Service Charge Accounting Team Leader

Firstport; Luton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstPort, based in Luton, is hiring a Service Charge Accounting Team Leader to drive financial reporting, budgeting and team performance. You will lead a team of up to 8 accountants and work closely with Operations and Customer Services to deliver high-quality service charge finances.

The role reports to the Service Charge Accounting Manager and requires strong leadership, analytical and communication skills, with a focus on accuracy and timely delivery of statements and budgets.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level with passes in English and maths or accounting.
• AAT qualification completed or very nearly completed.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in an accounting environment.
• Double-entry bookkeeping and associated accuracy.
• Experience working with Auditors.
• Experience in managing people and leading teams.
• Proficient in Excel (intermediate) and Word.
• High attention to detail and ability to challenge information.
• Strong written and verbal communication with internal/external stakeholders.
• Customer-focused mindset in financial operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide all aspects of financial reporting and analysis for developments, residents, RMCs and clients.
• Manage the team, boost engagement, identify development needs, and support training plans.
• Ensure Service Charge Accounts are issued on time and of high quality.
• Ensure Service Charge Budgets are issued on time and of high quality.
• Establish and embed rapid escalation processes.
• Support Operations to understand and communicate Service Charge Finance.
• Strengthen relationships with Operations via refined processes.
• Support Customer Services in resolving complex service charge queries.
• Maintain clear communications to line manager and the wider business.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Stakeholder liaison

Excel

Attention to detail

Communication

Planning and prioritising

Auditing experience

Customer focus

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

AAT qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Job Role: Service Charge Accounting Team Leader

Location: Luton

Job Sector: Finance

Hours: Monday to Friday (35 hours per week)

As the Service Charge Accounting Team Leader, you will contribute to our vision of being the UK's favourite residential property manager by:

• Managing a team of Service Charge accountants
• Preparing and distributing accurate and timely service charge financial accounts
• Assisting in the preparation of service charge budgets
• Liaising with operational teams and other key stakeholders

This role reports to the Service Charge Accounting Manager and has a team of up to 8 direct reports.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide all aspects of financial reporting and analysis for our developments, residents, RMCs and clients
• Manage the team, boost team engagement and motivation, identify learning and development needs and work with the wider department and HR to design and implement training programmes and development plans for the team members
• Ensure all Service Charge Accounts are issued on time, are accurate and are of highest quality
• Ensure all Service Charge Budgets are issued on time, are accurate and are of highest quality
• Establish and embed clear and rapid escalation processes
• Support Operations to understand and communicate Service Charge Finance
• Strengthen relationships with Operations through refined and simplified processes
• Support Customer Services in resolving complex service charge finance queries
• Maintain clear and accurate communications to line manager and the wider business

Skills and Experience

• Educated to GCSE (or equivalent) level with passes in English language and a relevant mathematical / accounting subject
• Professional qualification such as AAT completed or very nearly completed.
• A minimum of 2 years' experience of working in an accounting environment
• Double entry book-keeping and the accuracy that accompanies it
• Experience working with Auditors
• Experience in managing people, employing a range of leadership skills tailored to the collective and individual needs to drive performance and employ performance management plans where required
• Microsoft Excel in particular at intermediate level, alongside Microsoft Word
• High attention to detail with the ability to see and challenge information
• Strong communication skills, able to liaise with non-financial internal and external
• Customers
• Self-motivated and organised, able to prioritise own workload
• A team player, demonstrates working towards a common goal
• Strong customer focus, understanding both internal and external stakeholders

About Us

FirstPort is the UK's leading residential property service provider, caring for 310,000 homes in England, Wales and Scotland, across 5,600 developments. With over four decades of experience and 4,000 employees, FirstPort works with developers, investors, freeholders and over 1,300 Resident Management Companies.

Diversity

We're committed to promoting diversity at FirstPort and recruit on merit. We will consider applications from job share applicants.