Cost Negotiator

Northenden

8 months ago

Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Site Manager / Senior Site Manager

Propulsion Engineer

Project Scheduler / Planner

Operations Manager

Transport Shift Manager

Senior / Quantity Surveyor (MRICS)

Job Title: Cost Negotiator
Location: Sharston, M22 4SN
Salary: £30,000 to £40,000 per annum dependent on experience
Job type: Full time, Permanent
About Us:
Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award-winning law firm that deals with personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Based in Manchester, we serve clients nationwide and are currently ranked 70 out of more than 10,000 law firms. We have a 5-star rating on Trustpilot from over 6,500 reviews, which coming from our clients means a lot to us. We are proud of the work we do helping injured people, and this is the core of our business.
The Role:
We are currently looking for a Cost Negotiator to join our established costs department of 40 plus.
The position will involve handling a fixed costs caseload reviewing inter partes disputes, developing persuasive arguments making offers, negotiating settlement and preparing cases for summary and detailed assessment.
The role involves:

Reporting to supervisor in weekly review meetings.
Working to a caseload, WIP and fee target.
Reviewing and negotiating fixed costs cases.
Drafting letters, Costs Schedules, Part 23 Applications and Part 8 Proceedings. Skeleton arguments and written submissions.
Liaising with fee earners and management.
Providing assistance to other team members as and when required.
Responsibilities:
Progressive Management a caseload.
Securing payments on account of costs at the earliest opportunity.
Ensure that the quality of work produced is to the highest standard.
Reviewing costs schedules/bills with a view to negotiating Claimants costs, generally disputed fixed costs cases, and settling costs files in a timely manner.
Negotiating settlement of costs and reporting terms of settlement.
Preparing bills/Part 23 Applications and/or Replies to Points of Dispute in fixed costs cases.
Drafting Part 8 and Part 23 Proceedings.
Preparing cases for assessment hearings.
Attending costs hearings where appropriate.
Provide technical support to the costs team on fixed costs disputes.
Maintaining the highest client care and service standards.
Person Specification:
A good working knowledge of fixed costs claims and the costs process.
A good working knowledge of CPR Cost related procedures, Pre-Action Protocols, and case law for fixed costs disputes.
2 to 5 years' experience of case handling and working to target.
Ability to deal with advocacy at costs hearings on fixed costs matters (not essential but desirable.)
Good commercial awareness and a professional attitude.
Ability to work to time scales and cope under pressure.
Excellent communication skills and ability to work within a team.
Excellent time management skills.
Good IT skills, experience of Proclaim, Excel and Cost Master is desirable.
The role also offers excellent career development prospects for the right candidate, as the firm offers training contracts or support through the ACL qualification, for those candidates who prove themselves.
Salary & Hours:
Salary of £30,000 to £40,000, dependent on experience
Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.
Benefits:
Hybrid Working - Flexible hybrid working pattern
23 Days Holiday - Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.
Extra Holidays - 3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.
Looking After Your Health - Private medical insurance available after 2 years' service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.
Looking After Your Well-being - 24/7 onsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.
Work Life / Balance - Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
Recruitment Process:
Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.
Our employees are our most important asset, we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.
Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Cost Negotiation, Costs Litigation Assistant, Costs Draftsperson, Legal Executive, Legal Support Assistant, Law Graduate, Legal Aid may also be considered for this role

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Feb 12, 2026

Careers

How Many UAV Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a UAV Job?

If you’re aiming for a role in the Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry, it can feel like every job advert expects you to know a never-ending list of tools: flight control systems, autopilot frameworks, simulation platforms, sensor suites, communication stacks, mission planning software, GIS tools — and on it goes. With so many names and acronyms, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and assume you must learn every tool under the sun before you’ll be taken seriously by employers. Here’s the honest truth most UAV hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can use the right tools to solve real UAV problems safely, reliably and in context. Tools matter — absolutely — but they always serve a purpose: solving problems, reducing risk, improving performance, or guiding safer operations. So the real question isn’t how many tools you should know — it’s: which tools you should master, in what context, and why. This article breaks down what employers actually expect, which tools are essential, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look credible, confident and job-ready.

Feb 3, 2026

Jobs

What Hiring Managers Look for First in UAV Job Applications (UK Guide)

Whether you’re aiming for roles in UAV design, robotics/controls engineering, autonomy & computer vision, flight test & certification, embedded systems, operations, ground control software, systems integration or regulatory compliance, the way you present yourself in an application can make or break your chances — and that often happens before the hiring manager reads past your first few lines. In the UK UAV/jobs market, recruiters and hiring managers scan applications rapidly. They look for relevant experience, measurable delivery, technical credibility, domain awareness and safety/regulatory understanding — often making a decision within the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down exactly what hiring managers look for first in UAV applications, why those signals matter, and how to structure your CV, portfolio and cover letter so you get noticed — not filtered out.

Jan 24, 2026

Education

The Skills Gap in UAV Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — commonly known as drones — are among the fastest-growing technologies globally. From infrastructure inspection and agriculture to emergency response, surveying, logistics and defence, UAVs are transforming how organisations gather data, deliver services and improve efficiency. In the UK, demand for UAV professionals is increasing rapidly. Yet despite a growing number of graduates with engineering, robotics or aerospace backgrounds, employers continue to report a persistent problem: Many graduates are not ready for real UAV jobs. This is not a reflection of intelligence or academic effort. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in the UAV sector. This article explores that gap in depth — what universities do well, where programmes fall short, why the divide exists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the gap to build a successful career in UAVs.