Client Finance Partner in Borehamwood

Primary Purpose of the Role
The Client Finance Partner is primarily responsible for the timely production of service charge accounts, monthly reporting, including accruals and prepayments, and managing the Section 20b process and client money handling in accordance with the appropriate codes of practice and RICS standards/ARMA Guidelines. This role plays a vital part in ensuring accurate financial reporting related to service charges, supporting the Finance Team, and contributing to the overall financial integrity of POD.

Key Responsibilities

• Service Charge Accounts
  Prepare and produce service charge accounts in a timely manner to POD Standards ensuring the need for Section 20b for the late issuing of accounts is not required. Review and analyse financial transactions to ensure completeness and accuracy whilst resolving any balance sheet anomalies. Ensure any void units are billed appropriately to the Developers and are reflected correctly within the accounts. Work closely with the property management team and customers to gather and review information to ensure clear and transparent finance reporting. Attend meetings internally, with clients and external auditors during the accounts process in order to finalise service charge accounts. Prepare dormant and company accounts, and issue Trust Tax returns where necessary.
• Monthly Reporting
  Prepare monthly financial reports, energy reconciliations, including income statements, and cashflow monitoring adhering to RICS standards, ARMA Guidelines. Perform monthly accruals and prepayments to ensure expenses and receipts are recognised in the appropriate accounting period. Reconcile accounts and resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Financial Analysis
  Assist in the analysis of service charge variances and cashflow. Reconcile financial information from previous managing agents and to incoming agents ensuring data is reconciled and correctly reflected in our systems, raising any gaps or concerns to management. Provide insights on financial performance and participate in budgeting and forecasting processes related to service charges.
• Collaboration and Communication
  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives. Communicate financial information and or risk effectively to stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Has MRI Qube systems knowledge and experience
• Has experience working within a finance team in the property sector
• Analyzing and interpreting financial reports
• Studying towards an accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA)

Must Have Skills / Experience

• Intermediate excel knowledge, using basic formulas, V‑lookups and pivot tables
• Experience in accruals based accounting
• Good communication skills, written and verbal
• Solution driven and forward thinking
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a financial role

Personal Specification
At POD, we are responsive, dynamic and we take pride in what we do, we are meticulous in our approach, so that customers experience great service. At POD we are committed to: The POD Values. You should always display the key POD values:

• Meticulous - preparation, process, detail, diligent, methodical, specific
• Dedicated - commitment, belief, passion, self‑discipline, enthusiasm
• Smart - innovative, resourceful, original, creative, effective
• Supportive - collaborative, honest, communicative, flexible, team‑player

Customer Service
Act as an ambassador of the POD brand, recognising the importance of excelling at customer service both externally and internally. Always interact in an enthused and empathetic manner. Answer the phone politely, identifying yourself and the POD brand. Answer emails and any other medium of correspondence politely, identifying yourself and the POD brand. Respond to complaints or concerns and find the appropriate solution. Seeking the support of your wider POD team as appropriate. Be empathetic in relation to our customers’ requests, queries, or concerns. Request further in‑house training or learning if you deem it is required.

Health and Safety
We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our Employees, clients and anyone affected by our business activities and to providing a safe environment for all those attending our premises. Every employee at POD plays a part in ensuring we achieve this, remaining mindful that we will take care in everything we do: All employees should use our smart technology to record and manage their safety routines, learn from trends, and seek to improve together. All employees should be dedicated to keeping their sites, residents, visitors, team and workplaces safe. All employees should be meticulous in their approach to safety, tracking, inspecting, monitoring, auditing, reviewing, recording, and learning. All employees should support each other to ensure we take care of our physical and mental wellbeing. We are committed to maintaining safe and healthy working conditions through control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities taking steps to prevent accidents and cases of work‑related ill health. Employees should be conscious to their responsibilities in this regard and seek clarity if they so require it.

Financial Management
In the context of your role support the wider POD team with the ongoing financial management of the development. Remaining conscious of development budgets, asking for information as needed.

Compliance
All employees must be responsible for ensuring compliance with all company rules, procedures and obligations in relation to data protection and the safe storage, processing, sharing and use of data in relation to the company, its clients or customers.