Kristi Kraeger
Magnolia,TX
Summary
Dedicated legal professional with a history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand. Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Office Administrator
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
11.2018 - Current
- Manage Houston office of more than 50 staff and 70 attorneys.
- Act as primary point of contact for employees maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
- Handle all human resources functions such as performance plans, evaluations, leaves of absences, review of weekly timeclocks via Dayforce, workers compensation claims, exit interviews
- Handled all employee onboarding through training new hires on office procedures, software applications, and company policies. Implemented follow-up new hire orientation
- Manage office workload in conjunction with utilization of the firm's administrative support services
- Bolstered office success through diligent tracking of time entry deadlines, attorney productivity, provide monthly productivity reports to Equity Partners.
- Identify and implement office operational tools to streamline new or existing practices, as well as manage design, rollout, and training for new systems
- Develop and implement internal process guidelines, templates, and workflows.
- Monitor and oversee all office operations including but not limited to: office supply management, managing maintenance of spaces and furniture, mail monitoring, coordinating with IT, liaise with facility management vendors,
- Maximize office space utilization by structuring an organized work environment by practice group that encouraged productivity and efficiency.
- Facilitate office productivity by reducing overtime and adding lower level staff positions to diversify positions that held overwhelming responsibilities.
- Streamline office processes by implementing efficient organizational systems and digital tools. Specifically implementing a recycle program, creating an offices supplies inventory list, and creating a structured calendaring system for reserving conference rooms.
- Assisted in event planning efforts for firm gatherings, conferences, or workshops to enhance employee engagement and networking opportunities.
- Coordinate with vendors to present quarterly in-house CLE's.
- Coordinate personnel schedules creating staggered shifts to ensure maximum support for attorneys.
- Worked with the task-force established by the firm's Management Committee to develop and implement nationwide safety protocols for COVID-19, including policy and form creation, identifying sources for procurement of supplies and serving as a resource for Office Administrators across the firm to navigate issues as they arose.
- Worked with leaders of the firm's financial team to review and test various timekeeping and billing software platforms and was instrumental in helping to determine the program that best met the firm's needs.
- Frequently selected to help onboard new Office Administrators and train them on the process and protocols of the firm and their offices.
- Instrumental in establishing the regional attorney recruiting team with three (3) other firm Office Administrators in various regions. Assisted with establishing cold call guidelines, revised job requisitions, and collaborating with LinkedIn representatives to enhance recruiting access and capabilities.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees for staff and attorneys across all practices.
- Served as a go-to source for training on firm's financial system. Worked with Office Administrators and others for in-depth review and analysis on financial and productivity reports for their offices.
Firm Operations Manager
Patterson + Sheridan LLP
02.2016 - 07.2018
- Manage various administrative and operational functions of the firm, improve efficiency and productivity, and coordinate and monitor activities that occur within the firm.
- Oversee daily operations of the firm including facilities, equipment and workflow management in 6 domestic offices; manage office services team consisting of 2 employees; coordinate office space planning, handle office assignments, communicate with building management, manage office and breakroom supplies; manage and coordinate office build-outs and renovations; work with Broker on new office leases, research and review lease spaces, and assist with design and develop of office floor plans; manage departmental practices and policies; ensure firm policy documents are current; prepare and manage budget for various accounts; manage office vendor expenses and vendor relations; work to develop and improve processes with legal administrative assistants and staff to ensure even distribution of workload; manage records retention, information storage and retrieval; identify and implement office safety standards.
- Manage the Billing department consisting of 5 employees; oversee and streamline billing processes and guidelines; ensure billing deadlines are met by staff and billing partners; setup new clients on flat fee billing requirements and e-billing requirements; prepare statistical and analytical reports for billing partners; manage 3E accounting system and coordinate annual upgrades; provide training and mentoring to staff.
- Prepare ad hoc and special projects as requested by Management Committee and Managing Partner; provide support to attorneys to meet the needs of the firm.
- Oversee new-hire onboarding and orientation for laterals and legal staff; work with HR department to address personnel issues; assist with coordinating succession planning and performance metrics for timekeepers and staff; conduct and coordinate semi-annual staff meetings and monthly Management team meetings.
- Oversee firm events, manage charitable contributions, and coordinate client and employee gifts.
Accounting Supervisor
Porter Hedges LLP
02.2014 - 02.2016
- Oversee the overall accounting operations and transaction-processing of the Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Billing Departments; oversee and manage all collections efforts; administer month-end close and prepare all month-end productivity and financial reports for the monthly management book. Prepare monthly, quarterly, year- end, and ad hoc financial reports; analyze variances and make appropriate corrections.
- Reconcile all cash receipts and bank statements; prepare weekly reports to Practice Group Partners and Billing Partners; assist Financial Analyst with reconciliation of GL accounts.
- Manage all e-billing clients and submit invoices to third party systems (Tymetrix, Collaborati, CounselLink and Serengeti); maintain accounts receivable of all e-billing clients; manage compliance to all client-specific billing guidelines.
- Supervise, train and manage all accounting department employees; conduct employee evaluations and salary reviews; resolve personnel and disciplinary issues; approve timesheets and time off requests.
- Manage 3E accounting system and coordinate annual upgrades.
Senior Billing Coordinator
Patterson + Sheridan LLP
02.2005 - 02.2014
- Responsibilities include oversee the Billing Department for 15 partners in 5 offices nationwide; Supervise 2 billing personnel with daily billing and software functions; Prepare, edit and finalize invoices; Electronic billing for clients using Tymetrix, Serengeti and other client applications (1,000+ invoices monthly); Application of retainer funds; Responsible for implementing Flat Fee billing for foreign clients; Communication with timekeepers regarding billing requirements and productivity; Prepare monthly realization reports for all timekeepers; Prepare budget reports for several top clients; Assist Controller with Income Statement and Realization Reports.
- Collection responsibilities include communicating with partners on a regular basis regarding the collection status of all clients; Communication with clients regarding status of payment.
Billing Coordinator
Kacal, Adams & Law, P.C.
09.2003 - 01.2005
- Responsibilities include edit and finalize pre-bills; Electronically bill 800 + invoices using Legal eXchange, Allegient, Examen and Tymetrix; Ensure time entered by all timekeepers on a weekly basis; Set up fee schedules for all new clients; Update fee and expense schedules quarterly; Open and close all matters; Check conflict on all new matters; Create and revise bill formats; Perform month-end close and prepare monthly financial reports.
- Collection responsibilities include sending statements out monthly, contacting all clients over 120 days past due, and communicating with Shareholders and Members on a monthly basis the Collection status with all clients.
Billing Coordinator
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
08.2001 - 08.2003
- Responsibilities include prepare and edit pre-bills for attorneys; Prepare final invoices to clients; Communicate with Partners and Attorneys on daily basis regarding client bills and payments; Maintain accurate collections records; Assist Accounts Payable with preparing vendor invoices for payment; Audit Travel and Expense Reports.
- Administrative responsibilities include communicate with personnel in other offices in professional manner; Maintain accurate records of personnel’s personal accounts; Organize and distribute month end reports to attorneys; General file maintenance and annual archiving.
Education
MBA - Business Management
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX05.2008
BBA - Business Administration
University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX08.2005
Skills
- iManage
- Elite (3E)
- IPManager
- Paychex
- Dayforce
- iTimekeep
- Juris 221
- Human Resources
- Staff Management
- Onboarding and Orientation
- Performance Evaluations
- Recruiting
- Office Management
- Budget Administration
- Performance Tracking and Evaluation
Timeline
Office Administrator
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
11.2018 - Current
Firm Operations Manager
Patterson + Sheridan LLP
02.2016 - 07.2018
Accounting Supervisor
Porter Hedges LLP
02.2014 - 02.2016
Senior Billing Coordinator
Patterson + Sheridan LLP
02.2005 - 02.2014
Billing Coordinator
Kacal, Adams & Law, P.C.
09.2003 - 01.2005
Billing Coordinator
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
08.2001 - 08.2003
MBA - Business Management
University of St. Thomas
BBA - Business Administration
University of Houston - Downtown
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