Senior Cash Applications Analyst

Akin•Dallas, TX

13h•$85,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Senior Cash Applications Analyst in the Finance department, reporting to the Cash Applications Manager. The role can reside in the Dallas or Los Angeles office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for ensuring timely and accurate application of client payments to the Firm’s accounts, while supporting the development and implementation of standardized departmental procedures and workflows. Core responsibilities include handling complex reconciliations, generating reports, investigating unapplied and unidentified payments, and providing backup support to the Manager, Analyst and Specialists. The Senior Analyst will also collaborate with other Firm departments to resolve cash application issues and help drive efficiency within a high-volume environment.

Requirements

Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in cash applications, accounts receivable or a related accounting role.
Minimum of 2 years of prior experience working in a law firm or professional services firm.
Advanced knowledge of end-to-end cash application workflows, including handling of multiple payment types (wires, ACH, checks, credit cards), lockbox processing, automatic vs manual application, and remittance advice matching in a law firm or professional services environment.
Proficiency in reconciling sub-ledgers to the General Ledger and identifying/closing gaps.
Knowledge of accounting principles, internal controls, and SOX / compliance requirements where applicable.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, or equivalents) for data analysis and reporting.
Familiarity with cash applications / billing software (e.g. VersaPay) and/or other ERP or AR systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to spot trends, identify root causes, and propose solutions.
Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to explain discrepancies, interact with internal teams, and escalate appropriately.
Attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in high-volume, repetitive tasks.
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing deadlines (daily, monthly, period-end).
Strong customer service orientation (internal & external), especially when dealing with clients or stakeholders to resolve payment issues.
Comfort working both independently and collaboratively; initiative to improve processes.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of financial and client information.
Familiarity with relevant banking rules, remittance formats, third-party payment vendors, and possibly foreign currency or international payments (if applicable).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Perform daily cash application tasks, ensuring timely and accurate processing of payments from multiple sources (ACH, checks, wires, credit cards).
Assist in the development and implementation of standardized procedures and workflows for the department.
Investigate unapplied, unallocated, and overpayment items; identify unknown third‐party payors.
Reconcile VersaPay and Aderant discrepancies, including reconciling bank deposits to sub-ledger and to General Ledger.
Collaborate with other departments (Billing, Revenue, Accounts Receivable) to resolve complex cash application issues, misapplied payments, and customer disputes.
Train and onboard new Cash Applications Specialists; serve as resources for junior staff.
Provide backup support for the Cash Applications Manager, Analyst and Specialist during absences.
Identify root causes for recurring unapplied cash, short payments, or negative AR balances; recommend and drive corrective actions.
Perform month-end, quarter-end and year-end close support, including reconciliations, and ensuring that cash application status is up to date for reporting.
Assist with audit requests, maintain documentation needed for internal and external audits; ensure compliance with internal controls and policies.
Participate in continuous improvement projects to make the cash application process more efficient, including automating manual steps and improving exceptions handling.
Work with IT / Financial Systems teams to implement new software/tools or enhancements to existing systems to support cash application work.
Assist in cross-training across related functions to ensure coverage and knowledge sharing.
Support special projects assigned by the Cash Applications Manager.
Monitor industry best practices, regulatory changes that may impact cash application operations and ensure the department remains compliant and up to date.