Completions Manager in Newport, Wales

Location: Bath / Bristol

Working Pattern: Hybrid

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Hours: Full-Time, Monday to Friday

TSR Legal are delighted to be supporting a highly regarded and progressive Top 100 law firm in their search for an experienced Completions Manager to lead their established South West Completions Team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Residential Conveyancing, Completions or Post-Completion professional looking to take ownership of a specialist function within a well-established legal business.

The successful candidate will oversee the completion and post-completion process for the firm's Residential Property, Residential Development and New Homes teams across the Bath and Bristol offices. The role will be integral to ensuring transactions complete smoothly, registrations are progressed efficiently, deadlines and priority periods are met, and clients, developers, lenders, fee earners and external stakeholders receive an excellent level of service.

The Role

As Completions Manager, you will take responsibility for the effective delivery and continuous improvement of completion and post-completion processes across the South West team. Your responsibilities will include:

• Completion Management
  • Overseeing the completion process across residential property, residential development and new homes matters.
  • Ensuring completion packs, completion statements and supporting documentation are prepared accurately and within required timescales.
  • Liaising with fee earners to ensure matters are fully prepared and ready for completion.
  • Coordinating completion monies with lenders, developers, solicitors and other third parties.
  • Ensuring completion funds and payments are processed accurately and in accordance with firm procedures.
  • Overseeing legal completion and ensuring case management systems are updated correctly.
  • Supporting and overseeing plot sales and developer transactions, ensuring contractual completion deadlines are met.
  • Managing and resolving completion-day issues and enquiries promptly.
  • Ensuring completion documentation is accurately recorded and filed.
• Post-Completion Management
  • Overseeing the preparation and submission of HM Land Registry applications, including AP1s and other relevant applications.
  • Ensuring HM Land Registry requisitions are dealt with promptly and effectively.
  • Monitoring registration progress and ensuring priority periods and key deadlines are managed.
  • Overseeing lender notifications and the provision of registration documentation.
  • Ensuring notices are prepared and served on landlords, management companies and estate management companies where required.
  • Overseeing registrations relating to new-build plot sales, transfers of part and estate documentation.
  • Managing bulk Land Registry applications and registrations for portfolio work.
  • Overseeing mortgage discharges, redemption documentation and retention matters.
  • Ensuring appropriate file management and financial hygiene across the team.
  • Ensuring completed files are closed and archived in accordance with firm procedures.
• Leadership & Team Management
  • Providing leadership and direction to the South West Completions Team.
  • Supporting team members with complex completion and post-completion matters.
  • Monitoring workloads and ensuring resources are allocated effectively across the Bath and Bristol offices.
  • Maintaining high standards of accuracy, efficiency and client service.
  • Identifying training and development requirements within the team.
  • Supporting colleagues with technical queries and providing guidance on completion and post-completion processes.
  • Building strong working relationships with residential property and development fee earners.
  • Working collaboratively with internal teams to ensure a consistent and efficient service.
• Financial & Operational Excellence
  • Making effective use of IT systems and case management processes to streamline completion and post-completion activity.
  • Ensuring accurate financial administration relating to completion monies, redemption documentation, retentions and file financial hygiene.
  • Ensuring processes operate in accordance with firm procedures and the Solicitors Accounts Rules where relevant.
  • Identifying opportunities to improve processes, systems and workflows.
  • Inputting into procedural and operational changes.
  • Taking ownership of completion and post-completion projects where appropriate.
  • Monitoring service levels, identifying potential issues and implementing solutions.
  • Contributing to the continuous improvement of the wider Residential Property and Development teams.

What We're Looking For

We are keen to speak with experienced professionals who have a strong background in residential conveyancing, completions or post-completion, ideally with previous experience of managing a team or specialist operational function.

Essential:

• Strong experience within residential property, conveyancing, completions or post-completion.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and work to strict deadlines.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and legal case management systems.
• A proactive approach with the ability to identify and implement improvements.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with fee earners, clients, lenders, developers and external stakeholders.
• Ability to lead, support and develop a team.

Desirable:

• Previous management or supervisory experience.
• Experience within residential development or new homes.
• Knowledge of HM Land Registry applications and registration processes.
• Experience dealing with Land Registry requisitions.
• Experience with SDLT submissions.
• Experience supporting plot sales and developer transactions.
• Knowledge of lender portals and lender requirements.
• Understanding of the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
• Experience working within a busy, multi-office law firm.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a progressive Top 100 law firm with an excellent reputation and a strong presence across the South West. You will have the opportunity to take ownership of a specialist function, work closely with senior stakeholders and play a key role in developing and improving the firm's completion and post-completion processes.

The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 26.531.5 days' annual leave.
• Option to buy and sell annual leave.
• Healthcare cash plan / private medical insurance.
• Life assurance.
• Pension scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season ticket loan.
• Discretionary profit and performance-related bonus.
• Hybrid working.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced family leave.
• Group income protection.
• Regular salary reviews.
• Recruitment referral bonus.

The firm is also committed to investing in its people through structured learning and development opportunities and a transparent career development framework, supporting colleagues to progress and achieve their long-term career ambitions.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Completions Manager, Post-Completion Manager, Conveyancing Manager or senior residential property professional looking for your next career move, I would be keen to hear from you. Contact Hannah Williams at TSR Legal today for a confidential discussion about this opportunity and your career requirements on 02920 388100 or submit your CV for review.