Senior Rent Accountant

Are you an experienced Senior Rent Accountant looking for your next move? We are seeking a knowledgeable and driven individual to provide rent accounting leadership and support within Bidwells’ Rural Estate Management team. This role will play a key part in delivering managing agent and rent accounting services across a significant and diverse rural estate portfolio, overseeing income collection, arrears management, financial reporting and compliance, while supporting the wider team in delivering a high-quality service.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the management of a large and diverse rural estate portfolio, spanning tens of thousands of acres across multiple locations. As well as providing technical oversight, you will contribute to the effective day-to-day management of the estate, supporting strong relationships with tenants, communities and stakeholders, whilst ensuring high standards of financial governance and service delivery. We are looking for someone to join us around the beginning of July, with the role based in either our Inverness or Perth office.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading the rent accounting function across a large rural estate portfolio, including rent demands, income allocation, receipts and reconciliations.
• Overseeing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with client requirements, KPIs and public sector standards.
• Reviewing and approving arrears actions, payment plans, refunds and write-offs in line with policies and delegated authority levels.
• Ensuring all financial and property data is accurately maintained within the property management system, including timely updates following lease events.
• Managing bank reconciliations, accruals, unallocated receipts and cash controls, ensuring compliance with RICS Client Money regulations.
• Providing oversight of VAT, CIS and other regulatory requirements, liaising with internal and client finance teams as needed.
• Overseeing lease events, statutory compliance and landlord obligations (e.g. EICRs, gas safety, insurance), ensuring accurate record-keeping and compliance.
• Managing supplier processes end-to-end, including procurement, invoice approval and payment, while monitoring performance and compliance with policies and KPIs.
• Overseeing service charge accounting activities, including budgets, reconciliations and reporting where applicable.
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis, providing clear financial insight and commentary.
• Leading audit processes and ensuring all documentation, controls and reporting meet internal and external requirements.
• Monitoring service delivery against contractual KPIs, proactively addressing any issues.
• Line managing and developing junior team members, providing oversight, support and quality assurance.
• Acting as a key escalation point for complex financial queries from tenants, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Ensuring compliance with data protection, confidentiality and records management standards.

About You:

• Significant experience in rent accounting, property finance or estate management accounting, ideally within a managing agent or public sector environment.
• Strong working knowledge of rent collection, arrears management, service charges and property-related financial reporting.
• Proven experience in financial reporting, reconciliations and monitoring budgets against forecasts.
• Good understanding of financial controls, governance frameworks and compliance requirements within a regulated or public sector setting.
• Highly numerate, with excellent analytical skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or supporting junior team members.
• Proficient in property management and financial systems (e.g. Propman or similar), alongside strong Excel and reporting skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Professionally qualified or part-qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience of VAT, CIS and income recognition within a property or estate management environment.
• Familiarity with Scottish public sector reporting frameworks and audit requirements.

Why Bidwells?

We’re a different kind of business. Whilst we’re a major player in the property sector, Bidwells remains a privately-owned, independent Partnership, with an inclusive, entrepreneurial culture. We give our people autonomy and take the time to listen. As a certified B Corporation (B-Corp), we are dedicated to using our business as a force for good, driving innovation and creating long-term value for our clients, communities and the environment.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive Salary: We recognise and reward talent with generous salary and group bonus scheme. As a Real Living Wage employer, we’re committed to fair pay that reflects the true cost of living.
• Comprehensive Benefits: including up to 8% matched pension, 28 days holiday (+ bank holidays) as a minimum, along with your birthday off work, a wellness day, paid sabbaticals, private medical cover, medicash plan, lifestyle discounts and perks, and more.
• Professional Development: Continuous learning, study support and promotion opportunities.
• Innovative Culture: Be part of a forward-thinking team at the forefront of industry trends.
• Family Friendly: We offer enhanced family leave policies to support individuals close to you.
• Work-Life Balance: We value your well-being and offer agile working to support it.

Bidwells is dedicated to fostering a truly inclusive culture of belonging, where everyone can thrive and succeed as their true and authentic selves at every level. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and positively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief. Flexible working requests are considered from day one.

Recruitment agencies: Bidwells only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and that agency has been contacted and directed by a member of our Talent Acquisition Team to work on a specific vacancy. We do not pay agency fees when speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to Bidwells or any of our employees other than via our Applicant Tracking System and through our recruitment process. If this is not adhered to, agency fees will not be paid. Submission of any unsolicited CVs or proposals to Bidwells will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this approach.