Sr Manager Legal Billing Operations

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive.  Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm.  Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career.  Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Sr. Manager Legal Billing Operations, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, oversees and leads the Client Account Managers and is responsible for the overall daily operations of multiple Client Accounts team. As a Sr. Manager Legal Billing Operations, you will be responsible for ensuring that managerial staff receive the training, mentoring and coaching necessary to meet the overall billing and business objectives of the firm. You will continually analyze the current billing business processes and make recommendations for improvement based on solid performance metrics. You will test new systems and support upgrades and enhancements.

Location

This position can sit in any of our US office locations and offers a hybrid work schedule.
 
Responsibilities         

• Monitors the daily billing operations of the team. Ensures managerial workloads and Biller level assignments are completed in a timely manner and meet the expectations of the attorneys and clients. Continually tracks metrics for multiple billing teams and makes adjustments to the operations of the team as needed.

• Responsible for ensuring a group of billing teams meet or exceeds performance standards and metrics.

• Analyzes business processes and billing book assignments to ensure the most effective processes and balanced workloads are in place. Develops process/workflow/workload improvements based on analysis.

• Provides appropriate training to ensure that managers are properly implementing and adhering to billing processes such that policies are applied consistently across the department. Develops training materials and delivers training to staff, either in person or using electronic tools.

• Reviews performance on a continual basis. Coaches and trains managerial and billing staff throughout the year. Completes individual performance reviews and conducts the annual review with the employee.

• Fields billing inquiries and questions on a daily basis.

• Interact with clients, attorneys and staff on a daily basis. Helps resolve billing issues, including account analysis, and assists attorneys with processing and collection of invoices.

• Participates and supports project management initiatives. May be responsible for managing a specific project to include project planning, development and execution.

• Plans and facilitate group meetings. Prepares agendas and captures/tracks important discussion items.

• Serves as subject-matter expert for a group of managers. Responds to inquiries and process escalations posed by attorneys, practice groups or other team members.

• Continually researches and remains current on best practices. Identifies, documents, and communicates system and procedural issues across departments. Liaises with leads in other departments to develop best practices and implement solutions.

• Provides leadership to and manages a team of business professionals to include coaching, mentoring and professional development. Responsible for providing performance feedback on a regular basis.

• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Skills 

Experience with Aderant plus any e-Billing applications is required. Experience with Business Intelligence software and reporting is highly preferred. Advanced proficiency with Excel is required. Must have excellent analytical skills and be comfortable charting large data sets and summarizing trends. Strong communication and interpersonal skills required to interact with staff and timekeepers. Must be a strategic, creative and innovative thinker. Must be team-oriented and have ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment which may require long hours to meet workload needs. Must have strong attention to detail. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex problems required. Must have proven analytical skills. Has ability to work independently and is able to take direction well. Has ability to lead and manage a diverse team and provide training and guidance to ensure consistent application of billing procedures across the team. Must exercise sound judgment and decision-making skills.

Minimum Education                        

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, or similar field.

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting or similar field.

Minimum Years of Experience  

• 8 years of experience working in managerial capacity in a complex billing function in an AM Law 200 law firm with at least two years minimum of second-tier management (managing other managers overseeing a billing/invoicing team.)

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.

• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.

• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.

• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.

• Foster positive work relationships.

• Comply with all firm policies and practices.

• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people.
Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.    

Work Environment    

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm’s discretion in the future. 
Disclaimer    

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment. 
 

Application Process     

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email. 
 

Accommodation    

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact [email protected]. 

Agency applications will not be considered.     

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.    
The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $149,276-$237,355 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location. The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

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DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Job applicant poster viewing center.