Service Charge Finance Officer Full time & Part time (job share) opportunities available

Great Places Housing Association; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing association in Manchester is looking for Service Charge Finance Officers to join their team. This role offers flexible working options and involves supporting budget holders, producing annual accounts, and conducting variance analysis. Candidates at all experience levels are welcome, and a commitment to community engagement is crucial. The position provides various benefits including pension schemes, healthcare options, and a generous leave policy.

Benefits

Pension DC scheme

WPA Healthcare scheme

Annual leave starts at 26 days

Discounts at high-street restaurants

Qualifications

• Ability to identify discrepancies and resolve issues effectively.
• Proficiency in data analysis and financial data interpretation.
• Understanding of service charge legislation.

Responsibilities

• Support budget holders in setting service charges ensuring accuracy.
• Produce annual accounts for audited and non-audited schemes.
• Conduct monthly variance analysis of service charge income and expenditure.

Skills

Attention to detail

Data analysis

Cross-organisational collaboration

Financial reporting

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Job description

We’re looking for Service Charge Finance Officers to join our team! We have full‑time (35 hours per week) and part‑time job share (17.5 hours Wednesday to Friday) opportunities available. These hybrid roles offer flexibility on location; you’ll need to be within our operating areas (Manchester, Lancashire or South Yorkshire) and be able to travel to our Head Office in Didsbury for your office days (minimum two days a week for full‑time, one day a week for part‑time). We welcome candidates with all levels of experience – whether you’ve worked directly with service charges or have relevant housing experience, your skills could be a great fit.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting budget holders in the annual setting of service charges, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Producing annual accounts for both audited and non‑audited schemes in line with the group timetable.
• Conducting monthly variance analysis of service charge income and expenditure by scheme, ensuring costs are correctly allocated.
• Regularly meeting with and supporting budget holders and contract managers by providing analysis and scheme performance insights, identifying overspends and financial risks.
• Preparing routine journals to ensure service charge accounts accurately report income, expenditure, assets and liabilities.
• Using monthly variance analysis to support the production of Directorate Packs, analysing in‑month and year‑to‑date variances, forecasting year‑end impacts and informing future budgets.
• Advising and training budget holders on financial management of service charges and budget control.
• Providing information for the annual service charge audit and responding to auditor queries to ensure a smooth and compliant audit process.

What you’ll need

• An ability to identify discrepancies, spot patterns and resolve issues effectively.
• The ability to adapt quickly in a reactive role, handling challenges and changing priorities with confidence.
• An understanding of service charge legislation – you will actively stay up to date with relevant changes.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting and data analysis.
• Experience in cross‑organisational collaboration and engaging stakeholders effectively.
• Proficiency in data analysis and interpreting financial data to drive informed decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of the full Microsoft Office suite, including basic Excel skills.

What we need from you

• A commitment to understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in the communities in which we work – we particularly value lived experience in social housing.
• A passion to advocate on behalf of people and communities.
• A commitment to work in partnership with others for the benefit of Great Places.
• Professionalism and integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity.
• Availability to attend face‑to‑face training sessions, virtual sessions and e‑learning – this part of your role is vital and of equal importance to the day‑to‑day aspects.

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment

• Pension DC scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleague and Great Places).
• WPA Healthcare scheme – auto‑enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available per year (option to increase and add family members).
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• Annual leave: start at 26 days, increasing up to 30 days within 5 years, plus Bank Holidays.
• Reward & Recognition: You Count Rewards for going above & beyond.
• Professional fees: the business pays the cost of one professional role‑related membership fee per colleague.
• Discounts at the Market Place high‑street restaurants & supermarkets, gym memberships, cycle‑to‑work scheme, smart‑tech loans and more.
• Wage Stream: access to savings opportunities and early access to wages.
• Health and Wellbeing Initiatives: wellbeing campaigns throughout the year covering career, mental, physical and financial wellbeing.
• Transport support: season ticket loans at discounted rates.

The Company

Great Places Housing Group exists to improve the lives of the people living in our 25,000 homes across the North West and Yorkshire. We are much more than just a landlord – we provide a wide‑range of services and promote partnership work to create vibrant, sustainable communities. We are committed to using inclusive hiring, embracing diversity and difference, and enriching our teams with varied perspectives to foster an environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all identities, backgrounds and cultures and are committed to fostering an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves. You can find details of our story, vision and values here.

Please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] if you require any support or information throughout the process.