Property Manager in Somerset

As a property manager, you will contribute to our vision of being the UK's favourite residential property manager by:

• Providing exceptional Property Management and service to our customers; ensuring that our customer experience is engaging and frustration-free.
• Working within our Four Pillar strategy to complete tasks that ensure the building is well maintained for the landlord and our customers so that we can demonstrate full compliance with our statutory obligations as appointed Property Manager.
• Demonstrating and living our values to naturally gain new leads and grow the business.

This role reports to the regional manager and has a team of up to 10 direct reports and sometimes up to 10 indirect reports depending on your portfolio.

About You

You will be passionate about providing excellent customer service at all times and this will have been demonstrated through a proven track record. You may already work within the property sector; such experience and knowledge is desired but not essential. You will be an excellent communicator with the ability to negotiate and influence all customers and stakeholders, demonstrating this through your ability to effectively chair and present meetings and deliver complex updates and financial information to different audiences. Your verbal and written skills will be of a high standard.

You will be a pragmatic problem solver who is proactive in finding answers to ensure timely resolution for all customer queries. You should be able to work with autonomy across multiple environments within a portfolio. Previous experience of challenging and/or emergency situations where you always remain calm and take necessary actions with a high standard of professionalism is essential. Health and safety is of great importance to you, and you have experience of performing regular checks and keeping accurate records to ensure everything is kept on track.

You are self-motivated and proactive, enjoying working independently but also valuing supportive colleagues with whom you can build relationships at regular team meetings. You are IT savvy and confident in using laptops/tablets. You are fluent in the different MS packages and systems, enabling you to efficiently maintain administration and finance records electronically.

Your ideal role will be varied, where you’re not stuck behind a desk all day; you enjoy working with people and helping to enhance their lifestyle on a day-to-day basis. You also enjoy travelling and meeting new people across our organisation.

About Us

FirstPort is the largest and most experienced residential property manager in the UK, employing more than 3,000 colleagues dedicated to looking after people's homes. Great property management is about more than just bricks and mortar. We recognise and value the contribution our people make to our business and are committed to ensuring they are skilled and equipped to do the best job they can, with opportunities to realise their full potential. Our Values set out the commitments we have made to deliver excellent service and inform the relationships we have with customers and clients. They shape our culture and are used in measuring and rewarding performance.

Main Responsibilities

As a remote manager, you will be autonomous in managing your own diary. You will visit each property at regular intervals and will need to prioritise sites that require more of your time and attention. You will arrange and facilitate regular meetings with key stakeholders within your portfolio, guiding and positively influencing decisions and disputes; encouraging open two-way communication and information cascade.

You will manage and authorise all expenditure throughout the year, maintaining cash flow to prevent critical funding issues and ensuring value for money for customers and clients whilst reviewing service charge audited accounts and budgets. You will liaise with the credit control function to ensure effective debt management of the portfolio, inclusive of initial collection of routine service charge arrears.

Ensure that all properties are managed in accordance with key Health and Safety legislation including but not limited to Fire Safety, Asbestos and Legionella/water hygiene control regulations, acting as the 'Responsible Person' for on-site Fire Safety regulation purposes. Conduct comprehensive site inspections and visits of your portfolio ensuring portfolio KPI’s are achieved throughout the year in line with the Four Pillars strategy.

Complete all Fire, Health and Safety risk assessment/site inspection follow-up actions within defined timescales and take ownership of any Enforcement action, responding accordingly without delay to the relevant authorities. Ensure timely delivery of major works and remedial planned works are undertaken whilst managing contracts with affiliated external Contractors, overseeing their performance and scope of work to meet the needs and expectations of our customers.

Deliver professional and effective mobilisation and management of new schemes that are brought into FirstPort management.

The Benefits

Our customers deserve the best and the same applies to our people. We’ll support you with all of the technology, training and support that you need to do your job well. We offer competitive salaries and a range of benefit packages. In addition to the core benefits, we also offer a range of exclusive discounts on extra benefits to help you and your family make the most of your money, safeguard your future and look after your health.

Diversity

We’re committed to promoting diversity at FirstPort and recruit on merit. We will consider applications from job share applicants. If you meet the criteria for the role, we’ll be in touch to arrange a short telephone interview and our shortlist of candidates will be invited to attend interviews with the hiring manager and up to three other key stakeholders.