Service Charge Accountant, Bedford (4 days in office, 1 day remote), £40k-£45k+ discretionary bonus
About the Business
My client is a leading UK provider of flexible workspace, operating a broad portfolio of office, studio, and light industrial sites across multiple regions.
Role Overview
This is an in-house Service Charge Accountant position responsible for the accurate preparation, administration, and reconciliation of service charges across a diverse commercial property portfolio. The role offers full ownership of the service charge lifecycle and plays a key part in strengthening internal processes and financial controls.
Key Responsibilities
* Interpret commercial lease agreements to ensure service charge calculations, apportionments, and recoveries are accurate and compliant.
* Prepare annual service charge budgets aligned with the wider business planning and budgeting timetable.
* Issue service charge demands in accordance with lease terms and agreed schedules.
* Perform regular reconciliations of service charge accounts, investigating and resolving variances and discrepancies.
* Produce year-end service charge accounts and supporting documentation in line with regulatory and best practice standards.
* Monitor service charge income and arrears, supporting effective recovery while maintaining positive tenant relationships.
* Deliver clear management information, including variance analysis and commentary.
* Assist with forecasting and periodic reforecasting of service charge expenditure.
* Review existing service charge processes, recommending and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
* Attend meetings with operational teams or occupiers to explain budgets, reconciliations, and adjustments where required.
* Work closely with property management and finance colleagues to ensure audit readiness and consistent application of policies.
* Provide ad hoc support to the Financial Controller as needed.
Skills & Experience
* Demonstrable experience within commercial service charge accounting.
* Experience managing the full service charge cycle from budget setting through to year-end reconciliation.
* Comfortable operating autonomously in a newly established or evolving in-house role.
* Strong technical knowledge of service charge accounting principles and reporting requirements.
* Working understanding of the RICS Service Charge Code of Practice.
* High level of accuracy and strong analytical capability.
* Advanced Excel skills, including reconciliation of large and complex data sets.
* Confident in reviewing and challenging information provided by managing agents and external suppliers.
* Clear and effective communicator, able to explain financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
* Well organised, adaptable, and able to manage competing deadlines.
Service Charge Accountant, Bedford (4 days in office, 1 day remote), £40k-£45k+ discretionary bonus