Swan Housing Association

Transcription

1 Swan Housing Association Job Description Job Title: Section: Reports to: Service Charge Accountant Home Ownership, Housing Operations Head of Home Ownership & Keyworker Living Main Purpose of Job To manage the service charge team and ensure that the service charge construction, accounting and management process for all residents and leaseholders paying fixed and variable service charges is accurate. Ensure billing is clear, transparent, accurate and compliant so that Swan s cost recovery is maximised. Maintain a close link with the Housing Association Finance team to ensure the SUN accounting ledgers are maintained and financial reporting is robust. Key Responsibilities KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Key Responsibilities 1. Ensuring the timely and accurate billing of all service All charge details to be clear and transparent, giving reasons/details of large increases for residents. 2. Line Management of a team of officers. 3. Construct service charges on all new developments ensuring that all charges are reasonable and recoverable 4. Ensure service charge policies and procedures comply with statutory and regulatory requirements and Swan s financial regulations. Keep up-to-date on statutory, regulatory and best practice developments and ensure policies, procedures and practices conform. 5. Prepare management accounts, validating all service charges and process interdepartment cross Monitor discrepancies between estimated and actual costs taking corrective action where appropriate. 6. Ensue that rent review processes are completed, including service charge calculation for all tenures 7. Act as key liaison with all stakeholders on service charge matters. 8. Preparation and management of the year end service charge audit 9. Manage the production of service charge estimates and actual audited statements ensuring they are issued in time and comply with statutory requirements. 10. Ensure appropriate support, advice and training for operational staff on all aspects of service charge management. 11. Assist by providing information in a timely manner so that complaints and service charge disputes can be responded to in line with the Association s procedures. Take action to remedy any weaknesses identified in service delivery.

2 12. Assist as necessary with ensuring accurate information is provided for Courts, Mediation and Tribunals, including attendance where appropriate. 13. To monitor, develop and implement IT systems and manage the data input processes and administration of relevant modules. 14. Monitor all aspects of invoicing and payments to ensure accurate allocation of 15. Liaison with other Swan staff, partners, contractors, local authorities, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure the efficient and effective management of service 16. Liaison with staff, customers and other agencies as appropriate and in accordance with the agreed Customer Service Standards. 17. To provide reports, statistical, performance and management information including forecasts as required. 18. To undertake any tasks as reasonably required to meet the varying demands of the Association. 19. Ensure compliance with statutory consultation process for works governed by section 20 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 (as amended). 20. Prepare and monitor individual workplans using performance management techniques to achieve and continually improve on performance targets. Implement performance appraisal through supervision interviews. Assess training needs and develop individual training plans. 21. At all times to observe, deliver, continually promote and act in accordance with the Association s Equality and Diversity and Customer Care policies and procedures. HEALTH AND SAFETY Under the Health & Safety at Work Act you have to ensure the Health & Safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do. This includes colleagues, clients, public and contractors. The Act applies to all work activities and premises and everyone at work has responsibilities under it. You must co-operate with any work place Risk Assessments and draw any perceived problems to the attention of your line manager. In addition to the general obligations of all employees under the Health & Safety at Work Act, you have a duty to undertake periodical review and Risk Assessments of your operational areas as it affects staff, clients, public and contractors. The Risk Assessment includes all aspects of your responsibilities as covered by legislation. These Risk Assessments will be recorded and identified problems dealt within appropriate timescales. Records to be maintained of all work undertaken which is a requirement of Health & Safety Law. This job description accurately reflects the requirements of the job at the time of writing but may be subject to change from time to time to meet the changing needs of the Association and should be viewed as guidelines only.

3 Swan Housing Association Your application should address all the requirements of this person specification. This specification will form the criteria on which suitability for short-listing for interview will be judged and will form the basis of questions to short-listed candidates. Person Specification Job Title: Department: Service Charge Accountant Home Ownership, Housing Operations QUALIFICATIONS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL Relevant qualification or experience in housing, accountancy or surveying. Experience of working in a customer focused, performance driven organisation. service Comprehensive knowledge of legislation, policy and best practice relating to service Detailed knowledge of the construction, accounting and management of service Experience of achieving organisational targets and service improvement. Experience of producing reports and statistics. Ability to line manage a team DESIRABLE Holds or working towards a professional accounting qualification eg. AAT, ACCA, CIMA Boards or Committees Experience of attending the Residential Property Tribunal Service. Knowledge of service charges for commercial properties. Managing Agents Knowledge of SUN accounts and Vision reporting suite Experience of line management and / or relevant qualification

4 SKILLS Excellent oral and written communication skills. Finance and accounting ability to interpret and analyse data, producing and presenting meaningful conclusions. Excellent IT skills and the ability to operate IT based systems. Intermediate to advanced Excel skills including pivot tables and lookups Understanding of customer focus issues and commitment to involving customers in continuous service improvement. Demonstrate organisational skills and the ability to prioritise the workload of staff. Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures and to respond to new initiatives and legislation. Demonstrate the ability to engage with diverse communities in a creative way. Demonstrable ability to solve problems effectively. Self motivated, performance driven with initiative to assess complex situations and make decisions quickly and effectively and deliver excellent customer service. Ability to work outside of normal working hours on occasion to attend meetings. Demonstrate contribution towards Swan s Mission To deliver effective services, enterprising solutions and exemplary homes and communities Be customer focused Be honest, open and accountable Ability to develop a network of contacts.

5 Have a "can do" approach and accept responsibility Have new ideas and always seek to improve Contributes to company policies on environmental issues. Contributes to company policies on H&S. Contributes to company policy on equality & diversity. Committed to and demonstrates safeguarding, promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.