Legal Aid Billing Manager

Description:

Job Title: Legal Aid Billing & Compliance Manager
Location: Manchester / Hybrid
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
 
The Opportunity
We are working with an established multi-office legal practice with a significant Legal Aid practice across civil and criminal work to recruit an experienced Legal Aid Billing & Compliance Manager.  This is a specialist role for someone who understands the Legal Aid environment from within a law firm and can combine detailed technical knowledge with strong billing management, compliance and process improvement skills.
This is not a general finance, credit control or billing role. Candidates must have substantial experience working within a legal practice and strong technical knowledge of Legal Aid billing and the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).
You will work closely with the wider billing function and senior finance stakeholders, with a key focus on improving billing turnaround, cash collection, payments on account and Legal Aid compliance.
 
Key Responsibilities:
Legal Aid Billing & Cash Collection

Oversee civil final bills, from case conclusion through CCMS submission and payment.
Manage Payments on Account (POAs), ensuring claims are accurate, timely and fully tracked.
Oversee disbursements, controlled work submissions and Legal Help escape claims.
Review LAA assessments and reductions, supporting appeals where appropriate.
Manage external costs drafting providers and support bringing suitable work in-house.
Identify and reduce billing delays, aged WIP and lock-up.Legal Aid Compliance

Act as the technical point of contact for Legal Aid billing and compliance.
Prepare for and support LAA contract audits across civil and criminal work.
Manage contract branches, statutory charges, recoupments, file transfers and out-of-time bills.
Support VHCCs and case plans, ensuring billing and compliance requirements are met.
Maintain accurate Legal Aid supervision and compliance records.Civil & Criminal Legal Aid

Provide technical billing support across civil and criminal Legal Aid work.
Apply knowledge of hourly rates, fixed fees, FAS, escape cases and graduated fee schemes.
Advise solicitors and fee earners on Legal Aid billing requirements and submission processes.Reporting & Controls

Produce MI covering fees, cash, WIP, live matters and billing performance.
Monitor LAA remittances, expected income and aged balances.
Review matter balances, including client balances and office credits.
Reconcile billing data and maintain accurate billing trackers and reporting.Team & Process Improvement

Work with the Billing Manager to allocate workloads and improve billing turnaround.
Train and support costs draftsmen, legal cashiers and administrators on Legal Aid requirements.
Develop clear procedures covering billing, POAs, new matters and file closure.
Lead initiatives to clear historic billing backlogs and improve cash collection. 
About You:

Proven experience in a Legal Aid billing management or senior legal billing role within a law firm.
A legal/law firm background is essential.
Detailed working knowledge of CCMS and CWA.
Strong knowledge of Payments on Account, final bills, assessments and LAA billing processes.
Understanding of civil Legal Aid remuneration, including hourly rates, fixed fees, FAS and escape cases.
Working knowledge of the SRA Accounts Rules, particularly client money, disbursements and office credits.
Experience with LAA contract audits and compliance.
Knowledge of contract branches, statutory charges, recoupments, file transfers and out-of-time bills.
Strong Excel and reporting skills, including data reconciliation and management information.
Ability to explain complex Legal Aid billing requirements clearly to solicitors, fee earners and support teams.
A demonstrable track record of improving billing turnaround, cash collection, lock-up, POA backlogs or LAA compliance.Desirable:

Experience of care proceedings and family Legal Aid billing.
Experience with VHCCs and case plans.
Knowledge of criminal Legal Aid billing, including crime lower and graduated fee schemes.
Experience using a legal case management or legal accounts system.
Experience managing external costs drafting providers or bringing drafting in-house.
Relevant costs drafting or legal cashiering qualification, such as ACL or ILFM.
Previous experience supervising, mentoring or training a small team. 
Please send your CV to Rosie Hutcheon, or call (phone number removed) via the ‘Apply Now’ option to be considered for the role