Collections Specialist

Benesch Law•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your relationship building skills and financial acumen can make a tangible difference? Then you may be interested in this Collections Specialist position. This role is perfect for a natural problem solver with a background in accounting, finance or business administration who is detail-oriented and is driven to achieve results. Join Benesch and play a pivotal role in shaping the financial success of our organization. The Collections Specialist plays a key role in managing the collection of outstanding account receivables from our clients in a timely manner. This position partners closely with attorneys and internal departments to improve aging performance, reduce write-offs, and support overall cash flow objectives. The successful candidate will manage an assigned portfolio of accounts, analyze receivable trends, and take proactive steps to address stalled or high-risk balances while maintaining strong client and attorney relationships.

Requirements

The ideal candidate must have three to five years of experience in collections, finance, accounting, or a similar discipline.
An associate or bachelor's degree is preferred but not mandatory; equivalent professional experience or active progress toward a degree will be considered.
Candidates must possess strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and proven success managing accounts receivable portfolios.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
Must be flexible to work overtime as needed.

Nice To Haves

Prior law firm collections experience is strongly preferred.
Aderant software experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop partnerships with the Firm's attorneys to increase the collection effort of their clients.
Review their receivable portfolio status, conduct routine aging reviews, and recommend appropriate collection strategies to drive measurable improvement in outstanding balances.
Conduct meetings, as needed, to review aging, establish timelines, and reinforce accountability.
Establish working relationships with assigned clients to review outstanding balances and resolve issues impacting payment.
Provide requested documentation (i.e., copies of invoices, statements, ledger balances, etc.) to expedite payment and ensure accounts remain in current receivable condition.
When appropriate, negotiate payment arrangements in coordination with the Collections Manager and responsible attorney.
Document and record collection activity and status using the firm's collection system.
Schedule follow-ups with clients and attorneys; run daily receivable reports and generate account statements as requested.
Investigate and analyze client payment history, billing trends, and portfolio aging to determine the next level of follow-up and identify accounts at risk for escalation or write-off.
Proactively recommend recovery strategies when appropriate.
Partner with the Accounting Department to assist with the cash application process and review payments received and posted to client accounts to ensure accuracy and timely reconciliation.
Identify receivables that may be uncollectible and review with the Collections Manager for potential write-offs.
Prepare supporting documentation and analysis of collection efforts when required.
Notify the Collections Manager and attorney of any invoice/balance being disputed by client and coordinate resolution.
Collaborate with billing staff to ensure accuracy and timely transmittal of invoices.
Research e-billing statuses to facilitate resolution of issues and ensure timeliness of approval and payment.
Partner with the Billing Department to coordinate resolution.
Responsible for reviewing and preparing analytical receivable reports, including aging movement and portfolio performance summaries, to support informed collection strategies.
Generate reports and assist the Director of Billing and Collection Services and the Collections Manager with special tasks as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.