Accounts Manager - Solicitors Practice

Responsible to: Practice Manager, Finance Director & COFA

Responsible for: Two part-time accounts assistants

Person specification – Skills, knowledge and experience required:

* At least five years previous experience of working in a legal accounts environment.
* Comprehensive understanding of SRA Solicitors Accounts Rules.
* Knowledge and awareness of the risk of cyber crime, fraud and the steps to take to try to counter this.
* Experience of Proclaim or similar case management system
* Strong IT skills.
* Experience of bookkeeping.
* General administration/office skills.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
* High standard of English grammar and spelling.
* Telephone skills.
* Time management skills.
* Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
* Positive approach to embracing developments in technology.

Practical skills:

* Ability to communicate clearly/effectively in English.
* Ability to deal sensitively with clients and other members of the firm.
* Ability to prioritise own workload.
* Experience of using e-mail/the internet.

* Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
* Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.

General responsibilities:

* To be responsible for the accounts department and work alongside the board of directors.
* Management of two junior members of staff.

Tasks:

* Assist in producing the monthly management accounts, monthly forecasts and associated reporting.
* Assist in producing the detailed annual budgets and analyses required.
* Assist in producing annual threshold calculations and associated bonus calculations.
* Recommend and implement the modernisation of current accounting systems.
* Effective participation in departmental meetings.
* Carry out daily bank reconciliations.
* Produce work in progress valuations at the half-year and full year.
* Produce analyses as required by the Auditors for tax computations.
* Reconcile/provide analysis of client matters when required by fee earners
* Run the purchase ledger.
* Run monitoring reports and follow-up queries to ensure issues are being dealt with – eg non-moving matters, old work in progress, old disbursements etc.
* Perform file reviews for COFA-checking purposes, with cashier assistance to ensure we meet monitoring requirements.
* Produce ad-hoc information as required by the Finance partner (e.g to complete practising certificate applications and PII renewals).

* Managing and processing payments made using the firms Barclaycard machine.

* Comply with the Firm’s procedures and policies as set out in Lennons Office Procedures Manual (the up to date version of which is maintained on the Firm’s Intranet).

* Assist with internet banking, including processing TT and BACS payments, when required.
* Processing client to office account transfers.
* Monitoring the firm’s bank accounts.
* Processing funds received.
* Entering fee earner invoices.
* Processing and paying supplier invoices.
* Balancing petty cash and dealing with requests for payment.
* Dealing with clients and other people calling at the office.

* Overseeing the Credit control process.
* Administration of the company’s monthly payroll.
* Assisting with cashiering tasks when required.
* Ensure all Finance Policies are current and adhered to.
* Other tasks as required