Freshfields Overview
Freshfields is a global law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
With over 2,500 lawyers, we provide ground-breaking legal advice to national and multi-national corporations, financial institutions and governments on the most complex matters and disputes all over the world.
In Asia, we are located in 7 cities across China, Japan, Vietnam and Singapore.
The Role
The primary role is to support the practice groups through:
- the provision and analysis of accurate timely management information;
- active involvement in file management of significant matters including budgeting and tracking;
- involvement in outstanding bill collection;
and assist them to maximise the profitability of their contribution to the Firm.
Responsible for the interface between the back office accounting function and the front office fee earning departments across Asia.
Due to the nature and variety of the role, the role will work closely with members of the firm around the Asia network, including senior partners in regional, or local, practice group leadership roles.
A key aspect of the role will be to liaise with Partners and Billing Associates in creating a detailed mandate-level budget for larger matters, and helping to manage against that budget. This will include identifying fee earner resources and phases of work; producing reports for presentation at the Pricing Committee, if required; setting up on the Firm’s financial systems; and reporting regularly on the performance of the matter compared with budget.
The role also includes management of working capital components and the development of appropriately robust revenue support and credit control policies and procedures.
Key Responsibilities and deliverables
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Identify the major new mandates within the region/practice group.
- Work with the partner in reviewing the structure of the matter and the resources required.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities, duties and internal and external clients.
- Ability to quickly learn new processes and systems.
- Knowledge of PRC and other Asia indirect tax would be an advantage.
Desirable
- Pro-active and positive team player especially when under pressure.
- Ability to communicate to varied and international teams.
- Confident demeanour when talking to partners and senior staff.
- Ability to build trusted relationships with key recipients.
- Attention to detail.
- Creating a budget from the data supplied and discussing this with the partner/billing associate.
- Liaising with the Pricing Committee team, where appropriate.
- Assist in developing reports at the matter level.
- Maintain the data in the Firm’s systems.
- Produce and analyse regular reports for each matter.
- Discuss the report with the partner/billing associate, offering advice on maximising profitability.
- Regular meetings and interaction with billing staff/Revenue Controllers to address revenue control and billing issues.
- Responding to clients’ and lawyers’ enquiries and requests on billing matters.
- Preparation of regular and ad-hoc billing analysis and reports.
- Following up with partners, lawyers and secretaries regarding billing status and issues.
- Monitor the firm’s WIP and debtor lock-up levels both in terms of conversion to fees and cash collections, as well as the adequacy of provision levels.
- Oversee the implementation of effective lock-up management policies, procedures and targets.
- Supporting the management of the Asia Commercial Finance team.
Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)
Essential
- Tertiary education.
- Proficient in Excel and Excel modelling (intermediate to advanced level) and MS Word.
- Data analysis and interpretation skills.
- Experience of working within a legal practice, supporting partners and senior staff.
- Experience in Power BI, excel XLCube as well as 3e would be a plus.
- Commercial understanding of the drivers of a legal practice.
- Persuasive and influencing skills.
- Report writing experience.
- Good analytical mind, positive working attitude and strong sense of responsibility and work ethic.
- Excellent verbal and written English communications skills.
- Strong attention to detail, organisation and time management.
