Accounts Receivable Manager

Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law•San Antonio, TX

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accounts Receivable (A/R) Manager oversees the firms billing and collections operations, managing a team responsible for the full A/R lifecycle. Reporting to the Finance Manager, this role plays a critical part in optimizing cash flow, reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and ensuring that billing and collections processes run efficiently and in full compliance with firm and client requirements. The A/R Manager refines departmental strategy, implements process improvements, and delivers transparent financial reporting in a fast-paced, client-service-driven legal environment. This role requires a balance of leadership, technical expertise, and analytical insight to drive continuous improvement and strengthen financial performance across the firm.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
5+ years of A/R management experience, including 23 years in a law firm or professional services environment.
Demonstrated success reducing DSO and managing aged receivables in a $50M+ operation.
Advanced proficiency in legal billing systems (Elite 3E, Aderant Expert, Chrome River) and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query).
Analytical rigor with a strong client-service mindset.
Excellent communication and diplomacy with partners, clients, and staff.
Change-management skills to drive process improvement and adoption.
Exceptional attention to detail combined with strategic financial insight.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMB, or NACM certification preferred but not required.
Experience using BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
Familiarity with workflow automation tools (UiPath, Blackline).
Understanding of trust accounting principles.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 48 billing specialists and 24 collections professionals.
Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular one-on-one meetings, and foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and client service.
Collaborate cross-functionally with attorneys, practice assistants, and e-billing coordinators to ensure seamless A/R operations.
Oversee the accurate preparation, review, and submission of client invoices (paper and LEDES e-billing).
Ensure compliance with complex client outside-counsel guidelines, accrual policies, and task-based billing rules.
Implement quality-control checkpoints to minimize write-offs, billing rejections, and delays.
Direct proactive, diplomatic collection efforts while maintaining strong client relationships.
Establish and manage escalation protocols for delinquent accounts, coordinating with partners as needed on payment plans or disputes.
Supervise daily cash application processes, resolve allocation discrepancies, and oversee trust-account transfers.
Continuously evaluate key metrics such as DSO, aging buckets, and realization rates; propose and implement strategies to improve results.
Streamline workflows using the firms practice management system (Elite 3E, Aderant, or similar) and integrated financial tools.
Lead automation initiatives, including e-billing enhancements, client payment portals, and predictive analytics dashboards.
Develop and maintain a real-time A/R dashboard for firm leadership that includes aging, collection forecasts, and write-off trends.
Prepare monthly and quarterly reports for partners and Finance Committee meetings.
Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations that drive stronger financial outcomes.
Ensure client fund handling and billing practices comply with IOLTA and applicable ethical standards.
Partner with General Counsel and Finance leadership on disputed billings, fee arbitrations, and litigation holds.