Service Charge Accountant

Dove & Hawk; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Dove & Hawk in Kingston is seeking a Service Charge Accountant to own the service charge accounting for a portfolio of residential properties and ensure accuracy, compliance and timely reporting.

The role requires at least 3 years of service charge experience, strong budgeting and reconciliations, and proficiency with Excel and accounting software. Hybrid working from 2 days in the office and 3 days WFH.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years' experience with service charge accounts.
• Strong budgeting, reconciliations and year-end accounting.
• Excellent numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain service charge accounts for a portfolio of residential properties.
• Produce annual service charge budgets with property managers.
• Prepare year-end service charge accounts.
• Reconcile expenditures against budgets and investigate variances.
• Record income, expenditure, accruals and prepayments accurately.
• Reconcile service charge bank accounts and monitor balances.
• Ensure correct allocation of service charge transactions.
• Maintain audit-ready financial records.
• Process supplier invoices for property maintenance and payments.
• Liaise with contractors and leaseholders on invoices and payments.
• Monitor rent arrears and escalate uncollected payments.

Skills

Service charge accounting

Budgeting

Reconciliations

Financial reporting

Excel

Accounting software

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Service Charge Accountant - Kingston - £40,000 - £50,000 DOE

Our client, a Property Management Company based in Kingston are looking for an experienced Service Charge Accountant to join their growing team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced property finance professional to take ownership of service charge accounting, ensure financial accuracy and compliance, and build strong working relationships with property managers, clients, leaseholders and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain accurate service charge accounts for a portfolio of residential properties
• Produce annual service charge budgets in collaboration with property managers
• Prepare year-end service charge accounts
• Reconcile service charge expenditure against budgets and investigate significant variances.
• Ensure income, expenditure, accruals, prepayments and other accounting adjustments are accurately recorded.
• Reconcile service charge bank accounts and monitor service charge balances.
• Ensure service charge transactions are allocated correctly in accordance with lease terms and relevant cost apportionments.
• Maintain accurate financial records and supporting documentation for audit and reporting purposes.
• Accounts Payable: Processing, coding, and paying contractor and supplier invoices for property maintenance and repairs.
• Liaise with contractors and leaseholder regarding invoices and payments
• Monitoring rent arrears, sending follow-up reminders to tenants, and escalating uncollected payments.

Person Specification

• At least 3 years' experience with service charge accounts
• Strong understanding of service charge budgets, reconciliations and year-end accounting.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple properties, competing priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A professional and customer-focused approach to handling financial queries.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and accounting software.

Other details

• Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 DOE
• Working hours: 9am to 5pm, hybrid working - 2 days in the office and 3 WFH