Injury - Costs Assistant

To provide an internal administrative support service to our serious injury teams, in relation to progressing cases post settlement. The Serious Injury Costs team deal with the administrative aspects of liaising with cost supplier to ensure case progression, billing and processing of all monies, sales reserve management, recovery of fees on cases and administration of all tasks arising from our internal Billing Governance Process, to drive efficient collection of fees and the closure of cases.

The team will be collectively responsible for delivery of internal service level agreements set up to support with achieving overall business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a flexible approach and be able to respond to rapid changes in working schedules and priorities. For this you will need to be organised and be able to communicate clearly with people at all levels, both verbally and in writing. Analytical skills and attention to detail are above essential characteristics.

An interest in law and the legal system are all important attributes too.

• Liaising with Cost Draftsman to maintain healthy relationships.
• Managing key stakeholders such as file handlers, leadership and finance colleagues.
• Ensuring of progressing of cases in line with internal SLA’s and civil procedure rules.
• Preparing Fast Track and Intermediate Costs Schedules and progressing until conclusion.
• Managing workload effectively through case management system.
• Making and taking phone calls to progress cases efficiently.
• Processing of all damages and costs payments including processing of disbursements and payment activity.
• Proactively pursue outstanding costs and where required, commencing costs enforcement procedures.
• Data interrogation, numeracy reconciliation and ability to use Microsoft Office.
• Comply with internal processes to ensure that SRA Accountancy Rules are adhered too.
• Electronic data inputting and data reconciliation.
• Correspondence processing and replying.
• Facilitate internal bill approval and signature processes within designated timescales.
• Maintain and update the case management system.
• Follow processes regarding the pursuance and recovery of Payments on Account.
• To play a key part in the internal Billing Governance Forum in assisting the Technical Legal Counsel in making decisions on recovery of costs which includes presenting accurate financial information.
• Utilising the system in place to assist in preparation of Budgets.
• Ensuring internal procedures are followed by being able to identify when a case poses a potential financial risk to the business.
• Reviewing reports on a monthly basis and identifying to ensure all cases are recognised correctly financially.
• To undertake any other tasks as deemed relevant and reasonable by the business.
• Support the Team Leader in reducing the timeline of cases in sales reserve.
• To ensure the archiving and closure process of cases is adhered too and completed.

The following KPIs will apply to you; this is not exhaustive and may change as the business develops:

• Delivery of internal and external SLAs.
• Settlement timescales.
• Reduction of write offs.
• Increase of costs recovery, both Payments on Account and Final Costs.
• % of Aged cases in sales reserve.
• Overdue Actions.
• To demonstrate development and competence of cases after settlement.

You will have regular one-to-one meetings with your line manager to review your performance against these objectives and identify any areas for development and/or required support.

• Proven experience of working within an administrative/finance role.
• Excellent MS Word and Excel skills.
• The…