Bit of a step up in figures I recall (5)
I believe the answer is:
riser
'bit of a step' is the definition.
(stairs contain risers)
'up in figures i recall' is the wordplay.
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'resir' is hidden in the letters of 'figures i recall'.
'resir' backwards is 'RISER'.
(Other definitions for riser that I've seen before include "He gets up" , "Vertical piece between two stair treads" , "Person getting out of bed" , "Vertical part of a stair or step" , "Upright piece in stairs" .)