Accounts Officer

North Northamptonshire Council; Raunds; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking an Accounts Officer to manage utility-related accounts and provide exceptional customer service. The role includes coordinating utilities for properties, liaising with suppliers, and performing front-of-house duties. The ideal candidate will have strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with a focus on customer service. This position offers a competitive salary, generous leave entitlement, and a supportive working environment that promotes work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively.
• Proactive approach to resolving issues with suppliers and tenants.
• Professional and courteous when dealing with tenants, suppliers, and visitors.
• Willingness to support colleagues and cover additional duties when required.

Responsibilities

• Manage utilities for vacant and rechargeable properties.
• Provide front-of-house reception services and tenant support.
• Coordinate utility disconnections and re-connection.
• Liaise with utility companies to ensure timely invoice processing.
• Answer general enquiries and telephone calls professionally.

Skills

Organisational Skills

Problem Solving

Customer Service

Teamwork

Job description

About The Role

The Accounts Officer role will be to manage and administer all utility‑related accounts for properties within our commercial portfolio, ensuring accurate billing, timely payments, and compliance with company procedures. Additionally, the role will provide front‑of‑house reception services and tenant liaison support, delivering excellent customer care and assisting with general administrative tasks. This role will be based at the three Business Centres located in Corby and Raunds.

What will you be doing?

Utility Management

• Manage utilities for vacant and rechargeable properties within the portfolio.
• Coordinate disconnection and reconnection of services, resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Negotiate and agree utility contracts with suppliers.
• Liaise with utility companies to ensure timely invoice processing and avoid late payment fees.
• Calculate and process utility recharges for applicable properties.
• Raise purchase orders, receive invoices, organise refunds, and close purchase orders at year‑end.
• Raise sales orders to tenants for utility recharges.

Tenant & Property Coordination

• Coordinate utilities for tenants moving in and out of properties.
• Verify meter accessibility and condition, reporting faults or tampering.
• Arrange installation of smart meters where required.
• Maintain accurate meter information (serial numbers, readings, location).
• Provide reception cover and meet‑and‑greet services for visitors, tenants, and dignitaries.
• Assist visitors with queries and direct them appropriately.
• Liaise with tenants and internal colleagues regarding meeting bookings and events.

Reception & Administrative Duties

• Answer telephone calls and general enquiries professionally.
• Undertake mailroom duties including distribution, franking, and special deliveries.
• Photocopy and prepare documents as required by tenants.
• Record data for sundries invoicing and assist with diary coordination for meeting rooms, including catering arrangements.
• Update telephone system for billing purposes.
• Assist with Fire Evacuation process and hold Fire Warden and First Aid certification.

Supplier Liaison

• Open, close, or transfer accounts for vacant units.
• Submit meter readings promptly and accurately.
• Resolve discrepancies with suppliers, including incorrect charges or usage queries.
• Track and manage ongoing supplier communications to ensure timely responses.

Invoice & Cost Management

• Receive, review, and process utility invoices.
• Check invoices for accuracy, including dates, meter readings, and tariff application.
• Flag and resolve anomalies such as unusual consumption or billing errors.
• Maintain accurate financial records for utility costs during vacancy.

Administration & Reporting

• Maintain an up‑to‑date log of properties, meter details, suppliers, and contract statuses.
• Ensure documentation complies with company processes and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare regular reports summarising meter readings, costs, queries, and outstanding issues.
• Maintain accurate records on the ERP system and utilities spreadsheet.
• Support the wider property management team with utility‑related queries.
• Additional ad‑hoc duties as required by the service area.

About You

Person Specification

• Organisational Skills: Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively.
• Problem Solving: Proactive approach to resolving issues with suppliers and tenants.
• Customer Service: Professional and courteous when dealing with tenants, suppliers, and visitors.
• Teamwork: Willingness to support colleagues and cover additional duties when required.

Our Benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We Offer a Vibrant Working Environment With

• A competitive salary
• A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill‑health protection.
• Lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
• Generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About Us

Our Values and Behaviours

• Customer‑focused
• Respectful
• Efficient
• Supportive
• Trustworthy

We are a pride Disability Confident Employer and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Attached Documents

• Accounts Officer.docx