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Fulltime: 37hrs per week. Proposed Interview Date: TBC. This position is hybrid working, with office attendance only when required, giving you the flexibility to balance your workload in a way that suits you. We are a housing association based in Norfolk providing quality homes and services to people across the county and in Suffolk. We manage over 6,000 homes including affordable homes for those in housing need who cannot afford to rent or buy in the open market. We offer specialist homes for older and vulnerable adults and are committed to providing new homes to help solve the housing crisis. At Saffron we have a huge commitment to our employees. We want the team at Saffron to be happy, empowered, motivated and feel proud to be part of the Saffron community. We know by having great people we can do a great job for our tenants. We trust our colleagues to do the right thing and we are looking for people whose values are aligned with ours (PACE – Professional, Accountable, Collaborative and Evolving). You will have the freedom to learn and grow. We are passionate about investing in our people, providing them with the skills they need now, and for their future aspirations. We do this by offering a blend of learning opportunities, including our innovative e-learning platform where learning is self-directed allowing people to learn what they want, when they want to. We work with and support our people to work in an agile way to ensure that have the right work/life balance. They have the choice to work in the office, work from home, coffee shop, park or a combination of all. We have recently refurbished our offices to encourage collaborative, agile working. As an inclusive employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and have a zero tolerance policy relating to discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Saffron Community.
Job Responsibility
Liaise with departments (e.g., Housing and Asset) to gather data and ensure that the budgeting process reflects the true costs of services provided to residents
Issue the annual rent and charges with regulatory requirements, and best practice. Ensuring all tenants that have a service charge or personal charge receive clear and concise breakdowns of the charges, with transparent explanations for any changes in costs
Ensure that service charge, estate-based charges and utility billing arrangements comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines, including the Leasehold Reform Act and other housing legislation
Ensure that all statutory obligations are met, including the provision of annual service charge certificates and accurate reporting in line with regulatory requirements
Provide clear and transparent communication to residents regarding service charge billing, including responding to queries and explaining charges in an understandable manner
Requirements
Degree level or equivalent relevant professional qualification or qualified by experience
Evidence of continued professional development
Have or are working towards a Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 2 or above, or similar
Demonstrable work experience in service charge and rents or a similar role within housing associations, property management, or public sector housing
Experience of complex variable service charges, estate charges, sinking funds, and diverse rent regimes (Social, Affordable, Intermediate)
Understanding of leasehold management, Section 20 consultation processes and managing external third-party managing agents
Understanding of welfare benefits
Experience in operational management in a customer facing team
A track record of customer excellence and performance against KPI's
Experience of change management and supporting changes in software and systems
Experience of working within a customer-focused environment and handling challenging customer interactions
Knowledge of housing management software and systems used to manage service charge billing and reporting
Experience of modifying and maintaining policy and procedures
Experience of identifying, interpreting, and implementing changes in response to new legislation or regulations
Experience of interpreting law and housing legislation as it related to rents, service charge, leasehold management and managing agents to ensure compliance and effective service delivery
Experience of stakeholder management of both internal and external stakeholders
Knowledge of government policy, legislation, regulations, in relation to service charges, rents and best practice
Strong knowledge of leases, tenancies, legislation, and case law in relation to service charges, sinking funds and rents
Knowledge of developing IT systems for managing service charges & rents
Knowledge of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 & Housing Acts
Strong ability to translate complex financial concepts into 'plain English' for diverse stakeholders, colleagues, and residents
Strong customer service skills, with a focus on resolving queries and complaints in a timely and professional manner
Strong skills in financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting
Proficiency in using data and insights to drive personalisation transparency, and service improvements
A collaborative approach and excels in building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships internally and externally
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret financial data and identify trends or issues
Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively
Elevated level of attention to detail and accuracy in financial and service charge calculations
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build relationships with internal teams, contractors, and residents
Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and housing management software systems
A proactive approach to continuous improvement and process development
This role may require occasional travel to different properties and meetings across the Housing Association's portfolio
A flexible approach to work may be required during peak times (e.g., annual rent and charge notifications, year-end service charge reconciliation)
Please note this role is subject to a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service check
What we offer
Covers the membership fee of one professional body relevant to your job role
excellent opportunities for training & courses
Generous holiday entitlement
Holiday Trading
Volunteer and study days
Enhanced Family Leave
Access to our Employee Assistance Program
trained Mental Health First Aiders and wellbeing check-ins