KAREN SMITH

Tel: 416-***-****

Email: ac8rvh@r.postjobfree.com

ac8rvh@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY – Dynamic, open-minded and Entrepreneurial toward new ideas and challenges that are faced in day to day business operations.

I have twenty five years’ experience in the legal industry, a highly qualified professional with full Accounts Receivable and Collections knowledge. I exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with internal and external clients. My Management skills will show I am able to self-direct, a results-focused individual, efficiently set goals independently or with others, resolve problems and make decisions to enhance organizational effectiveness.

SKILLS

Time & Billings (Incl. E-Billing)

WIP Management

Matter Management

Ad-hoc Reporting

Account Reconciliations

Trust Officer

Strong Time Management skills, ability to handle multiple tasks, set schedules and work well under pressure to meet deadlines

Analytical & Problem Solving Skills

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Strong written and oral communication skills

Client Service & Negotiating skills

Systems and Training implementation

Software Skills

Microsoft Word

Intermediate Excel

CMS, Aderant, Elite

Carpe Diem

PCLaw,

E-billing Modules – TyMetrix 360,

Serengeti Legal Tracker, Legal Solutions Suite

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Client Accounts Manager at GSNH LLP

Within three months after reconciling split bills between two Companies and aged greater than 2 years for approximately $1.2 million, I recovered approximately $875,000 in receivables for a large Corporate and Insurance client.

Set up and administered Corporate and Litigation e-billings, billing and collection targets are now generally met within sixty days.

Collections Manager at Sim & McBurney LLP

Reconciled HST billed to foreign clients. Set up a Forex policy for the firm to ensure foreign currency matters in invoicing and collections was better managed to avoid write-offs for shortfalls due to currency fluctuations.

Collaborated with my Manager to institute policies and procedures for WIP and A/R.

Succeeded in reducing aging days on accounts from >180 days to 120 days within four months for amounts that exceeded >$250,000.00.

Brought WIP levels down to ninety days, with exceptions, ensuring dockets were entered and closed daily and billed within the new timeframes of the firm’s WIP and A/R policy.

Billing Manager at Gowlings LLP

My employment with one of Canada’s top tier law firms with seven hundred plus employees as a billing manager provided me with the opportunity to lead a team of seven billing clerks while reorganizing their work flow to provide a more efficient organized department. Within a few months I had eliminated the need for overtime. My team and I were the first office out of seven to close at 6:00p.m., my first fiscal year end, with $150,000,000.00 billed and posted.

My most challenging role as a Billing Manager was when I had to reconcile three years of bills and payments for GST-related payments for one of Canada’s largest public companies. I successfully found the discrepancies and provided detailed reporting to the client within the one-month time frame given.

Employment Experience

A diverse background with experience in large national firms as well as small to mid-size firms both in Toronto and Vancouver.

Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP – Sept 2013 - Current

Sim & McBurney, Sim Ashton & McKay LLP – August 2012 – August 2013

Gowlings LLP – December 2000 – February 2012

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP – November 2003 – October 2007

EDUCATION

2000 to 2001 George Brown College, Toronto, ON, Canada – Accounting Level I & II Certificates

1991 to 1993 Computer Technology Institute, Mississauga, ON, Canada – Certificate in Book Keeping

1978 to 1979 Glasgow College of Commerce – Glasgow, Scotland, UK - Nursing Studies, English, APH

REFERENCES

Strong personal and professional references available upon request.

Contact this candidate