Project Analyst

Hinshaw & Culbertson • Chicago, IL

7d

About The Position

The Project Analyst (the “PA”) is a full time, exempt position that is responsible for input, auditing, and analytical support for various projects related to practice management. The PA helps to audit time entries per outside counsel guidelines, gather and analyze data used for fee arrangements, and project manages discrete portions of specific projects aimed at process improvements within practice groups. Essential Job Functions Practice Group Projects Works with Practice Group Managers and Legal Project Managers to improve processes and manage discrete portions of projects Develops skill set to manage projects Develops strong understanding of practice group economics, task codes, and client requirements Develops deep understanding of outside counsel guidelines as needed for time entry, invoicing, pricing, and rate requirements Maintains a collaborative and proactive working relationship with others on the Pricing and Legal Project Management Team, Finance and Accounting Department, Business Development Team, and Firm Practice Leaders and attorneys Collaborates with different management groups and attorneys within Firm, utilizing tools and analytics to build better time entries and guide rates and pricing strategies to maximize profitable growth Supports Intake Clerks with SharePoint/Case Management inputs Billing and Time Entry Projects Performs time entry auditing per outside counsel guidelines Runs routine scripts to generate list of new time entries posted Makes necessary changes to time entries still in WIP Splits block billing narratives into separate entries as appropriate Escalates to timekeeper if narrative is not descriptive, if time increments are listed in block billed entries, or if there is an error in the substance of the narrative Escalates to billing partner if a wording change may change the definition of actual work done, or if any of the timekeeper escalations are still not compliant with guidelines Escalates to billing partner if the month-end, matter-level time entries identify multiple timekeepers completing the same task or attending the same meeting Runs Billblast reporting on ebilling client rejections and reductions Works on automation to correct repetitive errors in time entry system via macro / scripts / error messages Documents and analyzes required information and data Secondary Job Functions Pricing Related Projects Provides support to partners for pricing requests, time entry best practices, preparation of fee estimates, development of appropriate pricing approaches, and communicates fees and value pricing Creates and documents best practices as they relate to time entry, pricing, and profitability Maintains current knowledge of trends and developments affecting the area of specialization, and encourages innovative thinking and the exercise of sound judgment to achieve results Assumes responsibility for maintaining the highest level of confidentiality of all Firm records and files Assumes additional responsibilities as requested This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in this job. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this job classification.

Requirements

• BA/BS preferred
• Self-motivated, strategic and analytical thinker with high level of initiative and attention to detail
• Experience constructing complex models, financial analyses, and reports using Excel and other relational-database systems
• Exceptional organizational skills with time management skills to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the Firm, both internally and externally
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technology quickly
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments, use initiative and judgment to accomplish results, participate as a team leader or member of a team, work under pressure and complete job assignments in an accurate, timely, and professional manner
• Ability to travel to the Firm’s other offices

Responsibilities

• Works with Practice Group Managers and Legal Project Managers to improve processes and manage discrete portions of projects
• Develops skill set to manage projects
• Develops strong understanding of practice group economics, task codes, and client requirements
• Develops deep understanding of outside counsel guidelines as needed for time entry, invoicing, pricing, and rate requirements
• Maintains a collaborative and proactive working relationship with others on the Pricing and Legal Project Management Team, Finance and Accounting Department, Business Development Team, and Firm Practice Leaders and attorneys
• Collaborates with different management groups and attorneys within Firm, utilizing tools and analytics to build better time entries and guide rates and pricing strategies to maximize profitable growth
• Supports Intake Clerks with SharePoint/Case Management inputs
• Performs time entry auditing per outside counsel guidelines
• Runs routine scripts to generate list of new time entries posted
• Makes necessary changes to time entries still in WIP
• Splits block billing narratives into separate entries as appropriate
• Escalates to timekeeper if narrative is not descriptive, if time increments are listed in block billed entries, or if there is an error in the substance of the narrative
• Escalates to billing partner if a wording change may change the definition of actual work done, or if any of the timekeeper escalations are still not compliant with guidelines
• Escalates to billing partner if the month-end, matter-level time entries identify multiple timekeepers completing the same task or attending the same meeting
• Runs Billblast reporting on ebilling client rejections and reductions
• Works on automation to correct repetitive errors in time entry system via macro / scripts / error messages
• Documents and analyzes required information and data
• Provides support to partners for pricing requests, time entry best practices, preparation of fee estimates, development of appropriate pricing approaches, and communicates fees and value pricing
• Creates and documents best practices as they relate to time entry, pricing, and profitability
• Maintains current knowledge of trends and developments affecting the area of specialization, and encourages innovative thinking and the exercise of sound judgment to achieve results
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining the highest level of confidentiality of all Firm records and files
• Assumes additional responsibilities as requested

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees