General Description

The Legal Assistant - Payment Specialist is responsible for accurately processing and monitoring payments from customers and external agencies. This role requires the use of a variety of internal and external tools, along with the application of knowledge gained through professional experience and collaboration with peers and management. The position demands precision, organizational expertise, and a commitment to ensuring accurate and timely payment handling.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Payment Processing and Management

• Process e-bills, checks, and wire payments for legal and bankruptcy customers as needed.
• Send payment confirmation emails to customers promptly and accurately.
• Record and update payment details in all internal systems with precision.
• Monitor monthly payment schedules for all customers, including those in bankruptcy. For accounts with two consecutive missed payments or insufficient funds, determine appropriate actions (consulting with the Manager as necessary) and/or escalate to the appropriate internal queue for processing.
• Address and resolve payment-related inquiries and communications efficiently.

Documentation and Compliance

• Promptly respond to calls and payment-related requests from customers/other obligors, ensuring timely and professional communication.
• Thoroughly review and validate supporting documents related to payments to guarantee accuracy and compliance.
• Prepare, send, and review all necessary documents required for processing payments.
• Provide the manager with clear and relevant information to support decision-making on settlements and offers, ensuring all details are accurate and well-documented.
• Review and determine the appropriate account allocation for checks.

Data Accuracy and Quality Assurance

• Ensure a consistently high level of accuracy and completeness when entering payment information into all systems, maintaining reliable and precise records.

Customer Service and Collaboration

• Foster and maintain effective working relationships with peers across departments to ensure transactions are processed efficiently, accurately, and with clear, complete documentation.
• Proactively identify and recommend opportunities for interdepartmental and intradepartmental process improvements to the manager. 

Skills and Abilities

• Self-motivation with strong sense of initiative and accountability as well as attention to detail
• Ability to handle multiple tasks during constantly fluctuating workload
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to exemplifying the highest integrity and professional business standards
• Proficient in MS Office, including Outlook, Excel and Word, Adobe, Internet-based solutions, and information sources 

Education and Training Guidelines

• High School Diploma required
• Prior experience in customer-facing and data-entry position strongly preferred
• Experience in payment processing strongly preferred