Service Charge Accountant

Job Summary

Preparing and maintaining client service charge accounts, resolving queries, preparing accounting data for external accountants, and analysing handover information.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit client service charge accounts within deadlines and in accordance with industry regulations.
• Prepare client reports within service level agreements (SLAs).
• File statutory returns with Companies House.
• Resolve queries related to service charge accounts.
• Prepare accounting data for external accountants.
• Analyze handover information to ensure accurate data transfer.
• Prepare complex single-client reports.
• Possess expert knowledge of multi-schedule accounts.
• Have experience in lease apportionments and void schedules.
• Attend monthly meetings with relevant regional managers to discuss portfolio performance.

Job Duties

• Review and process movements of expenditures between cost centers.
• Review and process prepayments and accruals at service charge year-end reconciliation.
• Audit income for the year to ensure leaseholders have been charged correctly.
• Prepare service charge calculations including balance sheet reconciliation and detailed analysis of profit and loss (P&L) accounts.
• Post deficit/surplus for the year and issue demands to leaseholders.
• Issue Section 20b notices where applicable.
• Ensure accuracy of information provided by external agents and ensure income and expenditure is correctly recorded within the company's data system.
• Maintain an organized and accurate filing system for financial data.
• Work as part of a team to support the manager and property accounting side.
• Prepare monthly and/or quarterly reporting.
• Answer financial/administrative questions from clients and external stakeholders.
• Process property standing information onto the company's data system.
• Prepare financial information for the processing of sales/acquisition of properties.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key clients and external accountants.
• Prepare service charge accounts and client reports for key clients and complex sites.
• Maintain excellent communication with other business departments.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven experience in residential property management and service charge accounting.
• Knowledge of the changes and developments in the service charge industry.
• Relevant commercial property and service charge accounting experience.
• Proficiency in a property management system such as QUBE, YARDI, MRI, or TRAMPS.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and proactive approach to work.
• Excellent team player and collaborator.

Desired Skills

• Experience preparing residential service charge accounts.
• Ability to analyze complex data to produce reports and deliver information to a variety of audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• A professional accountancy qualification (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, AAT, etc.) is an advantage.
• Excellent Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP functionality.
• Working knowledge of property management systems.
• Ability to adapt to new IT systems.