Job Description
Rent and Service Charge Accountant
* Job Type: Full-time
* Salary: £48,000-£55,000
Reed Finance are partnering with an Essex based organisation, seeking a dedicated Rent and Service Charge Accountant to join their Finance team. Reporting to the Finance Manager, this role is pivotal in managing the rent and service charge processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance with tenancy agreements and service charge legislation. The ideal candidate will be the primary contact for both internal and external stakeholders regarding service charge enquiries.
Day-to-day of the role:
* Lead the service charge function for all properties, ensuring accurate and timely calculations and compliance with relevant legislation.
* Prepare and review income and expenditure reports for leaseholders, coordinating with external accountants for final audits.
* Manage year-end service charge and rent calculations, ensuring equitable application across all accounts.
* Handle leaseholder audits and resolve any related queries.
* Produce estimated and actual expenditure adjustments for leaseholder service charges.
* Oversee the Finance Administrator supporting the service charge function.
* Maintain accurate financial models and manage service charge expense allocations and accruals monthly.
* Liaise with tenants, suppliers, management companies, and internal departments to resolve service charge queries.
* Ensure system updates and reconciliations of revised charges are accurately executed.
* Prepare rent and service charges for new developments and manage financial transitions during tenancy changes.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
* Proven experience as a Service Charge Accountant, ideally within a housing/property management context.
* Familiarity with housing management and finance systems such as Orchard, Omni, or Open Accounts is advantageous.
* Strong Excel skills, including VLOOKUP and pivot tables.
* Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and investigative skills.
* Strong communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
If you have prior experience working as a Service Charge Accountant and looking for a new opportunity, please apply now for more information.