Assistant Service Charge Accountant

Pegasus Homes; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a vibrant and dynamic company focused on creating high-quality homes for independent living. As an Assistant Service Charge Accountant, you will play a crucial role in managing service charge finances across a diverse property portfolio. This position offers the chance to work collaboratively within a supportive team while ensuring accurate financial reporting. With a strong focus on detail and excellent communication skills, you will be instrumental in addressing queries and supporting the operations team. Enjoy a hybrid working environment and a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes your well-being and work-life balance.

Benefits

Enhanced Annual Leave

Contributory Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Paid Volunteering Days

Employee Assistance Programme

Health Cash Plan

Discounted Gym Membership

Company Discounts Portal

Refer a Friend Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in finance or accounting, ideally with service charge accounting.
• Strong knowledge of accounting systems and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage service charge budgets and year-end accounts.
• Address finance-related queries from internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Finance or Accounting Experience

Service Charge Accounting

Communication Skills

Excel Proficiency

Problem-Solving Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Relevant Finance/Accounting Qualification

Tools

Qube Software

Google Suite

Job description

• Location: Cheltenham
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 09:00 - 17:30 Monday to Friday
• Package: Up to £30,000 per annum + enhanced benefits & rewards
• Basis: Permanent, hybrid working with minimum of 3 office based days per week

About us

We are Pegasus Homes Ltd, a vibrant, dynamic business who are proud to design, build, and create high-quality homes with a focus on independent later living for the over 60's. Our current portfolio has some 1100 homes across 40 communities and our developments are beautifully designed offering stunning community living.

We have created a great opportunity for an experienced Assistant Service Charge Accountant to join our Cheltenham based finance team.

About our role

As Assistant Service Charge Accountant you will be a valued member of our collaborative three-person Service Charge accounting team. Reporting to the Service Charge Accountant, you will be instrumental in ensuring the accurate reporting of service charge finances across our diverse property portfolio.

In this role, you will actively contribute to key accounting processes, including preparing and managing service charge budgets and year-end accounts. This will involve supporting the tracking of monthly expenditure, analysing budget variances, and assisting with producing and publishing year-end financial statements.

You will also play a vital role in providing exceptional service by efficiently addressing finance-related queries from both internal and external stakeholders and offering support to the operations team, guided by senior team members.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Under the guidance of the Accountant, lead the process for your assigned developments. This includes initial preparation, coordinating operational and owner reviews, and approving and loading approved budgets into our property management system
• Track and analyse monthly expenditures against approved budgets
• Lead the process for your assigned developments to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of annual service charge accounts. Taking responsibility for the end-to-end process, from preparation to publishing with owners
• Ensure the timely and accurate distribution of Service Charge accounts and budgets to owners. Serve as a primary point of contact for effectively and professionally resolving owner queries related to these financial statements

• Address finance-related queries promptly and effectively from both internal departments and external stakeholders, demonstrating strong problem-solving and communication skills

• Raising demands accurately and efficiently for Service Charge, Reserve Fund, and Ground Rent
• Process miscellaneous income streams, such as guest suite bookings and parking permits, ensuring all transactions are appropriately supported, recorded, and reconciled
• Generate sundry sales, intercompany recharge invoices accurately
• Maintain accurate records for Ground Rent funds, including the timely remittance of statements and associated monies to landlords
• Prepare Ground Rent reviews in strict accordance with lease review dates and ensure the accurate and timely issuing of corresponding demands
• Perform regular and thorough bank reconciliations, effectively utilising virtual accounts where applicable
• While not a primary responsibility, this role provides essential guidance, analytical support, and occasional hands-on ledger assistance to the transactional team, particularly during peak periods or to cover absences

About you

You’ll have demonstrable experience in a finance or accounting role, ideally with exposure to service charge accounting or the property sector with experience of taking ownership of key financial responsibilities.

A good working knowledge of accounting systems is essential. Familiarity with Qube software would be a significant advantage, as would experience gained within a property related sector.

Skills & Knowledge

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Ability to articulate financial information clearly and concisely to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Impeccable accuracy: A meticulous approach to work with a strong focus on detail and ensuring the integrity of financial data
• Proficiency in Excel is essential, and experience with using Qube or alternative property management software would be desirable, but not essential
• Comfortable liaising with customers, verbally and in writing
• Strong IT skills are essential, including a solid understanding of spreadsheets. Familiarity with Google Suite would be advantageous but is not essential
  Attributes
• Highly Organised and Proactive: Possess excellent organisational skills and timekeeping, with a proven ability to manage workload effectively, prioritise tasks, and adhere to deadlines
• Collaborative Team Player: A key team player who is collaborative and supportive, with the ability to build strong working relationships across different teams and contribute positively to a team environment

Our benefits & rewards

We offer fantastic benefits which look after your Financial, Mental and Physical Wellbeing as we believe it is important that we are able to support our employees across all three of these elements in order to ensure an effective work life balance. By joining us you'll enjoy a benefits package that includes:

• Enhanced annual leave & holiday buying scheme
• Contributory pension scheme with additional employer contribution,
• Life Assurance
• Two paid volunteering days per annum
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Cash Plan & Virtual GP
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Company Discounts Portal
• Refer a friend scheme and access to internal opportunities

What happens next

Although we embrace technology to support our recruitment process we value a human touch so a member of our hiring team will carefully consider your application.

If your profile demonstrates the skills and experience we are looking for we'll invite you to join us for a telephone screening providing you with an opportunity to discuss your profile in more detail, and for us to provide you with a more in-depth overview of the role you have applied for as well as answer any questions you have.

From there the process will be role specific, but will include an in-person stage and could include a short online assessment. Rest assured we'll keep you updated through the process and if at any stage you require any additional support, or have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

If you have the skills and experience we are looking for we'd love to hear from you!

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and we do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.

As an equal opportunities employer, Pegasus Homes welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. In line with UK Immigration and Employment Law, only applicants eligible to live and work in the UK need apply.