At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage service charges, ensuring accurate calculations and compliance with regulations.
- Company: Join a respected housing association with a supportive and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, career development opportunities, and a competitive salary.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in housing services while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in service charge management and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a thriving organisation.
As a Service Charge Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in managing service charges across Merge housing portfolio. You will be responsible for ensuring that service charges are correctly calculated, communicated and collected from residents in compliance with the relevant regulations. You will work closely with our finance, property management and customer service teams to provide a comprehensive service to our residents.
Key Responsibilities:
- Service Charge Management: Manage the accurate calculation and billing of service charges for tenants, ensuring compliance with lease agreements and legal requirements.
- Section 20 Consultations: Lead the consultation process for major works under Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, including issuing notices, gathering estimates and obtaining tenant feedback. Prepare and issue Section 20 notices for works or long-term agreements, ensuring deadlines and legislative requirements are met.
- Financial Reporting: Provide clear and accurate financial reports, including reconciliations and forecasts, to help track and manage service charge income and expenditure.
- Customer Support: Address and resolve tenant queries related to service charges, ensuring that tenants are informed and have a clear understanding of their financial obligations.
- Compliance & Auditing: Ensure service charge structures and practices comply with all relevant legislation, including the RICS Service Charge Code and other applicable laws.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Work with contractors, property managers and external consultants to ensure service charge allocations are transparent and justifiable.
Experience & Skills Required:
- Experience in Service Charge Management within a housing association, local authority or property management context.
- Strong knowledge of Section 20 consultations and experience in managing and administering the Section 20 process.
- Excellent understanding of relevant legislation including the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, RICS Service Charge Code and other applicable housing laws.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and financial reporting, including the preparation of service charge timestreams and reconciliations.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to tenants and other stakeholders.
- Attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
- Customer-focused, with a proactive approach to resolving tenant queries and providing excellent service.
- Experience with property management software (e.g., MRI, Yardi or similar) would be beneficial.
Desirable:
- Professional qualification in property management or a related field (e.g., IRPM, RICS).
- Experience in project management related to property repairs and improvements.
- Knowledge of housing benefits and how they relate to service charge payments.
What We Offer:
- A competitive salary and benefits package.
- Opportunities for career development and training.
- A supportive and inclusive working environment.
- The chance to make a meaningful impact in a growing and well-respected housing association.
If you are an experienced and highly motivated Service Charge Specialist with a passion for delivering high-quality housing services, we want to hear from you! Send your CV to Annalee Wood at Aspire Recruitment today.
Service Charge Specialist in Manchester employer: Aspire Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Aspire Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Charge Specialist in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing sector and let them know you're on the lookout for a Service Charge Specialist role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Section 20 consultations and relevant legislation. We recommend practising common interview questions with a friend or even in front of the mirror to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your customer service skills during interviews! Be ready to share examples of how you've resolved tenant queries in the past. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and commitment to providing excellent service.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at the housing association.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Charge Specialist in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Service Charge Specialist role. Highlight your experience in service charge management and any relevant legislation knowledge. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be explaining complex financial info to tenants, it's crucial to showcase your communication skills. Use clear language in your application and provide examples of how you've successfully resolved tenant queries in the past.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Don’t forget to mention your experience with Section 20 consultations and property management software. We love seeing candidates who have hands-on experience that aligns with our needs, so make it stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aspire Recruitment
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Service Charge Specialist, you'll be dealing with financial reports and service charge calculations. Brush up on your financial knowledge and be ready to discuss how you would ensure accurate billing and compliance with regulations. Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully managed budgets or resolved financial discrepancies.
✨Master the Legislation
Familiarise yourself with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the RICS Service Charge Code. Be prepared to explain how these laws impact service charge management. You might even want to bring a few key points to the interview that demonstrate your understanding of Section 20 consultations and how you would handle them.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Strong communication is crucial in this role, especially when explaining complex financial information to tenants. Think of specific instances where you've effectively communicated with stakeholders or resolved tenant queries. Practising clear and concise explanations will help you shine during the interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your experience working with contractors, property managers, and external consultants. Be ready to discuss how you ensure transparency and fairness in service charge allocations. Consider preparing a scenario where you successfully collaborated with different teams to achieve a common goal.