Interim Service Charge Manager

Robertson Bell; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected housing association in the UK is seeking an Interim Service Charge Manager for a 6–9 month contract. You will lead a stable team in charge of service charge accounting and ensure accurate and timely delivery of outputs. The ideal candidate should have significant management experience, strong knowledge of service charge systems, and the ability to guide a team through a system upgrade. This role offers hybrid working arrangements on Kent.

Qualifications

• Proven management experience within a service charge or rent accounting environment.
• Strong working knowledge of service charge systems.
• At least 5–10 years’ experience in service charge leadership within housing.
• Available at short notice.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team responsible for rent and service charge accounting.
• Oversee the production of annual service charge estimates and statements.
• Manage system maintenance and oversee service charge system upgrade.
• Represent the organisation in adjudication hearings and manage complaints.
• Ensure accurate coding and allocation of costs.

Skills

Leadership

Service charge knowledge

Project management

Team management

Tools

Service charge systems

General ledger

Job description

Do you bring calm leadership, deep service charge knowledge, and a steady hand when it’s most needed? Can you guide an experienced, high-performing team through a period of transition? Do you have the systems expertise and project mindset to see a service charge upgrade through to success?

A respected housing association based in Kent is seeking an Interim Service Charge Manager for an expected 6–9 month contract. You’ll lead a strong, stable team responsible for rent and service charge accounting, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of all outputs across a diverse portfolio of tenures.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading a team covering rent and service charge accounting, cash posting, and reconciliations
• Overseeing the production of annual service charge estimates and statements across mixed tenure stock
• Managing system maintenance, including reconciliations between the service charge system and the general ledger
• Acting as system lead for the upcoming service charge system upgrade, including data migration, hierarchy mapping, UAT, and project coordination with IT and finance colleagues
• Representing the organisation in First-Tier Tribunal hearings and handling Stage 1 service charge complaints
• Ensuring accurate coding and allocation of costs
• Supporting rent setting and evaluation processes for new affordable rent schemes in partnership with senior colleagues

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced service charge professional with leadership experience and a methodical approach. You’ll inherit a high-performing, loyal team that knows the stock and systems inside out — your focus will be on continuity, steady delivery, and helping to steer the system upgrade programme.

To be considered, please meet these criteria:

• Proven management experience within a service charge or rent accounting environment
• Strong working knowledge of service charge systems
• At least 5–10 years’ experience in service charge leadership within housing
• Available at short notice

The role offers hybrid working (two days in office in Kent). You’ll be joining a friendly, long-standing finance team in a well-run, expanding organisation that values collaboration and professional pride.

If you’re ready to step in, steady the ship, and help deliver key improvements, apply today or contact me for a confidential conversation.