Rent & Service Charge Accountant

Ref: LRA139
Job Type:Permanent
Salary: £37,000 - £46,000pa
Location: Sunderland
Closing Date:

Job Description

The Role

To set and monitor rent and service charges in line with regulatory requirements. To ensure accurate statements of accounts for all service charge payers.

• Take the lead on rent and service charge setting and liaise with the Leasehold, Housing and Property colleagues to ensure all rents and service charges are reviewed and set correctly.
• Ensure accurate estimation and reconciliation of service charges for existing schemes & new developments.
• Ensure compliance of rent and service charges setting in line with relevant legislation and regulation.
• To lead on the independent certification of accounts by the External Auditor in accordance with legislation and the legal requirements of the lease and /or agreement for properties in management.
• Develop effective relationships with the Leasehold, Housing and Property Teams and external managing agents to ensure all demands and notifications are served in accordance with legislation and the head lease.
• Resolve any queries arising from the Leasehold Team.
• Prepare the rent and service charge data for communications and rent accounting system upload
• Analyse financial and non financial records
• Carry out monthly variance monitoring of all property expenditure against income charged.
• Prepare account reconciliations for review
• Support the Finance Partner with monthly reporting, support the management reporting process
• Ensure that the business’ customer care standards are maintained when dealing with all stakeholders, including an effective response to complaints
• Ensure that all duties, including dealings with all stakeholders, are conducted within the business’ policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with the Group’s Financial Regulations, policies and procedures.
• Operate with openness and transparency and ensure excellent record keeping for audit trail
• Lead the ongoing review of the rent and service charge process, including the implementation of relevant systems.
• Support the ongoing development and implementation of wider finance system projects and continuing development of the department to achieve the department’s objective.

The Person:

• Ideally knowledge and application of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Rent Standard and the 1985 Landlord and Tenant Act

• Experience of calculating actual and estimate rent and service charges for a range of tenures.

• Computer literate with a practical knowledge of Word and Excel.

• A good understanding and awareness of financial and accounting procedures.

• Customer centric with good interpersonal skills to ensure that we continue to meet all of our customer and colleague expectations.

• Ability to analyse and interpret large volumes of data at speed and with accuracy to achieve outcomes by required deadlines often under pressure.

• Working within a team and independently.

• Commitment to personal development and a willingness to work towards additional learning or qualifications to ensure that we maximise opportunities.