Accounts Receivable Specialist

Clark Hill Plc - Chicago, IL

Full-time

Chicago, IL

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Accounts Receivable Specialist is responsible for the direct contact and independent resolution of tasks and activities related to collecting and servicing client accounts, adhering to both Firm policy and relevant Federal law. This role requires providing exceptional customer service to both internal parties and external clients of the Firm. The specialist will initiate and respond to client communications, monitor and maintain a specific portfolio of accounts, and produce and document collection correspondence according to the departmental escalation strategy. In this position, the specialist will utilize various company tools such as Imanage, Elite, ARCs, Lexis, and the internet to research client contact information and perform skip-tracing for current or updated contact details to support routine collection duties. The role also involves generating outstanding receivable and ledger reporting, resolving specific client concerns related to billing and payment activity, and preparing monthly reports for Business Unit Directors and Business Unit Leaders. Additionally, the specialist will analyze insurance coverage, including retention letters, deductions, electronic billing status, and follow-up, as well as the application of trust/retainer. They will research, document, and escalate specific client disputes related to legal services rendered for resolution by management. The specialist will also make recommendations for processing invoice balance write-offs in accordance with Firm policies and proactively contribute to departmental collection goals to meet or exceed Firm expectations. The role may also involve facilitating departmental workflow through attention to varied topics such as engagement letter terms, basic clerical duties, and special projects as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Provide top-shelf customer service to both internal parties and external clients of the Firm.
• Initiate and respond to client contact as well as internal communications.
• Monitor and maintain a specific portfolio of accounts, producing and documenting collection correspondence according to the departmental escalation strategy.
• Research client contact information via company tools and perform skip-tracing for current/updated contact information.
• Generate outstanding receivable and ledger reporting, resolving specific client concerns related to billing and payment activity.
• Prepare monthly reporting for BUD/BUL review by Business Unit.
• Analyze insurance coverage, including retention letters, deductions, electronic billing status and follow-up, and application of trust/retainer.
• Research, document, and escalate specific client disputes related to legal services rendered for resolution by management.
• Make recommendations for processing invoice balance write-offs pursuant to Firm policies.
• Proactively contribute to departmental collection goals to meet/exceed Firm expectations.
• Facilitate departmental workflow through attention to varied topics such as engagement letter terms, basic clerical duties, and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Associates degree from an accredited school or university in Accounting, Business or a related discipline is preferable, or a minimum of 5 years of related professional experience in a legal, collection or customer service capacity.
• Flexibility to work mandatory overtime during the 4th Quarter.
• Strong customer service skills and a pleasant telephone demeanor.
• Excellent professional writing skills, with an expectation for grammatical accuracy.
• Familiarity with FDCPA restrictions on collection related contact.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks through organizational and prioritization skills.
• Must display good judgment and sound decisions.
• Must be flexible to change and an enthusiastic supporter of departmental goals.
• Must be focused and persistent, with a willingness to ask direct questions.
• High level of competency with Windows functionality and Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word and Excel.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or a related discipline.
• Experience with Elite accounting and/or ARCS collections software.
• Prior experience as a professional skip tracer or legal research assistant for identification of new address, contact number, and asset identification.