Property Accountant

Cobalt Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment clients a growing real estate business seeking a Property Accountant to manage monthly, quarterly and statutory reporting for a portfolio of properties. You will partner with operational teams, review variances, and support budgeting, forecasting and lease-related accounting activities.

The role requires strong technical accounting knowledge, attention to detail and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Degree educated or equivalent.
• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) preferred.
• At least five years' accounting experience.
• Experience in real estate, property or asset management preferred.
• Knowledge of US GAAP or IFRS would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage month-end and quarter-end close processes for a portfolio of properties, including accruals and reclassifications.
• Review P&L, investigate variances, and prepare reporting packs for internal stakeholders.
• Support bank reconciliations and ensure outstanding items are resolved promptly.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and maintain supporting documentation.
• Coordinate leasing activity with property managers and manage service charge recoveries.
• Assist in budgeting, forecasting and annual financial statements for SPVs and entities.

Skills

English fluency

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Independent working

Education

Degree educated

ACA/ACCA/CIMA preferred

Tools

Yardi Voyager

Job description

Our client, a growing real estate business is bringing property accounting activities in-house following significant portfolio growth. The Property Accountant will be responsible for monthly, quarterly and statutory reporting for a portfolio of European properties and associated SPVs. The role involves financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, tenant accounting, tax coordination and business partnering with operational teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage month-end and quarter-end close processes for a portfolio of single and multi-tenant properties, including accruals, allocations, reclassifications and accounting adjustments.
• Review profit and loss statements, investigate variances against budget and prior periods, and prepare reporting packs for internal stakeholders.
• Support and review bank reconciliations, ensuring outstanding items are resolved promptly.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and maintain supporting documentation for key control accounts.
• Ensure the accurate accounting of debt facilities, interest accruals and related financing costs.
• Partner with property managers regarding leasing activity, service charge recoveries, collections and accounting treatments.
• Review and approve accounts payable coding, ensuring correct treatment of recoverable costs, capital expenditure and maintenance expenditure.
• Process rental income and service charge transactions whilst liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work alongside lease administration teams to investigate and resolve billing and collection issues.
• Assist in the preparation and review of bad debt provisions where required.
• Support service charge reconciliations and tenant recoveries processes.
• Produce leasing and occupancy reports to support budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Prepare annual budgets and quarterly reforecasts.
• Support senior finance stakeholders with financial analysis, reporting and technical accounting matters.
• Assist with fair value adjustments, impairment reviews and other accounting assessments as required.
• Review and interpret leases, purchase agreements, management agreements and other legal documentation.
• Liaise with external advisers regarding VAT, corporation tax and other statutory filings.
• Coordinate the preparation and review of annual financial statements for SPVs and property entities.
• Support acquisitions and disposals, including purchase price allocation exercises, accounting integration and operational onboarding.
• Prepare audit working papers and respond to auditor queries.
• Act as a key point of contact for property accounting and systems-related queries.
• Work closely with finance, legal, tax, treasury, operations and leasing teams to resolve accounting matters.
• Participate in finance system improvements, testing and implementation projects.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve financial processes and controls.
• Undertake additional projects and responsibilities as required.

Candidate Profile

• Fluency in English is essential.
• Additional European language skills (German, French, Spanish or Italian) are highly desirable.
• Previous experience using Yardi Voyager or a similar property accounting system.
• Strong analytical, technical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• High attention to detail with strong organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree educated or equivalent.
• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) preferred.
• At least five years' accounting experience.
• Previous real estate, property or asset management experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of US GAAP or IFRS would be advantageous.