Collections Manager - Fulltime - Hybrid
About the opportunity
A respected firm is looking for a Collections Manager to lead its collections function and team within the Finance department. You will own the firm's collections strategy, reduce aged receivables, and help turn billed work into cash efficiently.
This is a people- and relationship-focused leadership role. You will coach and develop a team of collections professionals, and work as a trusted partner to lawyers, legal assistants, billing and finance colleagues. You will also handle the firm's most sensitive client account conversations with tact, so that collections strengthen client relationships rather than strain them.
Key responsibilities
Team leadership
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Collections Coordinators / Specialists, including hiring, onboarding and training
- Set clear performance goals and collection targets; monitor results and give regular feedback
- Assign and balance lawyer and client portfolios across the team
- Build a collaborative, accountable and client-focused team culture
- Step in on escalated, complex or high-exposure accounts
Collections strategy and accounts receivable
- Own the firm's end-to-end collections process, policies and procedures
- Reduce aged receivables, with particular focus on accounts over 90 days
- Develop collection strategies for high-exposure accounts with billing lawyers and billing analysts
- Monitor WIP and aged AR; work with Billing to make sure work is billed and followed up promptly
- Resolve disputes, short payments, unapplied cash and billing discrepancies across billing, e-billing, intake, trust and accounting
- Recommend write-offs, payment arrangements and escalation steps in line with firm policy
- Ensure compliance with firm policy, client billing guidelines and Law Society trust accounting rules
Internal client relations
- Act as a trusted advisor to partners, practice group leaders and billing lawyers on their receivables
- Hold regular AR reviews with lawyers and legal assistants; agree on actions for problem accounts
- Communicate collections policy and process changes clearly and diplomatically across the firm
- Work closely with Billing, Finance, Client Intake and Practice Management
External client relations
- Manage relationships with clients' finance, accounts payable and in-house legal teams on sensitive or overdue accounts
- Lead difficult conversations about overdue balances professionally, protecting the client relationship
- Negotiate payment terms and resolve disputes, working with the responsible lawyer
- Ensure clients receive responsive, accurate answers to account inquiries
Reporting and continuous improvement
- Produce weekly and monthly collections reporting: aged AR, cash collected against target, realization and trends
- Prepare AR and exposure reports for lawyers and firm management; explain variances to target
- Support month-end and year-end close, audit and cash forecasting
- Identify and implement improvements to collections processes, systems and automation
What you bring
Required
- 7+ years of collections, accounts receivable or billing experience, with at least 3 years leading a team
- Law firm or professional services firm experience
- A proven record of reducing aged receivables and meeting collection targets
- Excellent relationship skills with senior professionals: comfortable advising and influencing partners
- Strong client-facing skills, with tact and confidence handling difficult or sensitive account conversations
- Strong analytical skills; able to interpret AR, WIP and collections data and turn it into clear reports
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with legal financial systems (e.g., Aderant, Elite 3E, Intapp)
- Working knowledge of Law Society trust accounting rules
- Post-secondary education in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related field
Nice to have
- Experience with e-billing platforms and client billing guidelines
- Credit Institute of Canada certification (CCP) or a CPA designation
- Experience improving or automating collections processes
- French language skills
Why join
- Lead and shape the collections function at a respected Canadian law firm
- A visible role with regular access to partners and firm leadership
- The chance to build a high-performing team and improve how the firm collects
- Competitive salary, bonus, benefits, RRSP/pension matching, vacation, professional development: confirm details
