Service Charge Accountant

To prepare, manage, review, and reconcile residential service charge accounts for a portfolio of properties, ensuring compliance with lease requirements, statutory obligations, and ICAEW TECH 03/11 guidance. The role is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, preparing annual service charge statements, reconciling service charge funds, and liaising with property managers, managing agents, landlords, and leaseholders to resolve queries and ensure accounts are completed accurately and on time.

The role also involves reviewing financial transactions and supporting documentation to ensure service charge income and expenditure are correctly accounted for in accordance with lease provisions. Where required under the lease, the postholder will undertake the independent accountant's review and issue the accountant's certification.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare annual residential service charge accounts on an accruals basis in accordance with ICAEW TECH 03/11 guidance, lease requirements, and applicable statutory obligations
• Ensure all lessees paying variable service charges receive an annual service charge statement within six months of the end of the accounting period
• Review service charge transactions, supporting documentation, and accounting records to ensure income and expenditure are accurately recorded, allocated, and reported
• Issue annual accountant's reports or reports of factual findings, as required by the lease, tenancy agreement, or client instructions
• Where required by the lease, prepare and issue separate certificates or signed declarations confirming the amount payable by individual lessees
• Certify Section 21 written summaries of relevant costs for qualifying properties containing more than four dwellings
• Reconcile service charge income, expenditure, reserve funds, and balance sheet items across a portfolio of residential developments
• Liaise regularly with property managers, landlords, managing agents, residents' management companies (RMCs), and other stakeholders
• Respond to and manage leaseholder enquiries relating to service charge accounts in a professional and customer-focused manner
• Support year-end accounting and audit processes by preparing working papers and maintaining accurate ledgers
• Maintain high standards of financial accuracy, data integrity, and compliance
• Communicate financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to improve service charge accounting processes, controls, and efficiencies

Key Skills

• Demonstrable experience in residential service charge accounting, including the preparation and reconciliation of service charge accounts for a portfolio of residential properties
• Strong understanding of ICAEW TECH 03/11 Residential Service Charge Accounts guidance
• Good working knowledge of relevant landlord and tenant legislation, including the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, leaseholder rights, and Section 20 consultation procedures
• Experience of interpreting lease provisions and applying them accurately
• Excellent attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to analyse financial data and communicate complex accounting information clearly
• Proactive approach to problem-solving

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel between sites