Service Charge Finance Officer

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Service Charge Finance Officer, Manchester

Client: Great Places Housing Association

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category: Finance

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference: bd171a90fd14

Job Views: 2

Posted: 28.03.2025

Expiry Date: 12.05.2025

Job Description:

Permanent, Full Time

*Please note we are expecting to hold interviews on Wednesday 9th April*

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

1. Supporting budget holders in the annual setting of service charges, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
2. Producing annual accounts for both audited and non-audited schemes in line with the group timetable.
3. Conducting monthly variance analysis of service charge income and expenditure by scheme, ensuring costs are correctly allocated.
4. Regularly meeting with and supporting budget holders and contract managers by providing analysis and scheme performance insights, identifying overspends and financial risks.
5. Preparing routine journals to ensure service charge accounts accurately report income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities.
6. 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.
7. Advising and training budget holders on financial management, service charges, and budget control.
8. Providing information for the annual service charge audit, responding to auditor queries to ensure a smooth and compliant audit process.

What you’ll need

1. An ability to identify discrepancies, spot patterns, and resolve issues effectively.
2. The ability to adapt quickly in a reactive role, handling challenges and changing priorities with confidence.
3. An understanding of service charge legislation is beneficial, and you will actively stay up to date with relevant changes.
4. Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting and data analysis.
5. Experience in cross-organisational collaboration, engaging stakeholders effectively.
6. Proficiency in data analysis, interpreting financial data to drive informed decisions.
7. Strong working knowledge of the full Microsoft Office suite.

What we need from you

1. 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.
2. A passion to advocate on behalf of people and communities.
3. A commitment to work in partnership with others for the benefit of Great Places.
4. To be professional and work with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity.
5. 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

1. Pension: DC scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleagues and Great Places).
2. WPA: Healthcare auto enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available - option to increase & add family members.
3. Annual leave: Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days + Bank Holidays.
4. Greater Working: We offer Hybrid and flexible working.
5. Professional fees: The business pays the cost of one professional membership fee for each colleague.
6. The Market Place: High street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more.
7. 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.