The Firm
HFW is a sector-focused global law firm with over 500 lawyers operating across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We take a progressive approach to our role in commercial business-thinking creatively and pragmatically to support our clients.
Whether we are solving complex issues within the construction, aviation, or shipping industries, or providing advice across insurance, commodities, and energy, we are specialist lawyers committed to delivering commercial value. We prioritise practical solutions, underpinned by robust legal expertise.
The Role
This role is responsible for the proactive management of outstanding debtors and billing processes across designated industry groups and clients. The Revenue and Credit Controller plays a key part in maintaining optimal debtor days, ensuring billing accuracy, and supporting the firm's financial operations.
Key Responsibilities
Credit Control & Collections
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the firm's debt cycle.
- Collaborate with partners to define and execute collection strategies for outstanding invoices.
- Liaise with clients to chase overdue payments, issue statements, and resolve queries via appropriate communication channels.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of collection activity.
- Monitor payment patterns and recommend preventative actions to mitigate risk.
- Identify and escalate potential financial risks to the firm.
- Ensure adherence to firm policies and procedures in all credit control activities, meeting cash collection and debtor day targets.
- Conduct regular reviews of debtor balances to identify potential write-offs.
- Apply commercial judgement to advise on best practices for efficient and effective collections.
Cashiering
- Receive and record client payments, ensuring accurate application to outstanding invoices.
- Maintain schedules for multi-payer invoices for efficient debt chasing and ensure accurate payment allocation.
Billing Operations
- Collaborate with the Matter Teams and the Accounts & Finance team to ensure timely and accurate invoice generation, including verification of client details, matter codes, and billing payor.
- Assist in resolving billing disputes, coordinating with fee earners and clients to clarify and amend invoices.
- Ensure all bills are dispatched in accordance with policy deadlines.
- Support, monitor, and resolve issues related to eBilling processes.
Trust Account
- Post incoming trust accounts funds accurately and in a timely manner.
- Review trust account balances and identify appropriate allocations against outstanding debts.
- Execute bank transfers of Trust account to settle client debts as required.
Reporting & Analysis
- Hold monthly Working Capital meetings with Matter Partners to review WIP for billings and Debt for collections.
Internal Support
- Provide guidance and support to fee earners and PAs on billing and credit control procedures.
- Undertake any other ad hoc tasks as required.
Key Skills & Experience Required
- Minimum of 2 years experience in credit control within a professional services environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills tactful and diplomatic.
- Confident and resilient, able to challenge practices while maintaining professionalism.
- Ability to engage credibly with staff and clients, offering collaborative support and constructive challenge.
- Proactive and self-motivated, with strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Numerate and IT literate experience with Excel and Elite 3E practice management system is advantageous.
- Highly client-focused with a commitment to service excellence.
- Knowledge of SRA Accounts Rules preferred.
- Familiarity with accounting procedures, client ledgers, disbursements, and office accounts.
Additional Information
This job description is not contractual and may be reviewed and amended periodically to meet the evolving needs of the firm.
