Accounting Billing

James Peralta

Email: *********@********.***

Address: ***** ******* **.

City: Norwalk

State: CA

Zip: 90650

Country: USA

Phone: 562-***-****

Skill Level: Management

Salary Range: $88,000

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

See Resume

Job History / Details:

JAMES F. PERALTA

11242 Cresson Street, Norwalk, CA 90650 Cell Phone: 562-***-****

Email: *********@********.***

Objective: Interested to secure a Managerial Billing position with a well established and prominent national / international law firm to utilize 20+ years of extensive billing experience

Professional Summary

A highly organized and detailed-oriented legal billing specialist with over twenty years experience providing thorough and skillful administrative support to senior management, legal personnel, and attorneys. Dedicated and focused; able to prioritize and complete multiple tasks; follow through to meet departmental and firm deadlines and goals. Ability to adapt to new assignments and court imposed deadlines in a fast-paced environment. An independent and self-motivated professional with excellent research skills; able to develop positive relationships with clients and colleagues at all organizational levels. Proficient in various accounting systems (AS400, Elite Legal Billing System, and CMS). Strong E-Billing experience. Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word. Well versed in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Education

June 1987 United College of Business

Los Angeles, California

Major: Business Data Processing (Diploma awarded)

Sept 1983-June 1986 California State University, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Major: Business Administration

Professional Experience

BILLING / ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR October, 2007-Present

Arent Fox LLP, Los Angeles, California

Responsible for the Firms billing functions including all activities necessary to produce and distribute proformas and final invoices in a timely and accurate fashion for the Los Angeles office and Washington DC office. Responsible for all aspects of Accounts Payable duties for the Los Angeles office; including vendor payment inquires, petty cash and processing of rush checks. Process the daily banking activities. Generate monthly billing reports, attorney/paralegal time analysis reports, and master aging reports. Attend bi-monthly Managerial meetings conducted by the Director of Administration. Conduct new hire orientation for all Los Angeles employees to familiarize new hires with firm billing/accounting protocol. Report to the CFO and Billing Reporting Manager in Washington DC.

SENIOR BILLING ANALYST September, 2003-October, 2007

Kirkland Ellis LLP, Los Angeles, California

Prepared and finalized bankruptcy department billing, included filing fee applications with the United States Bankruptcy Court. Drafted and finalized client invoices for review by billing attorneys using AS400. Provided superior service to clients; produced quality work product; and maintained an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. Monitored payment of assigned clients accounts receivable, included monitored of receipt of payment into trust account and coordinated transfer of funds from trust account to operating account. Coordinated collection efforts; monitored aging of unbilled fees for assigned billing attorneys and/or clients; and worked closely with Billing and Collection Committee members and/or Finance Managers to coordinated billing and collection efforts. Assisted billing attorneys and clients regarding invoices, included provide financial data and analysis. Created and maintained Excel spreadsheets of billing history for both fees and expenses for filing with the Bankruptcy Court.

BILLING COORDINATOR January, 2003-August, 2003

Coudert Brothers LLP, Los Angeles, California

Prepared monthly client bills using Elite billing system for domestic/international clients per billing guidelines, including but not limited to: calculation of VAT (value-added tax) for fees for foreign timekeepers and expenses. Adhered to strict monthly deadlines to assure that assigned billing attorneys bill 90% of their unbilled fees and costs. Processed task-based billing and bankruptcy billing; monitor trust account/retainer balances and applied specified amounts to billing statements as requested. Prepared, coordinated and completed client billing process for assigned billing partners using CMS (Client Management System) software. Assisted clients with questions relating to all aspects of the collection function, such as requests for invoice copies, account balances and payment history; and processed reminder statements to clients. Interfaced with legal and non-legal staff answering client accounting inquiries. Researched client checks for posting. Prepared daily bank deposits and processed posting of client payments.

CLIENT ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR October, 1997-January, 2003

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California

Prepared, coordinated and completed client billing process for assigned billing partners using CMS (Client Management System) software. Assisted clients with questions relating to all aspects of the collection function, such as requests for invoice copies, account balances and payment history; processed reminder statements to clients. Interfaced with legal and non-legal staff answering client accounting inquiries. Researched client checks for posting. Assist billing attorneys and clients regarding invoices, including provided financial data and analysis. Created and maintained Excel spreadsheets of billing history for both fees and expenses as well as for special billing projects as assigned. Assisted in training of new client accounting coordinators.

BILLING CLERK February, 1996-October, 1997

Buchalter, Nemer, Fields Younger, Los Angeles, California

Completed billing process for thirty plus billing attorneys. Performed file maintenance of billing books (editing, write-offs, transfers, etc). Maintained billing files. Backup for Conflicts/File Opening and Accounts Receivable.

BILLING COORDINATOR August, 1991-February, 1996

OMelveny Myers LLP, Los Angeles, California

Responsible for the complete coordination of the client billing process for assigned clients using Elite Legal Billing System.

CLIENT ACCOUNTING CLERK

Primarily responsible for processing of client invoices into a computerized client accounting system (IBM System 38). Process accounts receivable write-offs and fee/expense maintenance.

ACCOUNTING CLERK

Received, sorted, and distributed incoming documents to the Accounting Department. Received client checks. Prepared and made daily bank deposits for the firm. Faxed documents as needed. Researched and answered General Accounting Information inquiries for the firms Accounting Department.

REFERENCES FURNISHED UPON REQUEST

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