Senior Biller - Financial Operations

Senior Biller – Financial Operations | Finance | London

 Department overview

Our Finance department is a dynamic team of 30 professionals, working across three specialist areas: Financial Control, Financial Operations, and Financial Reporting. We’re in the exciting process of building a dedicated Billing team to strengthen and enhance the centralised Financial Operations services supporting our UK offices.  We pride ourselves on offering a collaborative, friendly, and supportive environment where your expertise is highly valued.

Role overview

As Senior Biller, you will deliver proactive, dedicated finance support to your assigned partners and fee-earning teams, while also assisting other billing colleagues as needed. You will take ownership of the end-to-end billing process, ensuring full compliance with firm policies on WIP management, recovery, and related financial administration.

Acting as a subject matter expert for complex billing requirements, you will utilise the full functionality of Elite 3E to guarantee the timely and accurate production and delivery of invoices. You will serve as the primary point of contact for 3E support within your partner group, maintaining strict adherence to all Finance policies and procedures.

A high level of proficiency in Elite 3E and proven experience in managing complex group billing arrangements are essential for success in this role. A strong understanding of recovery and realisation practices is highly desirable, reflecting the demands of the accountancy sector.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring that invoices are produced with exceptional accuracy and efficiency, particularly during peak periods such as quarter-end billing cycles.

As a key member of the Financial Operations team, you will report to the Billing Manager – Financial Operations.

Key responsibilities

Master data oversight

• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of client, matter, and payer master data within Elite 3E, including tax area and site management.
• Ensure amendments to master data do not compromise exception reporting for daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks.

Billing operations

• Respond promptly and professionally to requests and queries received by the Billing team, consistently striving for client service excellence.
• Deliver proactive billing support to partners and fee-earning teams, reducing administrative burden by managing end-to-end billing processes.
• Assist with month-end billing processes and contribute to the development and use of control/exception reports for billing and recovery monitoring.
• Act as the subject matter expert for complex billing arrangements, including detailed timecard amendments for large Related Client Groups.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex billing/WIP queries and exceptional scenarios, collaborating with the Billing Manager as required.
• Alert the Billing Manager and Head of Financial Operations to any contentious issues promptly.
• Support the Billing Manager in providing Elite 3E expertise to the firm’s PMS superuser group.

 Compliance and policy adherence

• Ensure all finance activities comply with firm policies, procedures, VAT regulations, and financial reporting requirements.
• Promote correct system usage and data integrity across all finance processes.
• Escalate compliance issues or barriers to the Billing Manager and Head of Financial Operations

 Stakeholder engagement and support

• Serve as the primary finance contact for assigned partners and fee earners, building strong relationships and working closely with their support teams to ensure seamless billing processes.
• Deliver training and guidance to partners, fee earners, and support staff on key areas such as time recording, WIP management, and effective system usage, promoting best practice across the firm.
• Champion continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes and actively supporting finance projects and initiatives led by management.

Reporting and continuous improvement

• Assist with routine and ad hoc reporting related to timesheets, WIP, billing and master data.
• Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of finance systems and processes to improve efficiency, data quality, and service delivery.
• Develop an understanding of how WIP treatment impacts financial reporting and KPIs.

 About you

Essential experience & knowledge

• Advanced-level proficiency in Elite 3E, with a minimum of six years’ experience in a billing role within a professional services environment.
• Proven ability to manage complex group billing arrangements, including multi-entity structures and Related Client Groups.
• Strong understanding of VAT, compliance requirements, and master data management processes.
• Experience in educating fee earners on billing policies and procedures, with confidence to challenge and escalate issues appropriately when required.
• Demonstrated success in managing competing priorities and delivering results under tight deadlines, particularly during peak billing cycles such as quarter-end.

 Desirable experience

• Experience providing billing and WIP expertise, support, and training to stakeholders.
• Understanding of mirror-matter and intercompany billing processes.
• Proven track record of streamlining billing processes or overcoming complex client requirements.

 Skills & competencies

• High computer literacy, including expert proficiency in Elite 3E, strong skills in Microsoft Excel, and familiarity with other core finance systems.
• Commercial awareness and ability to analyse WIP and billing data to identify trends and improve recovery.
• Ability to interpret and apply finance policies, procedures, and compliance requirements effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with partners, fee earners, and finance colleagues.
• Collaborative team player, able to work effectively across direct and indirect reporting lines.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving, with the confidence to escalate issues appropriately.

 Personal attributes

• Client-focused mindset, committed to reducing administrative burden for fee earners and delivering exceptional service.
• Motivated, flexible, and resilient, able to adapt to changing priorities and work calmly under pressure.
• Diplomatic and approachable, with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

 Education

• Strong educational background.

Reward & Benefits
•    A 35-hour working week with flexibility around the core hours of 10am-4pm 
•    Agile working policy giving you the option to work from home for up to 3 days per week. 
•    25 days annual leave. After 5 years’ service, the entitlement will be increased by 1 day.
•    In addition, employees are entitled to buy or sell up to 5 days holiday a year
•    Contributory pension scheme (The firm will contribute 5% of salary on a matched basis with employee from their date of joining)
•    Life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary,
•    Eligibility for the firm’s Profit-Sharing Plan that runs from October to September each year.  The scheme enables staff to share in the profits of the firm. Payment is usually c£1,000. Paid in December.
•    New client referral scheme. Members of staff introducing a new client to the firm, have the potential to receive a referral payment of up to 10% of the first year’s total fees. 
•    Private Medical - entitled to join on successful completion of probationary period
•    Staff have access to health assessments, cancer screenings and health cash plans through the flexible benefits programme.
•    Access to a number of additional benefits with preferential rates under the flexible benefit programme, health cash plans, health screening/GP support, critical illness cover, dental and travel insurance, Techscheme, Cyclescheme, Gymflex and a Workplace ISA.

The organisation
Saffery LLP is an adviser to individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing market-leading accountancy, audit, business advisory, tax and VAT services. Founded in 1855 by Joseph John Saffery, it is currently the 15th largest accountancy firm by UK fee income.

We pride ourselves on our informal and inclusive culture, building an environment where people can be themselves and enjoy challenging, interesting, rewarding careers. 

When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Who know you as a human being, not just a job title. Everyone belongs here. Always.

Saffery is a proud member of Nexia, a leading, global network of independent accounting and consulting firms.