Service Charge Accountant

Property Management Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Pension

Breakfast and lunch provided daily

Job summary

Property Management Recruitment Ltd is seeking a skilled Service Charge Accountant for a North West London mixed-use portfolio. You will own the service charge accounting for two buildings, handling budgets, invoices, and VAT considerations for both commercial and residential spaces.

Working hybrid, you will liaise with the in-house property team, provide timely financial information to senior management, and drive effective credit control and arrears recovery to protect service charge income.

Qualifications

• Proven service charge accounting experience across residential & commercial property.
• Advanced working knowledge of Qube (essential).
• Strong VAT knowledge for commercial service charges and void costs.
• Experience in accounts payable/receivable, credit control and arrears recovery.
• Knowledge of residential leasehold service charges legislation and relevant professional statements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain service charge accounts for two buildings (commercial & residential).
• Process accounts payable/receivable accurately and timely.
• Load budgets onto Qube and keep records accurate through the service charge year.
• Raise demands, issue invoices, and receipt payments from leaseholders & tenants.
• Undertake credit control and arrears recovery; escalate where needed.
• Ensure correct VAT treatment of commercial service charges and appropriate void cost accounting.
• Provide prompt, well-supported financial information to senior management.
• Identify risks and propose documented recommendations to senior management.
• Liaise with property managers on budget prep, expenditure monitoring and arrears.

Skills

Service charge accounting (residential

Service charge accounting (commercial

VAT knowledge

Credit control & arrears

Communication of financial information

Organised & methodical

AAT/IRPM (desirable)

Education

AAT or IRPM membership

Tools

Qube

Job description

Service Charge Accountant - Client-Side, Mixed-Use Portfolio

North West London | Salary: £45,000-£50,000 | Hybrid: three days office, two days home

Our client is a leading property developer that manages its portfolio in-house, acting as its own managing agent. As the property team expands, they wish to appoint an experienced Service Charge Accountant to take responsibility for the service charge finances of a mixed commercial and residential portfolio.

The role will initially cover two buildings, one commercial office and one residential, with full responsibility for the service charge accounts of each. The successful candidate will be an established professional who can manage their accounts independently, provide accurate financial information to senior management, and present well-reasoned recommendations where issues arise.

The Role

The Service Charge Accountant will manage the full service charge accounting function for the assigned buildings, working closely with the in-house property management team.

• Maintain the service charge accounts for an initial portfolio of two buildings, one commercial and one residential
• Process accounts payable and receivable accurately and within agreed timescales
• Load approved service charge budgets onto Qube and keep financial records accurate throughout the service charge year
• Raise service charge demands and invoices, and receipt payments from leaseholders and commercial tenants
• Undertake credit control, arrears management and debt recovery, including issuing arrears correspondence and escalating cases where appropriate
• Ensure the correct VAT treatment of commercial service charges and the appropriate apportionment and accounting of void costs
• Respond to enquiries from senior management promptly, with accurate and well-supported financial information
• Identify financial risks and discrepancies, and present researched recommendations to senior management
• Liaise with property managers on budget preparation, expenditure monitoring and arrears

The Person

The successful candidate will be an experienced service charge accountant who can operate with minimal supervision from the outset. Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Proven service charge accounting experience across both residential and commercial property (essential)
• Advanced working knowledge of Qube (essential)
• A thorough understanding of VAT as it applies to commercial service charges, and of the accounting treatment of voids
• Substantial experience in accounts payable and receivable, credit control and arrears recovery
• Sound knowledge of residential leasehold service charge legislation and the RICS Service Charges in Commercial Property professional statement
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly and accurately to senior stakeholders
• A methodical, organised approach and high standards of accuracy
• A relevant qualification such as AAT, or IRPM membership (desirable)

The Package

• Salary: £45,000-£50,000
• Hybrid working: three days in the office, two days from home
• Breakfast and lunch provided daily by an in-house chef
• Healthcare
• Pension
• The opportunity to join an expanding in-house property team, with scope to take on additional buildings