Client Accountant

Cobalt Recruitment; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property management business in London is looking for a Service Charge Accountant on a 12-month fixed term contract. In this role, you will manage the end-to-end service charge accounting process for commercial properties, collaborate with various teams, and ensure compliance with the Service Charge Code. The ideal candidate will have a strong service charge accounting background and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Strong background in service charge accounting within commercial real estate.
• Solid understanding of service charge principles and compliance requirements.
• Ability to prioritise and manage deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and reconcile service charge accounts.
• Lead on annual service charge budgets and contribute to forecasting.
• Provide accurate financial reporting to landlords and managers.

Skills

Service charge accounting

Technical accounting skills

Communication skills

Variance analysis

Budget management

Tools

QUBE

Yardi

Job description

Overview

Cobalt are working with a leading property management business to hire a Service Charge Accountant on a 12-month fixed term contract. This role will see you managing the end-to-end service charge accounting process for a portfolio of commercial assets, working in close partnership with property managers, asset managers, and facilities teams. It is an excellent opportunity to join a people-driven and forward-looking organisation, where you will gain hands-on exposure to multi-let offices, retail, and mixed-use schemes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and reconcile service charge accounts in line with industry standards and lease agreements
• Lead on annual service charge budgets and contribute to quarterly forecasting processes
• Provide accurate financial reporting, including variance analysis, to landlords, asset managers, and occupiers
• Work closely with Property Managers and Facilities teams to ensure accurate cost allocation and transparent reporting
• Liaise with auditors to ensure year-end accounts are delivered on time
• Identify and implement improvements in processes and reporting
• Ensure compliance with the RICS Service Charge Code and relevant legislation

Qualifications

• Strong background in service charge accounting within commercial real estate
• Solid understanding of service charge principles and statutory compliance requirements
• Experience using property management/accounting systems such as QUBE or Yardi
• Excellent technical accounting skills, particularly reconciliations and variance analysis
• Ability to prioritise and manage deadlines in a dynamic environment
• Confident communicator, with the ability to build relationships across property management and client teams