Finance Analyst - Service Charges (Fixed Term)

Are you an experienced Finance Analyst looking for your next opportunity? Have you got knowledge of service charges? We have a fantastic opportunity to join Sovereign Network Group as Finance Analyst – Service Charges on a fixed term basis for 12 months. Based from either Basingstoke or Wembley, you'll combine office and home working to ensure a positive work/life balance. There will be some travel required between both offices. It's a really exciting time to join us as Sovereign have joined forces with Network Homes to form SNG (Sovereign Network Group). Together we provide over 84,000 homes and invest in communities across London and the South of England.

What you'll be doing

Reporting into the Head of Financial Services and working closely with the Head of Rent and Service Charge Accounting, you'll provide accurate and comprehensive analysis of service charge expenditure and revenue. You'll identify areas and levels of under-recovery of service charges, assess the financial impact and uncover the root cause by working collaboratively with stakeholders. You will also provide information on the potential positive financial impact of undertaking specific actions to address areas of under-recovery. This is a significant role in maximising the level of income that can be generated to recover reasonable service charge expenditure, where SNG are legally or contractually able to.

Responsibilities include:

• Using a variety of systems, you'll collate and analyse both financial and non-financial operational data across the business, relating to service charges.
• Creating, implementing and documenting a model, methodology and repeatable process for analysing service charge expenditure and revenue.
• Assessing the financial impact on service charge income of actions undertaken for the recovery of service charges expenditure, where SNG is legally and contractually able to recover.
• Carrying out macro level analysis to provide information relating to areas of substantial service charge under-recovery, assessing the root cause and providing insight for areas to focus on process improvement for maximum financial return, and the forecasted financial impact of these.
• Conducting micro level analysis across different segmentation areas, to include regions, tenures and services, assessing the root cause of under-recovery and providing insight and recommendations for improvement and the forecasted financial impact of these.
• Working closely with service charge colleagues to understand how the analysis and potential financial impact may be affected by non-recoverable service charges, due to legal, regulatory or tenure constraints.

What we need from you

You'll be a Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with strong practical experience and knowledge of financial analysis, appraisal and forecasting. You'll also:

• Have strong analytical skills, with experience drawing key financial insights.
• Be highly numerate with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Have strong IT skills, including MS Office and MS Excel and skilled in handling data across multiple systems.
• Show strong prioritisation skills, working well to deadlines.
• Knowledge of service charges and relevant legislation is desirable but not essential.

Your Benefits

We have some great benefits at SNG, including:

• £450 yearly flexible benefit pot to use against benefits of your choice.
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days).
• Chance to buy or sell holiday as part of our flexible benefits package.
• Generous matched pension scheme up to 12% and Life cover at 4x salary.
• Options for private medical insurance, dental insurance and critical illness cover.
• Wellbeing discounts, including Gym Memberships and access to a 24/7 virtual GP service.

At Sovereign Network Group, we are passionate about inclusion for all and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at SNG. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values. If you would like the opportunity to make a real impact within our changing and growing organisation, we would love to hear from you!