Lead Senior Legal Cashier

The Lead Senior Legal Cashier sits within the Cashiers team and has day-to-day responsibility for overseeing the operational delivery of both the Client Account and Office Account cashiering functions. The role provides leadership and technical guidance to the Senior Legal Cashiers and Junior Legal Cashiers, helping to ensure the efficient, accurate and compliant processing of all cashiering activities. Working closely with the Senior Accounts Manager – Cashiers, the Lead Senior Legal Cashier helps coordinate workloads, maintain appropriate resourcing and resilience across the team, and ensure cashiering processes operate effectively and consistently. The role holder acts as an escalation point for complex operational, banking and client money matters, providing expert guidance on the application of SRA Accounts Rules, AML requirements, banking procedures and internal controls. The Lead Senior Legal Cashier plays a key role in identifying opportunities for process improvement, strengthening controls and supporting the continued development of a high-performing cashiering team.

Key responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Client Account and Office Account cashiering functions, ensuring transactions are processed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with firm policies, banking deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Assist the Senior Accounts Manager – Cashiers with the allocation, prioritisation and coordination of work across the Cashiers team to ensure appropriate coverage.
• Oversee the Cashiers inbox ensuring queries are responded to in a timely manner and escalating any resourcing or operational concerns as appropriate.
• Act as an escalation point for complex cashiering queries, client money issues, banking exceptions and operational challenges, exercising judgement and escalating matters where required.
• Provide technical guidance and support to team members on SRA Accounts Rules, AML requirements, banking processes, firm policies and best practice.
• Review and approve client account payments in accordance with authority levels and internal procedures, escalating queries as appropriate.
• Maintain and oversee the COFA breach register, ensuring breaches are appropriately recorded, investigated, monitored and reported in accordance with firm procedures.
• Lead on the monitoring and reduction of residual client balances, working collaboratively with Partners, fee earners and Finance colleagues to ensure timely resolution of outstanding matters.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests, compliance reviews and regulatory enquiries relating to cashiering activities, working closely with the Associate Director - Finance and Senior Accounts Manager - Cashiers on these matters and contributing to the effective operation of the cashiering function more generally.
• Oversee and perform review checks, month end reconciliations and exception monitoring to support strong internal controls and accurate financial records, investigating and resolving any issues promptly.
• Identify process improvement opportunities or control enhancements within the cashiering function and support their implementation.
• Support the Senior Accounts Manager – Cashiers with departmental projects and implementation of new systems, processes or regulatory requirements.

This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. It outlines the general scope and expectations of the role, but additional tasks may be assigned as necessary to meet the needs of the firm.

Key Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, maintaining effective working relationships with fee earners, Partners, Finance colleagues and external banking contacts, providing a professional and solutions-focused service.
• High level of attention to detail and the ability to manage and prioritise workloads effectively during busy periods.
• Extensive knowledge of the SRA Accounts Rules and AML requirements, client money handling and legal cashiering practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Ability to make sound decisions and exercise appropriate judgement when dealing with complex, sensitive or time pressured matters.
• Demonstrating excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage banking deadlines and competing priorities.
• Collaborative team player, demonstrating leadership and people management skills, supporting the development of both Senior and Junior Legal Cashiers through training and knowledge sharing, helping to maintain a high-performing and resilient team.
• Strong understanding of office account and client account processes, banking platforms and financial controls.
• Experience using Word, Excel and legal practice management software.

Person specification:

The successful candidate will be an experienced legal cashier with a strong understanding of client account processes, SRA Accounts Rules and the importance of maintaining effective controls around client money. They will be proactive, reliable and collaborative, with the confidence to take ownership of allocated responsibilities, support colleagues and communicate effectively across the firm.

What we offer:

A career with us offers the chance to be part of a firm that values its people as much as its clients. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, you’ll find opportunities to contribute, collaborate, and develop in an environment where traditional values and innovation work side by side.

• A culture where people come first
• Opportunities to develop and grow your career
• Flexible working options – we welcome applications across a variety of working patterns
• An agile working policy, with a minimum of 40% of your working pattern in the office

Our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace:

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, and we recruit based on merit, potential, and the value each person brings to our team.

We actively encourage applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also welcome applications from neurodiverse candidates and are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

If you require any adjustments or support at any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our Recruitment Team.

A responsible business:

At Farrer & Co, conducting business responsibly is fundamental to who we are. Our commitment to excellence, integrity, and partnership runs through every corner of the firm, guiding both our client work and our broader impact on society.

Our vision is clear: to lead with integrity, innovate with purpose, and make a meaningful impact through the work we do with our clients and in our communities.

Special aspects:

The hours of work for this opportunity are 9:30am - 5:30pm however, a degree of flexibility is required to support the needs of the business, particularly around banking deadlines, busy periods and month end. You will be expected to follow the firm’s agile working policy, which embraces home working but will require employees to spend a minimum number of days each week in the London office.

Pre-employment screening:

All offers of employment are subject to standard pre-employment checks. These may include, but are not limited to, verification of qualifications, right to work, employment references and background checks.