Working Capital Controller (Singapore)

at  AO Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with 48 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.
We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
Whether you’re helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.
What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level.
• Qualified Accountant with significant post qualification experience. Member of a recognised accounting body

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

Achieving the firm’s vision requires a world class Finance department and our finance teams add value when the information we produce enable great decisions. That means producing information that is relevant, accurate and understandable and doing so as quickly as possible. It also means building relationships with the Partners and other decision-makers in the firm so that they trust us to advise them on what the information means and what the best course of action is.

ROLE PURPOSE

The role of the Working Capital Controller has three distinct elements:

• Work as a member of a team of Working Capital Controllers / Assistants – based in Singapore, who focus on managing the financial elements of matter lifecycle. Including matter inception, billing, collections, profitability analysis and other related reporting and activities.
• Partner relationships and acting as a commercial advisor to the business.
• Develop a deep relationship with finance contacts at our top clients, to ensure speedier processing of bills and collection of money
• This particular WCC will have a part focus on overall credit control, under the management of the WCM, taking hands on responsibility for managing, prioritising, reducing and reporting on the debtor balance for all clients and matters

Key relationships

• ASEAN Working Capital Manager (WCM)
• Partners
• Business Development Teams
• WC staff across the network

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working capital control

• Prepare monthly billing and collection forecasts.
• Manage the end to end matter and client financial lifecycle, suggest improvements to enhance the quality of service and seek efficiencies.
• Advise on billing & collection technical tax related matters – often cross border – seek assistance or advice from others.
• Monitor ageing balances and support bad debt provision estimation.
• Contribute to the annual audit process by providing samples, information and judgement based on thorough knowledge of the WIP and debtor balances and anything related that is necessary for local fiscal year end processes.
• Managing rates within 3e and working with partners to ensure the matters are set up correctly and the client finance related requirements are fully understood by reviewing the client contracts
• Involvement in the Client and Matter Inception work flow process, overall ownership of completion Liaising with the lead relationship partners to ensure that rate agreements are reviewed in a timely manner offering assistance and information which may assist in client rate negotiations
• Providing detailed financial information in support of bills, i.e. hourly schedules, disbursements and narrative breakdowns. Preparation of client detailed billing schedules as requested.
• Where required keep partners and clients advised on a weekly basis of the status of fees and debts.
• Provide training to Legal PAs for bill & time narrative completion in 3e and support them going forward
• Liaise with Working Capital Controllers across the network on cross unit matters and billing matters

Client, commercial and relationships

• Using and promoting the Pricing and Profitability Models, providing appropriate support and assistance to partners and working capital manager on pricing of matters and reporting on matter profitability
• Understanding of local and global client rate agreements, supporting the WCM in other offices on global / regional client rate negotiations
• Regular meetings with partners to review the working capital on their current matters.
• Comprehensive follow-up of action items, such as time transfer, time write off, dispatch of billing guides, disbursements, queries etc.
• Dealing with enquiries from clients, partners and fee earners relating to financial aspects of client matters.
• Develop and maintain relationships with finance contacts at key clients to ensure prompt and efficient processing of A&O’s bills and collection of cash.
• Develop close relationships with BD teams across the network and provide financial support.

Competencies for success

• Three years or more experience in a revenue control management role in a leading company, preferably professional services type environment or B2B in a complex billing environment.
• Experience in broader or varied roles a distinct advantage such as a full working capital role, other non-working capital related finance roles and experience in function building, systems implementation and / or turnaround.
• Ability to transfer fundamental credit control skills (such as non-confrontational assertiveness) more broadly to areas such as prompting action from parties, internal and external, to drive progress at all stages of the matter and working capital cycle.
• Commercial outlook essential - experience of a partnership environment would be very advantageous.
• Must be a pro-active self-starter with drive, enthusiasm and tenacity, possessing excellent communication skills both written and verbal. Will need to be visible with the confidence to encourage and challenge partners.
• Excellent analytical and numeracy skills are a prerequisite for the role.
• Proficiency in using technology required, experience of Elite 3E a distinct advantage but not essential.
• Excellent attention to detail, prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and cope with the high and varied workloads.
• Results driven; having a proactive, goal orientated approach to decision making.
• Able to influence at all levels as a credible, fast-thinking, collaborative and proactive individual.
• Comfortable in a world of ambiguous decision making and consultation, with influencing skills and confidence to advise being critical success factors.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level.
• Qualified Accountant with significant post qualification experience. Member of a recognised accounting body.