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- Tasks: Manage service charge accounts, budgeting, and financial reporting for a community housing charity.
- Company: Join SW9 Community Housing, a resident-led charity making a difference in Stockwell/Brixton.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £50,000, full-time role with opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Engage with residents and stakeholders, ensuring compliance and improving community services.
- Why this job: Make an impact in social housing while developing your accounting skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Part-qualified or qualified accountant with experience in service charge accounting preferred.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Stockwell, London, SW9
Job Type: £50,000 Per annum, Full Time, Permanent
About SW9 Community Housing: SW9 Community Housing is a resident-led social housing charity responsible for the delivery of housing management and maintenance services for around 1,800 homes and several commercial and community buildings in Stockwell/Brixton on behalf of a G15 Housing Association, Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
About The Role: We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Service Charge Accountant to manage and oversee all financial activities related to service charge accounts. The successful candidate will ensure accurate budgeting, timely reconciliation, and compliance with relevant regulations for service charge funds, primarily within a residential property portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
- Budgeting & Financial Reporting: Prepare and reconcile annual service charge budgets and actuals. Produce and issue year-end service charge accounts in line with lease agreements and statutory guidelines (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985). Manage and report on reserve funds, ensuring correct contributions and balances. Monitor expenditure, compare against budgets, and post adjustments as needed. Provide service charge budgets for new developments at design stage.
- Billing & System Management: Calculate and issue service charge estimates, actuals, major works charges, and ground rent in line with lease terms and within set timescales. Lead on the rent increase process, ensuring accurate calculations and communications. Troubleshoot and improve service charge billing systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Maintain service charge ledgers and ensure accurate postings in financial systems.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Queries: Liaise with SNG to ensure the bank balance is topped up with the correct amounts. Reconcile the individual leaseholder accounts and produce and send out yearly financial statements. Handle leaseholder and tenant queries on service charge estimates, statements, and variances. Liaise with internal teams (Repairs, Development, Finance) to ensure correct cost allocations and billing for works and new developments. Support internal and external audits, tribunals, and court proceedings with required financial data. Collaborate with the Leasehold Adviser to improve communication with residents, including welcome packs and service charge handbooks.
- Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and obtain dispensation where necessary. Review lease agreements to ensure all service charge elements are captured. Identify non-collectable charges and prepare write-off documentation as required. Conduct Land Registry checks to confirm leaseholder ownership status.
- Engagement & Representation: Arrange and attend leaseholder service charge meetings and community events. Provide input to legal and tribunal cases as required. Represent the organisation at First Tier Tribunals and in County Court when necessary.
About you:
Experience, Qualifications & Skills:
- Part-qualified or qualified (ACCA, CIMA, AAT) or equivalent relevant experience.
- Possession of or working towards a recognised accounting qualification is desirable.
- Experience in Service Charge accounting and general leasehold management preferable within housing or property sector.
- Experience of creating performance reports and implementing service improvements is desirable.
- Experience of working in social housing or local authority is desirable.
- Knowledge of leases and understanding of the issues of leasehold management.
- Good knowledge of IT and Housing systems including Word, advanced Excel and Outlook.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to support work with customers across a range of circumstances.
- Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to adapt this approach for different audiences.
- Excellent analytical skills to identify a range of issues from information gathered.
- Excellent customer focus and a genuine desire to achieve excellence in all areas of responsibility.
- Excellent numerical skills to calculate estimated and actual service charges.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Section 20 and other leasehold legislation.
- Ability to manage difficult conversations.
- Able to manage and prioritise demanding workload.
- Meet deadlines and KPIs.
- Calm and professional.
- Self-motivated and personal with a 'can do' approach.
- Seeks opportunities for improvements.
- Actively demonstrates interest in all aspects of the business.
Full details of the role profile available on request. Please click on the APPLY button to send your CV for this role. Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Property Finance Accountant, Service Charge Finance Specialist, Accounts Coordinator, Qualified Accountant and Leasehold Accounting Analyst may also be considered.
Service Charge Accountant in Oxford employer: SW9 Community Housing
Contact Detail:
SW9 Community Housing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Charge Accountant in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing and finance sectors. Attend local events or webinars related to service charge accounting. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of leasehold management and service charge regulations. Be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting and financial reporting, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've identified issues and implemented improvements in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the demands of the Service Charge Accountant position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Charge Accountant in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your service charge accounting experience and any relevant qualifications to show us you're the right fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about this position and how your background aligns with our mission at SW9 Community Housing. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to mention your analytical skills and experience with financial reporting. We want to see how you can contribute to our team, so give us examples of how you've tackled similar challenges in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at SW9 Community Housing
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Service Charge Accountant, you'll be dealing with budgets and financial reports. Brush up on your accounting principles and be ready to discuss how you've managed service charge accounts in the past. Be specific about your experience with budgeting, reconciliation, and compliance with regulations.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Legislation
Understanding the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and other relevant leasehold legislation is crucial. Make sure you can explain how these laws impact service charge accounting and how you've navigated them in previous roles. This will show your potential employer that you're not just knowledgeable but also proactive.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, like resolving disputes with leaseholders or managing tight deadlines. Think of examples from your past work where you successfully tackled similar challenges. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills and customer focus.
✨Show Your Communication Skills
You'll need to liaise with various stakeholders, so be prepared to showcase your interpersonal skills. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms, as you might need to communicate with residents who aren't familiar with accounting jargon. This will highlight your ability to adapt your communication style.