Position summary
The Senior Revenue Operations Manager - EMEA leads the operational delivery of the full revenue cycle across the firm's EMEA offices, from billing through to collections and cash, with a focus on achieving and maintaining optimum lock-up. Working within a US-headquartered global firm, the role manages the EMEA Revenue Controller team, works closely with partners in assigned practice groups, and partners with US Finance colleagues to drive consistent global revenue processes, systems and reporting.
Job duties and responsibilities
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Take ownership of end-to-end working capital management across the EMEA revenue inventory (WIP and debtors), ensuring lock-up targets are achieved and maintained across offices and practice groups.
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Line manage the EMEA Revenue Controller team, including objective setting, appraisals, training and development, recruitment, short-term cover and quarterly bonus plan administration.
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Oversee the day-to-day running of billing and collections operations, coordinating secretaries, billers and collectors, and managing quality control and workload balancing.
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Work closely with assigned practice groups and their Revenue Controllers to review WIP and debtor positions, resolve billing and collection issues, and drive achievement of monthly, quarterly and annual billing and collection targets.
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Prepare monthly WIP and cash forecasts for assigned practice groups and analyse performance against budget for partners and senior management.
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Identify, design and implement improvements to revenue processes, controls and workflows, ensuring EMEA practices align with firmwide (US-led) policies and working closely with the US Key Inventory Manager and Financial Information Unit.
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Act as a subject matter expert on the firm's financial systems (including 3E and e-billing platforms), advising on functionality and transactions and supporting system enhancements and testing.
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Develop and maintain dashboards and management information, working closely with the Financial Information Unit, and present financial information to partners and senior management to help improve practice group and office performance.
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Review aged inventory (unbilled WIP and debtors) for potential write-offs and write-downs, analyse prior approvals of discounts and write-offs, and escalate as appropriate.
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Support Practices & Client Value team on realisation, pricing and rate queries, and maintain an understanding of practice group profitability, budgets and multi-currency rate setting.
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Ensure EMEA revenue activities comply with firm policies and local regulatory obligations, including the SRA Accounts Rules, VAT and anti-money laundering requirements.
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Build effective relationships with key clients to resolve billing and payment issues.
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Deputise for the Assistant Director of Revenue Operations - EMEA when absent, and support the Revenue Directors with ad hoc analysis and projects.
Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented asnecessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.
Required skills and experience
Essential
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At least five years' experience in a revenue, billing or credit control role within a professional services environment, including team management.
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Strong understanding of working capital, lock-up, WIP and debtor management.
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Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Word and Outlook.
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Working knowledge of the SRA Accounts Rules, VAT legislation and anti-money laundering requirements.
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Excellent organisational skills, a high degree of accuracy and the ability to prioritise competing workloads and work calmly under pressure.
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First-rate interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to influence and build trust with partners and senior stakeholders.
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A proactive, solution-focused approach, with flexibility, dependability and the ability to use initiative.
Desirable
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Law firm experience, ideally within a US-headquartered international firm, and experience of working with US-based teams across time zones.
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Experience of Elite 3E and e-billing systems, and of process improvement or systems implementation projects.
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Experience with data visualisation or reporting tools.
Qualifications
Essential: Educated to A-level standard or equivalent, with strong numeracy.
Desirable: Degree in finance, accounting or a related discipline; part- or fully qualified accountancy or credit management qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, AAT or CICM).
Supervisory responsibilities
Reports to the Assistant Director of Revenue Operations - EMEA. Line manages the EMEA Revenue Controller team, with responsibility for appraisals, training, recruitment, quarterly bonus plan administration and team development, and provides cover for the Assistant Director of Revenue Operations when absent.
Statement
Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.
We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you have a disability or a long-term health condition and require adjustments to be made for you within the recruitment process, please contact a member of the Recruitment team. For more information on our approach to diversity and inclusion please visit our website.
