Service Charge Accountant

ICAEW; Wembley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

ICAEW in London area is seeking an experienced Service Charge Accountant to manage financials for a portfolio of residential developments. You will prepare budgets, year-end accounts, and reconciliations, working closely with Property Managers and the finance team.

This hands-on role requires strong knowledge of service charge accounting, accuracy, and the ability to meet tight deadlines across multiple properties. On-site, Monday to Friday, 8:45am-6:00pm, with a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Experience in service charge accounting for residential developments.
• Experience preparing service charge budgets and year-end accounts.
• Strong understanding of accruals, prepayments, bank reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Experience managing multiple properties or developments and meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in Excel and accounting or property management systems.
• Excellent numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational and deadline-management abilities.
• Good communication with Property Managers and stakeholders.
• AAT qualification or ACCA/CIMA studies are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual service charge budgets across a portfolio of residential developments.
• Prepare and review year-end service charge accounts and supporting schedules.
• Liaise with external accountants and auditors for year-end accounts and queries.
• Complete bank reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.
• Monitor service charge income and expenditure against budgets.
• Prepare and post accruals and prepayments.
• Maintain accurate accounting records across properties.
• Investigate expenditure and variances.
• Monitor and reconcile reserve and sinking funds.
• Collaborate with Property Managers and respond to portfolio queries.
• Assist with service charge demands and financial information for leaseholders.
• Respond to accounting queries from stakeholders.
• Provide support to finance and property management teams as required.

Skills

Service charge accounting

Budgets

Year-end accounts

Multi-property management

Excel

Accounting software

Property management systems

Numerical accuracy

Organisational skills

Communication skills

ACCA/ACCA/CIMA studies advantageous

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

Property management software

Job description

Your new company

You will be joining an established and growing property management business providing residential and commercial property services across Greater London and the Home Counties. The organisation manages a substantial portfolio of residential buildings and estates and has a well-established block management operation. Due to continued requirements within the business, they are looking to recruit an experienced Service Charge Accountant to join their team in Edgware.

Your new role

As Service Charge Accountant, you will take ownership of the financial requirements for a portfolio of residential developments. Working closely with Property Managers and the wider finance team, you will be responsible for ensuring service charge budgets, reconciliations and year-end accounts are prepared accurately and within agreed deadlines. This is a hands-on position suited to someone with previous service charge accounting experience who is confident managing multiple properties and competing deadlines.

• Preparing annual service charge budgets across a portfolio of residential developments.
• Preparing and reviewing year-end service charge accounts and supporting schedules.
• Liaising with external accountants and auditors regarding year-end accounts and queries.
• Completing bank reconciliations and investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Monitoring service charge income and expenditure against agreed budgets.
• Preparing and posting accruals and prepayments.
• Maintaining accurate accounting records across individual properties and developments.
• Investigating significant expenditure and budget variances.
• Monitoring and reconciling reserve and sinking funds.
• Working closely with Property Managers, providing financial information and responding to portfolio queries.
• Assisting with service charge demands and financial information for leaseholders.
• Responding to accounting and service charge queries from internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing additional support to the wider finance and property management teams as required.

What you'll need to succeed

The ideal candidate will have previous experience working as a Service Charge Accountant, preferably within a residential block or property management business. You will ideally have:

• Strong knowledge of service charge accounting.
• Experience preparing service charge budgets and year-end accounts.
• A good understanding of accruals, prepayments, bank reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Experience managing the accounting requirements of multiple properties or developments.
• Good Excel skills and confidence using accounting or property management systems.
• Excellent numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Good communication skills and confidence working closely with Property Managers and other stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to investigating and resolving accounting queries.
• An AAT qualification or ACCA/CIMA studies would be advantageous, although relevant service charge experience is more important.

What you’ll get in return

You will receive a salary of £35,000-£45,000 per annum, depending on experience, together with a permanent, full-time position within an established property management business. The role is based fully on-site, working Monday to Friday, 8:45am-6:00pm.