Legal Accounting Assistant (Newport Beach, CA) - Newmeyer & Dillion LLP

Accounting Assistant

Newmeyer Dillion, a regional firm, is a multi-service law firm that provides both litigation and transactional representation. The Firm has gained national recognition for its construction and insurance work, and we provide representation in a comprehensive range of practice areas and industries. This position will be based out of the firm's Newport Beach office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Accounts Payable

• Perform data entry for invoices into the accounting system.
• Assist in verifying vendor information and payment details.
• Respond to basic vendor inquiries about payment status.
• Submit vendor invoices to clients for direct payment.

Accounts Receivable

• Assist in logging incoming checks or electronic payments into the system for processing.
• Assist with basic daily reconciliation tasks under the guidance of the Accounting Manager.
• Make "live" deposits to bank when necessary

Billing

• Generate and distribute reminder bills and personal expense statements.
• Work closely with attorneys and staff to ensure billing accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide attorneys with accounts receivable (AR) and work-in-progress (WIP) totals as requested.
• Maintain and analyze billing spreadsheets in Excel.
• Perform basic data entry and edits to invoices as directed by the Accounting Manager.
• Verify client contact information and update billing records.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in related field of account­ing, finance or equivalent is preferred.
• High school diploma, or equivalent, is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data entry, and reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• A motivated self-starter eager to learn and grow.
• Law firm experience is beneficial.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent Excel and math skills and knowledge of legal billing systems (Aderant) preferred.
• Ability to identify and rapidly resolve problems in a timely manner and recognize when escalation is necessary.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and Interperson­al skills, and ability to take direction as necessary.
• Ability to demonstrate accuracy and thorough­ness, monitor own work to ensure quality and apply feedback to improve performance.
• Planning/organizing skills to prioritize and plan work activities. Ability to use time efficiently.
• Ability to be self-driven and organized.
• Ability to work well alone with little supervision independently or within a team environment.
• Ability to maintain productivity standards and complete work in a timely manner.
• Ability to adapt to changes in the work environ­ment, manage competing demands, and manage frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Ability to demonstrate impeccable integrity in personal and fiduciary matters.
• Excellent customer service skills to manage difficult client (both internal and external) situations, respond promptly to customer needs, solicit customer feedback to improve service, respond to requests for service and assistance and meet commitments.
• Maintain cordial and effective relationships with partners, attorneys, clients and staff in person, by e-mail and by telephone.
• Provide effective client service and present the department and firm in a positive light.
• Operate office equipment including personal computer, copiers, fax machines, electronic typewriter and 10-key calculator.
• Dependability in terms of punctuality, attendance, ability to follow instructions, respond to management direction, and solicit feedback to improve performance.

Physical Environment and Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust and temperature extremes.
• This position routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, multi­function devices (copy, fax and scanning machines), and filing cabinets.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Some light lifting of 15 pounds or less is required on a regular basis.
• Work may occasionally require more than 40 hours per week.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activi­ties, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Newmeyer Dillion LLP is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, compensation, termination, and training, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, age, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.