Service Charge Accountant; hybrid

I’m currently recruiting on behalf of a well-established property management business that is looking to appoint a Service Charge Accountant to join its Client Finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Service Charge Accountant / Client Accountant looking for a new position within a professional property management environment, with responsibility for a varied residential portfolio.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the accurate, timely and transparent financial management of an allocated portfolio of residential blocks, estates and mixed-use developments. You will work closely with Property Managers, clients, leaseholders and external accountants, covering the full service charge accounting cycle from budgeting and billing through to reconciliations, year-end accounts and financial reporting.

• £30,000-£38,000 per annum, depending on skills, knowledge and experience
• Hybrid working
• Professional development opportunities
• Five weeks' holiday
• Birthday off
• Four wellbeing days per year
• Employee assistance and wellbeing programmes
• Company-provided equipment for hybrid working
• Free parking at the office

• Take day-to-day financial ownership of an allocated portfolio of blocks, estates and mixed-use developments.
• Prepare and review annual service charge and estate charge budgets.
• Prepare cashflow forecasts and contribute to longer-term forecasting, including reserve or sinking fund plans where applicable.
• Interpret leases, management agreements and client instructions to determine recoverability, apportionments and accounting requirements.
• Prepare and check periodic demands for service charges, estate charges, ground rent and other property-related charges.
• Review utilities, insurance and supplier costs and ensure appropriate recharges to leaseholders.
• Monitor income, arrears, commitments and expenditure against budget.
• Prepare complete and accurate service charge accounts and supporting working papers.
• Reconcile income, expenditure, accruals, prepayments, creditors, debtors and reserve or sinking funds.
• Liaise with external accountants and auditors, providing supporting information and resolving queries through to sign-off.
• Provide regular reporting on budget performance, cashflow, arrears, reserve funds and year-end progress.
• Respond to client, leaseholder and colleague queries, taking ownership of complex service charge queries through to resolution.
• Attend client meetings when required to present budgets, accounts, forecasts and financial information.
• Work closely with Property Managers around major works, qualifying works, long-term agreements and building safety expenditure.
• Maintain accurate records and support audits, client money reviews, complaints, disputes and tribunal-related enquiries.
• Maintain accurate data within property accounting systems and contribute to process improvements and automation.
• Share knowledge across the Client Finance and Property Management teams and provide guidance and quality checks where appropriate.

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least one year's experience in residential service charge accounting or client finance, together with practical accounting experience.
• Experience preparing service charge budgets, cashflow forecasts, year-end accounts and supporting working papers.
• Strong knowledge of accruals, prepayments, fund accounting, reconciliations and the treatment of surpluses and deficits.
• The ability to interpret leases and translate financial provisions into accurate budgets, demands, apportionments and accounts.
• A working knowledge of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, including service charge information rights, Section 20 consultation and the 18-month rule.
• Knowledge of current RICS residential…