via Partner & Finance Panel are fully approved and communicated.

• Work with project team on development of any credit reporting.

Collection Management

• Drive all collection activities against bills within area of responsibility, including detailed validation where exceptions are sought.

• Implement upfront process and controls to ensure bills have been received and approved, including check that the bill is approved for payment within timelines agreed.

• Build strong client relationships including with relevant client finance contacts to reduce need for partner involvement.

• Monitor the payment status of billed invoices.

• Manage and resolve client queries, ensuring appropriate escalation in line with firm’s debt management process.

• Work closely with the Billing, e-Billing (including utilising appropriate external tools) and Cashiers teams on invoice re-issues/amendments, providing invoice copies to client AP teams as requested.

• Identify issues with slow paying clients and assist to improve their debtor days.

• Proactively identify and monitor aged AR/issues to Global Head of Commercial Finance.

• Provide regular, timely and concise collection notes to include up to date information on collection status within 3E.

• Produce and distribute collection letters, ensuring that reminders are sent to debtors and followed up and options to automate are adopted wherever possible.

Bad Debt management and debt write off

• Monitor bad debt and secure partner approval for write off within specified timeframes, ensuring accounts are blocked such that bad debt written off will not be chased.

• Ensure any VAT or similar rebate is claimed and successfully repaid for written off debt.

• Encourage adoption of digital form for requesting debt write offs, ensuring all relevant parties are involved in the approval process.

• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure approvals and designated thresholds are appropriately set and agreed with delegates in place and communicated.

Global Credit Process

• Work with global colleagues and external advisors to design, implement and maintain new processes and capabilities in order to:

• Improve client onboarding and the collection and maintenance of client master data critical to the pitch to cash process, ensuring suitable reviews and audits are implemented.

• Set credit limits for client entities based on credit bureau data, collecting retainers where appropriate.

• Monitor and report on credit exposure ensuring credit terms are not breached.

• Identify areas where Finance Operations teams can be leveraged to more efficiently deliver activity without compromising our close-coupled service to local partners and global practice groups.

Key requirements

• Excellent persuasion skills via both verbal and written communication to liaise effectively at all levels.

• Ability to work well under pressure in a very busy environment.

• Team leadership/ management experience and the ability to work well in a team environment and cover colleagues’ workloads when necessary and perform other duties which are operationally required.

• Strong Microsoft Excel experience including setting up spreadsheets and adding simple formulas, pivots and vlookups.

• Must have worked in 3E and have a good working knowledge of this system.

• Have knowledge and worked in ebilling portals.

• Confident working with numbers with the ability to reconcile accurately.

• Demonstrate a pro-active, conscientious, and enthusiastic attitude to work.

• Demonstrate use of initiative when problem-solving, including providing innovative solutions to issues and their anticipated responses.

• At least 3 years experience in a blue-chip credit control environment.

• Legal experience or knowledge of terminology would be beneficial.

• Conscientious timekeeping showing flexibility when required.

• A team player.

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we do not just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work is not just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.