Service Charge Accountant

• Interpret commercial lease agreements to ensure service charge calculations, apportionments, and recoveries are accurate and compliant
• Prepare annual service charge budgets aligned with the wider business planning and budgeting timetable
• Issue service charge demands in accordance with lease terms and agreed schedules
• Perform regular reconciliations of service charge accounts, investigating and resolving variances and discrepancies
• Produce year-end service charge accounts and supporting documentation in line with regulatory and best practice standards
• Monitor service charge income and arrears, supporting effective recovery while maintaining positive tenant relationships
• Deliver clear management information, including variance analysis and commentary
• Assist with forecasting and periodic reforecasting of service charge expenditure
• Review existing service charge processes, recommending and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and consistency
• Attend meetings with operational teams or occupiers to explain budgets, reconciliations, and adjustments where required
• Work closely with property management and finance colleagues to ensure audit readiness and consistent application of policies
• Provide ad hoc support to the Financial Controller as needed

• Demonstrable experience within commercial service charge accounting
• Experience managing the full service charge cycle from budget setting through to year-end reconciliation
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a newly established or evolving in-house role
• Strong technical knowledge of service charge accounting principles and reporting requirements
• Working understanding of the RICS Service Charge Code of Practice
• High level of accuracy and strong analytical capability
• Advanced Excel skills, including reconciliation of large and complex data sets
• Confident in reviewing and challenging information provided by managing agents and external suppliers
• Clear and effective communicator, able to explain financial information to non-finance stakeholders
• Well organised, adaptable, and able to manage competing deadlines

discretionary bonus