Service Charge Accountant

Recruitment Solutions; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (one office day per wk)

Study support for ACCA/ACA/CIMA/AAT

Competitive salary + benefits

Job summary

Recruitment Solutions is assisting a growing property business near Southampton in recruiting a Service Charge Accountant. You will manage budgets, prepare service charge accounts, and liaise with leaseholders and property managers to ensure accurate reporting.

The role offers hybrid working with one office day per week, study support for ACCA/ACA/CIMA/AAT, and a competitive salary plus benefits. This is a stable, career‑oriented opportunity with room for progression.

Qualifications

• Experience in service charge accounting or property accounting.
• Strong double-entry bookkeeping knowledge.
• Experience with accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Excellent numerical, analytical, and organisational skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder liaison skills.
• Good Excel skills and ability to work with large data sets.
• ACCA/ACA/CIMA/AAT qualifications advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage annual service charge budgets and expenditure forecasts.
• Produce residential service charge accounts and year-end reconciliations.
• Calculate, issue, and process service charge, ground rent, and major works invoices.
• Reconcile actual expenditure against budgets and investigate variances.
• Prepare financial reports, landlord statements, and statements of affairs.
• Monitor arrears and assist with collection processes.
• Liaise with Property Managers, leaseholders, suppliers, clients, and auditors.

Skills

Service Charge Accounting

Property Accounting

Double-entry bookkeeping

Accruals & prepayments

Excel

Stakeholder liaison

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA/AAT advantageous

Job description

Service Charge Accountant

Exciting New Opportunity Excellent Work-Life Balance

Are you looking for your next move within Finance and Accounts?

• Do you have experience within Service Charge Accounting, Property Accounting, or a strong bookkeeping background?
• Are you looking for a role that offers flexibility and a healthier work-life balance?
• Would you like to join a growing and stable business where your development and progression are actively encouraged?

If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Whether you're already working as a Service Charge Accountant or have a strong accounting background and are looking to further develop your expertise within the property sector, we'd be keen to hear from you.

The Opportunity

A successful and expanding property business near Southampton is looking to recruit a Service Charge Accountant to support its growing portfolio.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a friendly and collaborative team where you'll play a key role in the production and reconciliation of residential service charge accounts while building strong relationships with clients, leaseholders, and Property Managers.

The business offers excellent flexibility, career stability, and the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge within a growing area of finance.

Salary is flexible depending on experience. Higher salaries can be considered for candidates with extensive experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing and managing annual service charge budgets and expenditure forecasts
• Producing residential service charge accounts and year-end reconciliations
• Calculating, issuing, and processing service charge, ground rent, and major works invoices
• Reconciling actual expenditure against approved budgets and investigating variances
• Preparing financial reports, landlord statements, and statements of affairs
• Monitoring service charge and ground rent arrears and assisting with collection processes
• Liaising with Property Managers, leaseholders, suppliers, clients, and external auditors regarding financial matters
• Resolving account queries and providing accurate financial information when required
• Ensuring compliance with lease agreements, statutory deadlines, and industry regulations
• Supporting the wider finance team with ongoing process improvements and reporting requirements

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience within Service Charge Accounting, Property Accounting, Block Management Accounts, or a similar finance role
• Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping principles
• Experience with accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and financial reporting
• Excellent numerical, analytical, and organisational skills
• Strong communication skills and confidence liaising with stakeholders at all levels
• Good Excel skills and the ability to work accurately with large volumes of data
• Relevant accountancy qualifications (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, AAT) would be advantageous but are not essential

What's on Offer?

• Hybrid working with only one office day per week
• Study support available for ACCA, ACA, CIMA, AAT
• Competitive salary plus bonus and benefits package
• Excellent work-life balance
• Stable and growing business with a strong reputation
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• Genuine opportunities for long-term career progression
• Exposure to a varied property portfolio and specialist accounting work

Interested?

If you're looking for a role that combines flexibility, responsibility, and long-term career development, we'd love to hear from you.