Client Specialist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a Senior Client Billing Specialist to join one of our offices in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Harrisburg, or Chicago.

The Senior Client Billing Specialist manages the end-to-end billing process, ensuring accuracy and adherence to client and firm guidelines. They handle the preparation and revision of proformas, invoice generation, and e-billing submissions. Their role involves meticulous verification of billing details, coordination of joint billings, and resolution of billing issues. They are committed to maintaining confidentiality and providing exceptional customer service. Additionally, they guide junior team members, contribute to team productivity, and ensure compliance with financial regulations.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internally, responsible for communicating with timekeepers, other local billing groups, Firmwide Accounting/Finance, Directors of Administration, practice assistants, and administrative support staff. Externally, responsible for working with ebilling vendors, AP vendors and responding to client driven inquiries.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Performing daily billing activities, supporting attorneys, practice assistants, and clients, while managing complex billing processes
• Performing daily billing activities, supporting attorneys, practice assistants, and clients, while managing complex billing processes
• Verifying and setting up matters in the accounting system, including rates, AFAs, billing notes, and instructions
• Conducting detailed reviews and audits of unbilled time and costs, including proofreading, updating spreadsheets, and reconciling invoices
• Maintaining and updating detailed charts on invoices, rates, holdbacks, and budgets
• Maintaining and updating detailed charts on invoices, rates, holdbacks, and budgets
• Managing e-billing submissions, updates, and rejections, ensuring timekeepers and rates are current and approved
• Overseeing the timekeeper approval process, including matter access for time entry, and enter vendor invoices as per guidelines
• Following write-off approval protocols and conducting monthly internal audits, including during internal and external audits
• Monitoring e-billed invoice status, addressing rejections and short-pays, and assisting with collections efforts
• Researching and responding to billing-related information requests and recommending corrections as needed
• Serving as the primary escalation point for billing issues, assisting with training and quality control, preparing ad-hoc reports, and maintaining client databases

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED
• Have a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or equivalent legal/ebilling experience
• Have an understanding of financial regulations and compliance
• Be committed to providing excellent customer service to clients and attorneys while producing a high-quality work product
• Be committed to maintaining confidentiality of all firm and client related information
• Be able to guide less experienced team members according to processes and required outputs
• Be a self-motivated with a dedicated work ethic, capable of working independently while also contributing to the team's productivity
• Be proficient in MS Outlook, Word and have advanced proficiency in Excel
• Have the ability to handle a high volume of work with precision and patience for revisions and rejections
• Have effective communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse personalities while maintaining a professional attitude
• Possess abilities in organization, time management, and problem-solving in order to to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines under pressure
• Have 3+ years of experience in legal billing and e-billing experience using third-party vendors
• Have 3+ years of experience in legal billing and e-billing experience using third-party vendors

Compensation Salary $63,894 - $110,218 / year

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and applicable law qualified California and Washington State applicants with criminal history records will be considered. A criminal history will not categorically exclude a candidate from employment, and the Firm will consider relevant factors before making employment decisions based on criminal history information.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.