Main purpose of job

The role is responsible for ensuring that all professional disbursement invoices are received and approved within the correct authorisation and limits. Ensuring all invoices are posted in an efficient, effective and accurate manner to the correct matter code and paid with adherence to the provisions of the SRA accounts rules at all times.

Main duties and responsibilities

Ensuring the accurate posting of disbursement creditor invoices in compliance with the relevant HMRC legislation, the provisions of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Money Laundering Regulations:

• Undertaking reconciliations on receipt of Counsel Fee notes to ensure accurate and timely postings avoiding any inaccuracies, duplication or unaccounted entries and ensuring that all the Firms policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Ensuring all transactions are compliant with the Firms internal corporate governance processes to enforce financial controls.
• Ensuring that professional disbursements are processed in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with provisions of the SARs and with adherence to GAAP and VAT legislation
• Ensuring that MPs and MFEs return all invoices, authorised in accordance with the firm's signing policy in order to meet payment requirements.
• Inputting of transactions on behalf of the finance department, providing corporate governance and financial control.

Providing a quality service and ensuring that the team processes and objectives align with business needs:

• Obtaining relevant feedback in order to advise on improvements to the processes of the team and the wider finance function.
• Adhering to agreed best practice and policies & procedures whilst adapting to local requirements as necessary.
• Consistently sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues.

Supporting and maintaining effective relationships and networks to facilitate and improve the firm's professional disbursement processes in relation to the UK practice and to support the Accounts Payable Manager in doing so on a firm-wide global basis:

• Building constructive working relationships with the MPs, MFEs and secretaries within the firm and key personnel within external organisations to ensure that focus is maintained on timely payments.
• Establishing and managing effective relationships with external suppliers.
• Accepting responsibility and taking ownership of operational issues, finding practical solutions and escalating problems where appropriate.
• Interacting with a wide range of contacts at different levels, requiring an awareness of own impact on others and an adjustment of behaviour accordingly.
• Providing commercial and legislative advice as appropriate.

Education/Experience/Qualifications

• At least 5 GSCE grade C or above or equivalent qualifications.
• Minimum of 4 years' experience working in a commercial environment with experience of accounts payable.
• Experience of a legal environment and knowledge of professional disbursements an advantage.
• To be able to demonstrate the application of best practice together with a commercial approach.
• To be able to demonstrate experience of building successful relationships.

Knowledge and technical skills

• Excel skills to Intermediate level.
• Excellent working use of Microsoft office.
• Ability to advise on accounts system functionalities and transactions.
• Awareness of the provisions of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and VAT legislation.
• Good awareness of GAAP and Anti Money Laundering requirements.