Service Charge Finance Officer
You will report to the Service Charge Team Leader, delivering an effective and efficient service charge function to Great Places Housing Group.
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, service charges, and budget control.
* Providing information for the annual service charge audit, 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 is beneficial, 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, engaging stakeholders effectively.
* Proficiency in data analysis, interpreting financial data to drive informed decisions.
* Strong working knowledge of the full Microsoft Office suite.
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
* To be professional and work with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity
* You will be required to attend a number of face to face training sessions as well as virtual sessions and e-learning this part of your role is vital and of equal importance as 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 colleagues and Great Places)
* WPA ¦ Healthcare auto enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available - option to increase & add family members
* Annual leave ¦Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days + Bank Holidays
* Greater Working ¦ We offer Hybrid and flexible working.
* Professional fees ¦ The business pays the cost of one professional membership fee for each colleague
* The Market Place ¦ High street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more
* Health and wellbeing initiatives ¦ Our colleagues enjoy wellbeing campaigns throughout the year, with activities designed around our four pillars of wellbeing, these include career wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing and financial wellbeing
*Please note we are expecting to hold interviews on Wednesday 9th April*