Billing Manager - London & Brussels

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes.

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day supervision of the London-based billers, providing training and performance oversight.
• Oversee partner allocation, manage lateral/promoted partner uptake and billing staff absences to ensure London and Brussels billing obligations are met.
• Ensure accurate and timely production of invoices for London and Brussels and alignment with client billing guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with VAT laws, SRA Accounts Rules and Firm financial controls.
• Monitor office Work in Progress.
• Drive process improvements and automation initiatives to streamline billing operations.
• Provide ad hoc WIP/billing/collections reports and analysis to partners and management on request.
• Produce, edit and issue pre-bills, bills and credit notes for a small group of senior partners with specialised and complex billing needs at the beginning of each month and upon request.
• Meet with partners where necessary and deal with related issues and queries.
• Prepare back-up documentation in line with client requirements where necessary.
• Oversee the London and Brussels mailboxes to ensure the billing team responds promptly to incoming e-mail and maintains an audit trail of both incoming e-mail and department responses.
• Work with the London Finance Manager to achieve month-end billing cut-off to suit local e-invoicing and VAT requirements.
• Prepare and audit London monthly and quarterly bill reports, ensuring consistency with e-invoicing records, ONS reporting and quarterly VAT returns.
• Take ownership of any differences and follow up to correct billing errors internally using the Firm-approved procedure.
• Supervise billers in requesting approval for special rates and billing discounts, ensuring appropriate approval is obtained.
• Check billing write-offs are adequately made for VAT purposes and reported to the London Finance Manager quarterly.
• Liaise with the Pricing Team on client-related rates and pricing issues and work with the Client Intake and Compliance teams to ensure all KYC/CDD is complete and up to date.
• Take responsibility for hiring, discipline and bi-yearly evaluation of London-based billing staff.
• Work with the London Finance Manager to identify when new billing resources are required, prepare Firm-approved job descriptions and interview suitable candidates.
• Liaise with local and international HR & direct management to ensure all placements are formally approved.
• Prepare training schedules for new billing positions and carry out a share of the induction work alongside the LA billing team.
• Participate in EMEA billing training, including the year-end push project.
• Liaise and meet with Finance Managers and other staff in EMEA offices as work dictates.
• Oversee the work carried out on tax-related billing matters (e.g. applications for tax residency certificates) and liaise with the tax team as required.
• Be an active participant in the e-billing project teams for both offices.
• Work with team members to implement e-invoicing solutions and act as a point of contact for vendor providers (e.g. Edicom).
• Assist Firm management with the implementation of Aderant upgrades in relation to the billing tool and other software changes.
• Provide flexibility to work evenings and weekends based on department needs as required and other duties assigned.

Qualifications

• Advanced working knowledge of CMS Aderant is essential.
• Strong knowledge of European billing standards, VAT and SRA Accounts Rules.
• Familiarity with international billing practices (EMEA or global operations).
• Experience leading or contributing to system implementation or upgrades.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Professional 2016 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong man-management skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Detail-oriented; excellent proof-reading and research skills.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to develop strong internal and external relationships, including ability to work effectively with people at all levels.
• Strong customer service ethic.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise responsibilities.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.

Experience

• At least ten years’ professional experience in a similar finance position.
• Law firm billing experience to a high level is a necessity.

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law. Gibson Dunn is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities. We strive to ensure an inclusive and accessible hiring experience. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and recruitment process, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise take part in the recruitment process, please contact us at recruiting-accommodations@gibsondunn.com.