Financial Terms Analyst in Chicago, Illinois at Sidley Austin LLP

The Financial Terms Management Analyst plays a key role in ensuring Sidleys financial terms are accurately captured, implemented, and maintained throughout the client-matter lifecycle. The Financial Terms Management function centralizes ownership of financial terms to reduce downstream errors, enhance compliance, and promote operational consistency across the revenue cycle.

The team is comprised of three specialized sub-teamsNew Business Intake, Implementation, and Complianceto drive agility, establish clear ownership, and manage workloads effectively across the team. Together, these sub-teams work collaboratively to ensure that financial terms are reviewed, implemented, and maintained with precision and consistency. The Financial Terms Management Analyst will be assigned to one of these sub-teams based on business needs and individual skills and experience.

The ideal candidate has strong attention to detail, enjoys working with data and documents, and is eager to learn about legal financial operations in a fast-paced professional services environment. This role requires analytical thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders, including partners, Conflicts and New Business, Pricing, Billing, and other revenue teams.

Duties and Responsibilities:
New Business Intake Sub-Team

Partners with the Conflicts and New Business team to review and validate financial terms for both new and existing clients during the intake process. Ensures all terms align with client agreements and firm policies.

• Review and validate financial terms during the new business intake process to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Verify that terms submitted through the New Business Form align with supporting documents, existing client agreements, and internal revenue policies.
• Correct and update financial-term entries in the New Business Form as needed.
• Collaborate with the Conflicts and New Business team to identify clients and matters requiring further review, approval, or escalation.
• Clearly document and communicate intake information and finalized client financial terms to enable the Implementation sub-team to accurately configure them in the Firm's financial systems.

Implementation Sub-Team

Responsible for accurately setting up, maintaining, and communicating financial terms in the firms financial systems.

• Analyze financial terms and configure them in 3E, ensuring accuracy, policy compliance, and alignment with client agreements.
• Perform quality checks to verify that implemented terms are complete and consistent with intake data.
• Clearly document and communicate finalized financial terms to Billing and other revenue teams, including providing guidance on executing complex arrangements.
• Implement timekeeper billing rates for new and existing timekeepers, including ad-hoc and annual rate updates.
• Monitor and maintain client volume discount arrangements, ensuring accurate calculation, tracking, and reporting.

Compliance Sub-Team

Interprets and applies client-originated guidelines to ensure firmwide adherence and consistency. Supports dispute resolution and develops compliance education and prevention tools.

• Review financial sections of client-originated guidelines or agreements, coordinating with the Contracts and Compliance team to ensure proper integration into firm practices.
• Investigate invoice disputes, identify root causes, and coordinate corrective actions with Billing, eBilling, and Accounts Receivable teams.
• Oversee contractors responsible for reviewing time entry narratives for compliance with client and firm requirements.
• Develop training materials, tools, and guidance for timekeepers and partners to promote compliance awareness.
• Identify trends and collaborate with other Financial Terms Management teams to implement preventative solutions and improve processes.

Process Improvement and Special Projects

Supports continuous improvement efforts and strategic initiatives across all Financial Terms Management sub-teams.

• Support team leadership in identifying and evaluating process improvements and automation opportunities by providing observations, feedback, and relevant data from daily activities.
• Assist team leadership with the documentation of current workflows, procedures, and training materials to inform process reviews and updates.
• Provide input and logistical support to team leadership on special projects focused on technology enhancements, process improvements, and workflow optimization.
• Provide general support to assist the team with other business process activities and priorities as needed.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Bachelors degree

• A minimum of 2 years of analytical experience

• Advanced capability and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel and Word

Preferred:

• Bachelors degree in accounting, finance, technology or similar field

• Previous law firm or professional services firm experience

• Experience with 3E, Intapp, Sharepoint, Smartsheets, NetDocs

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Good judgment

• Strong interpersonal communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others

• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

• Able to work under pressure

• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

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The target salary range for this role is:

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sidley is an elite global law firm with a known reputation of deploying innovative strategies to achieve powerful results.