JOB SUMMARY
Help develop budgets/estimates in support of client requests and/or alternative fee pricing. Monitor budgets, identify overruns, alert partners, and recommend solutions. Maintain and update budget database. Provide client rate arrangement analyses. Assist in creation of practice-specific budget templates, analysis of comparable data, and development of standardized task pricing for all legal matters.
Provide firm, practice and office focused profitability statistics, modeling, and analysis under the general direction of a PBA Manager and/or a PBA Director. Prepare and distribute weekly and monthly financial reports in approved formats, analyze results, and prepare observations for firm management. Provide statistical support for attorney compensation processes. Assist in preparation of submission of firm financial information for survey and publication purposes.
Proactively support client service. Provide quality service to internal members/ departments of the firm as well as external clients and vendors by displaying professionalism via electronic and print correspondence, over the telephone and in-person and by encouraging an atmosphere that rewards a "can do" attitude.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist with development of hourly budgets or Alternative Fee Arrangements for legal matters in collaboration with Partners / matter team to meet client requests; budgets to be based on matter scope and staffing assumptions, as well as phases of engagement; provide quality assurance in the budget process.
- Assist in development of budget templates; compile and analyze entries to create database of comparable matters by practice for use in generating budgets/estimates; assist in development of standardized task pricing averages.
- Leverage warehoused budget metadata for statistical intra & post matter analysis and for comparable matter budgeting.
- Incorporate Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs); provide notification of deadlines to Partners and update budgets to meet client requirements; update OCG budget database with new/updated OCG requirements.
- Monitor actuals against budgeted fees and update budgets in light of actual work performed; submit reports to Partners as requested.
- Participate in firm-wide matter management program including, but not limited to theorizing, review, and validation of matter management reports and collaboration with Legal Project Managers and Client Accounting on matter specific needs.
- Analyze impact of client rate arrangements including financial modeling and impact analysis of alternative rate scenarios on the firm and client.
- Participate in the annual billing rate budgeting process that supports the firm’s revenue objectives; includes supporting and contingency recommendations; includes updating our billing system with firm standard rates and firm level variations; prepare annual office and practice group revenue budgets; includes financial modeling and risk and opportunity analysis related to revenue.
- Provide support for Attorney Compensation review processes, including Partner Compensation and Capital process; provide information related to revenue generation and management components for Partners and individual productivity statistics of partners and other attorneys; includes maintenance of revenue FTE variations.
- Assist in preparation of firm financial information for survey and publication purposes; analyze results and prepare observations for firm management. Work to be accomplished under general supervision.
- Provide decision-support to Chief Financial Officer, Managing Partners and Practice Leadership as assigned, ensuring information approved prior to release; decision-support includes monthly statistical reporting, issue/problem definition from both a business and financial perspective, developing, analyzing, and quantitatively modeling feasible/realistic alternatives, and presenting recommendations.
- Assist in developing financial and operational presentations for Finance Management to Partners, Senior Administrators and Firm Management as assigned.
- Look for opportunities to improve processes and activities by using/leveraging business technologies and other resources.
- Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned.
- Contributes to the firm's Service Matters initiative to consistently improve its image internally and externally; displays professionalism, quality service and a "can do" attitude to internal members/departments of the firm as well as external clients and vendors via electronic and print correspondence, over the telephone and in person
Required Skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Demonstrated ability to effectively use PC-based and on-line technology, database, presentation, and spreadsheet software
- Knowledge of mainframe-based general ledger accounting systems and statistical & financial modeling software
- Ability to perform research that involves interpretation and analysis as necessary to develop recommendations on broad, complex topics and issues that have long-range impact
- Ability to identify and analyze problems, propose solutions, and anticipate future opportunities before initiating action and implementing solutions
- Project management and organizational skills, including the ability to work effectively, under general supervision, in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadlines
- Business writing and oral skills including knowledge of business English as necessary to present information that requires some origination and/or compilation
- Ability to work with others at all levels of the firm including partners and clients.
- Ability to work with supervisor, peers, subordinates, and support personnel, keeping others informed of work status and changes that relate to their activities and stimulate team cooperation to successfully complete the task or assignment
- Ability to make customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions, developing and sustaining productive relationships
- Ability to work independently in a flexible, team-oriented environment with enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, and spirit of cooperation
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting required; CPA or MBA preferred.
EXPERIENCE:
One year experience preferred. Education considered in lieu of experience.
Law firm or professional services experience preferred.
WilmerHale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, age, disability or veteran status, or other protected status.
Required Experience