Hybrid Bilingual Billing Analyst

at McCarthy Tétrault

• Job title: Bilingual Billing Analyst
• Job type: Contract
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Associate's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Montreal, Canada

About the role

• Bilingual Billing Analyst at McCarthy Tétrault providing billing solutions in a hybrid work environment. Collaborating with teams across Canada while handling client invoicing and financial duties.

Responsibilities

• Establish effective working relationships with lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, internal and external clients, and managers.
• Ensure time is entered within prescribed deadlines and follow up with lawyers and paralegals as required.
• Prepare, print and review draft invoices in a timely manner and follow up with other stakeholders, making corrections as needed according to client billing guidelines and firm policies and standards.
• Monitor and review work-in-progress, including following up with lawyers and paralegals to ensure timely billing.
• Track billing for matters with special fee arrangements (contingency/conditional fees, billing at closing, progress billing) and inform the regional controller or billing director of the status of these matters.
• Prepare various reports and spreadsheets detailing time, billing, accounts receivable, etc., for lawyers or paralegals and, where applicable, external clients.
• Ensure invoices and supporting documentation are delivered to clients efficiently by mail, email or upload to electronic billing portals.
• Liaise with the Finance Department to verify that client codes and contractual terms are up to date and to ensure compliance with procedures.
• Communicate with the e-billing team in the event of an invoice transmission failure.
• Complete online status reports and budgets in certain clients’ electronic billing systems in collaboration with lawyers and legal assistants.
• Follow up on clients or matters covered by special fee arrangements.
• Verify that preferred rates and discounts are applied to each relevant invoice.
• Monitor attainment of thresholds and other billing milestones, and inform the responsible lawyer of billing status.
• Submit reports and ensure compliance with special arrangements.
• Act as a liaison between lawyers/legal assistants and the finance teams, providing assistance on accounting or financial questions to ensure client needs are met.
• Perform initial collections outreach with external clients.
• Communicate any billing concerns or issues to the lawyer responsible for billing to obtain direction.
• Cancel and reissue invoices when required or create credit notes in accordance with firm policies.
• Escalate difficult collection cases to the Collections Department.
• Obtain additional information regarding special arrangements and/or required details to set up e-billing matters, and assist the e-billing team to ensure matters are established promptly.
• Coordinate with the billing team to manage requests sent to the team inbox and support the team with workload during high-volume periods and staff absences.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all approvals and directives in accordance with firm standards and policies by uploading required documentation into the appropriate databases.

Requirements

• Bilingualism (French and English) required.
• Post-secondary studies in accounting required or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience, including customer service, billing, collections or accounts receivable, preferably in a professional services firm.
• Good knowledge of Aderant Expert or a comparable accounting system (an asset).
• Strong time-management skills, ability to handle multiple tasks and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Knowledge of business and legal terminology.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with internal and external clients.
• Flexibility to work overtime during peak billing periods.
• High discretion and a strong commitment to confidentiality.

Benefits

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including firm-paid insurance.
• Competitive compensation including overtime pay.
• Opportunities for growth and professional development at all levels, in a culture that encourages and values feedback through dialogue.
• Frequent opportunities for community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative culture where lawyers and business teams work together toward common goals.