Jnr Costs Negotiator - Complex Injury

To provide costs advice to the main teams and to negotiate costs on a variety of matters, delivering savings for our clients.

It is important that the job holder can efficiently and accurately review claims for costs & formulate an initial strategy and settlement parameters, provide comprehensive advice to clients, commence early telephone negotiations with other side and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.

You need to be able to build strong working relationships with both your colleagues in Costs and with the wider business.

This is an exciting opportunity for a junior costs handler, who has a base knowledge of cost handling and negotiation, and is looking to develop their career and take the next step. Full training and supervision will be provided, therefore extensive experience is not required.

Compensation package

Hyrbrid working 1 day in the office, 4 days remote,Health Care Cash Plan, Holidays 25 days plus 8 bank holidays (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days) increasing to 26 after 5 years' service and to 27 after 10 years' service, Death In Service - after 1 year, Employer Pension Contribution, Cycle to Work Scheme, Tech Scheme, Season Ticket Loan , Gym Flex

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for management of own caseload using in-house case management system, including timely and accurate maintenance of costs, billing and management information - ensuring completeness of records to aid business reporting and decision making
• Reviewing and negotiating on end of life costs claimed, including preparation of a settlement strategy to identify strengths, weaknesses and settlement parameters, drafting Points of Dispute, considering and responding to replies and dealing with provisional and detailed assessment preparations and outcomes
• Monitoring and updating the strategy as required throughout the life of the claim
• Preparing initial written advice to clients on prospects and parameters, seeking authority where appropriate, monitoring same and updating as required throughout the life of the claim; providing clients with all relevant information when requested or in accordance with our service level agreements
• Ensure proactivity by periodic reviews in line with internal benchmarks or service level agreements
• Negotiating best costs outcomes for our clients
• Dealing effectively with all correspondence and telephone calls
• Responsible for achieving a daily chargeable hours target and managing workload to meet service level agreements and critical dates
• Delegation of tasks to other members of the team where available and appropriate
• Meeting agreed performance targets
• To instruct Counsel or Costs Lawyer to attend Detailed Assessment or alternatively conduct own advocacy
• To ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations.

Working Hours

35 hours per week Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. Primary location for this role is our Bolton Office 1 day a week and 4 days from home.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Will have performed similar Costs Negotiator role either as claimant or defendant, although full training and supervision will be provided
• Have an understanding of the Detailed Assessment process, Cost Case Law and Insurance Litigation practice & process
• Have an understanding of preparation of Points of Dispute and considering replies
• Good standard of education - 3 GCSE's grade C or above or equivalent including Maths, English & Science as a minimum
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal including previous experience of client liaison
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• Previous experience of handling own caseload, and meeting service level agreements and key performance indicators
• Ability to use own initiative
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads
• Excellent listening skills
• Ability to make decisions
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Ability to act as part of a team
• Proficient IT skills.

Technical knowledge to be developed

• Client Strategy and SLAs
• Costs case law

Technical skills to be developed

• Proficient in positioning cases from a defendant perspective

Progression to full financial and handling authorities for the given client area, which will include developing technical skills in the following areas;

• Strategy Development
• Investigations
• Negotiations
• Dispute Resolution
• MI and Billing
• Costs Negotiations and Applications
• Points of Dispute
• Considering replies to points of dispute
• Detailed Assessment Hearings
• Application Hearings
• Mentoring less experienced members of the team
• Advocacy

Soft Skills

Personal Effectiveness

• Team Commitment : Values others perspective
• Resilience: Demonstrates self-control
• Passion for Growth and Improvement: Systematically improves performance
• Embracing Change: Responds positively to change

Business Focus

• Client Care: Works to add value for the client
• Decision Making: Operates within formal authority
• Negotiation, Influence and Persuasion: Creates a calculated impact
• Commercial Insight: Considers some commercial implications
• Monitors own performance against objectives set by Team Leader

Our culture is focussed on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our four values are at the heart of everything we do;

Our Values

We are connected

We are Dynamic

We are Innovative

We succeed together