Client Accounting Collections Senior Collections Analyst

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� Description

• • Serve as the senior authority within Client Accounting for all collections activity across Skadden’s global client base, owning the full-cycle resolution of high-value, high-complexity receivables that often exceed seven figures per matter.
• • Act as the single point of contact between the Client Administration team and the General Counsel’s Office (GCO) on escalated collection matters, translating financial data into concise risk assessments that directly influence litigation strategy, settlement decisions, and partner compensation.
• • Build and maintain a dynamic “watch list” of at-risk accounts; produce weekly dashboards that quantify exposure by industry sector, partner, and aging bucket, enabling senior leadership to prioritize write-off reserves and negotiate payment plans before balances become uncollectible.
• • Lead forensic reviews of billing discrepancies, unapplied cash, and credit memos, reconciling Aderant/StarCollect data with general-ledger sub-ledgers to identify root causes and prevent repeat issues; present findings to Billing Committee and recommend policy changes that strengthen internal controls.
• • Partner with Relationship Partners and Executive Committee members to craft client-specific collection strategies that protect the firm’s brand while maximizing cash flow; draft persuasive demand letters, negotiate payment schedules, and document every interaction in the matter-management system for audit and ethics compliance.
• • Coordinate with GCO attorneys to prepare exhibits, affidavits, and expert reports required for arbitration or litigation of fee disputes; ensure chain-of-custody integrity for all supporting documentation and adhere to strict confidentiality protocols governing attorney-client privilege.
• • Monitor statutory deadlines, statute-of-limitations triggers, and UCC lien filing windows; create automated alerts that give the firm maximum leverage when enforcing security interests or pursuing judgment enforcement actions across multiple jurisdictions.
• • Mentor junior analysts on advanced Excel modeling, SQL queries, and Aderant reporting; design training decks that upskill the entire department in cash-application best practices, ultimately reducing aged receivables by double-digit percentages year-over-year.
• • Drive continuous-improvement projects such as robotic-process-automation bots that auto-match wire remittances, client portals that display real-time invoice status, and AI models that predict default probability—initiatives that save thousands of manual hours annually.
• • Represent Client Accounting on cross-functional task forces (Finance, Treasury, Cybersecurity, Conflicts) to ensure collection procedures align with AML/KYC requirements, GDPR data-privacy rules, and the firm’s global cash-management framework.
• • Maintain meticulous documentation for each partner/client file, including engagement letters, alternative-fee agreements, write-off approvals, and email correspondence, creating an audit trail that satisfies both internal risk management and external Big-Four SOX testing.
• • Exhibit unwavering professionalism when communicating with Fortune 100 general counsel, private-equity founders, and government entities—translating complex legal invoices into plain English narratives that accelerate payment cycles and preserve long-term relationships.
• • Flex schedule during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closes, often working extended hours to ensure cash targets are met and partner draws are funded on time; travel occasionally to domestic offices to conduct on-site collection workshops and high-stakes client meetings.
• • Champion Skadden’s culture of inclusion by participating in affinity-group panels, pro-bono clinics, and community-outcome programs that teach financial literacy to underserved entrepreneurs, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

� Requirements

• • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline plus minimum eight years of progressive collections or client-accounting experience within an AmLaw 100 law firm or Big-Four professional-services environment.
• • Expert-level proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, Power Query, VBA macros) and hands-on experience with Aderant/StarCollect or equivalent elite legal-billing platform; SQL and BI visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) strongly preferred.
• • Demonstrated ability to analyze aged receivables exceeding $50M, synthesize data into executive-level summaries, and present actionable recommendations to C-suite or Executive Committee stakeholders under tight deadlines.

️ Benefits

• • Competitive base salary $130k–$142k plus discretionary year-end bonus that has historically averaged 15–20% of base, paid in December to align with cash-collection performance metrics.
• • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on day one, plus 401(k) with 6% firm match, immediate vesting, and optional after-tax Mega Backdoor Roth conversions for high savers.
• • Generous PTO package—20 vacation days, 11 firm holidays, 3 personal days, and paid parental leave (16 weeks primary, 8 weeks secondary)—plus on-demand mental-health coaching and subsidized backup childcare.