Revenue & Service Charge Accountant

Welcome to Homes in Sedgemoor

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in working with us at Homes in Sedgemoor.

This is a great opportunity for an outstanding professional to join us at an exciting time.

The successful candidate will be joining an award-winning organisation committed to colleague engagement, where every colleague is valued and heard. We can offer you excellent professional development, training and support to enable you to achieve your full potential.

We are looking for a part qualified or qualified Accountant to join our Finance Team. We provide financial support and advice to directors and budget holders across the full range of services delivered by Homes In Sedgemoor. The role will provide plenty of opportunities to build on your skills and experience as you continue to develop as a finance professional. Robust financial management and financial control will be critical to the continued success of our organisation.

If this role excites you and you are keen to join a small but passionate team of people working for our customers and a leading Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) then we look forward to hearing from you.

Within this pack are all the details about the role and the recruitment process and key dates. However, if you require any further information or would like to discuss the role, please contact us by emailing People@homesinsedgemoor.org.

We look forward to receiving your application.

With best wishes,

Ben Lane – Director of Finance & Performance

Benefits of working with Homes in Sedgemoor

In addition to a competitive salary, there are a range of benefits to working with Homes in Sedgemoor, including:

We recognise the importance of balancing work and life commitments and our hybrid working policy allows you to adapt. In addition, time can be accrued via our flexi scheme.

We provide modern equipment whether working at home or in the office. We also offer a contribution towards the cost of a desk for home working.

We offer enhanced pay and conditions in all our family related policies.

We have a generous holiday allowance, which rises with service.

You’ll be auto-enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) where we will contribute 17.4% of your salary.

We provide a free employee assistance programme with access to welfare and lifestyle advice, including counselling. A number of colleagues are also Mental Health First Aiders.

We invest in the professional development of all colleagues and we are committed to helping you unlock your potential.

We celebrate successes linked to our values, including long service, a colleague recognition scheme and annual awards.

If your role requires a certain amount of travel, you will receive a car allowance or generous mileage rates.

You’ll have access to discounts for sport, leisure and entertainment activities.

Job description

What’s the role?

Revenue & Service Charge Accountant

£36,298 – £39,493 (dependent on experience and/or qualifications) Pay award pending.

You will:

• Provide an effective, efficient and modern management accounting function in support of revenue budget holders in an efficient and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain efficient procedures to calculate service charges in line with Somerset Council’s service charge policy.
• Provided expert advice and support to both internal and external customers on financial issues.
• Report to the Director of Finance and Performance

What will I have to do?

Revenue Responsibilities:

• Effectively consult and support budget holders to prepare annual budgets in line with strategy for your areas of responsibility.
• Produce budget profiles in consultation with budget holders and reconcile information loaded into the financial reporting system for your areas of responsibility.
• Prepare monthly management accounts for your areas of responsibility in consultation with budget holders, ensuring year to date and year end forecasts are reasonable and that spend is in line with contract standing orders and other regulations.
• Production of full monthly management accounts in liaison with the management accountant for review by the Director of Finance and Performance.
• Production of quarterly Value Added TAX (VAT) return for approval by the Director of Finance and Performance, reconciling control accounts accordingly.
• Maintain sufficient record of all savings made through procurement activities to demonstrate Value for Money activity.
• Provide clear, impartial financial advice to budget holders.
• Ensure that the financial reporting system presents a true reflection of the financial position.
• Assist with the training and development of budget holders on financial management.
• Assist with developing the management accounting function to include automated reporting and training.
• Champion the use of purchase orders throughout the organisation, including training for operational teams.
• Manage deadlines to support the month end and year end closure of accounts.
• Participate in internal audit reviews, putting in place actions to address any recommendations.
• Monthly reconciliation of the balance sheet to include all control accounts and bank reconciliations.

Service Charge Responsibilities:

• Maintain records to enable calculation of customer service charges, to include leaseholder invoices. 
• Assist relevant managers in consulting tenants about service charges in particular when service charge statements and budgets are produced, and when increases are proposed.
• To be the initial point of contact for service charge enquiries
• To be the lead coordinator of customers wanting to purchase their homes through the Right to Buy Scheme. 
• Engage across the organisation to ensure that leaseholder services are joined up.
• Respond to queries from residents about any aspect of their service charge or rent in accordance with HIS policies and procedures; to include attendance at meetings and formal consultations some of which may be outside of normal working hours.
• Work across the organisation to maximise service charge income to offset against service charges to customers.
• Production of annual leaseholder service charge estimates, actual charges and major works invoices.
• Effectively consult and support budget holders to obtain sufficient information to calculate accurate service charges.
• Manage deadlines to support the calculation of service charges.
• Assist with developing the service charge module within Open Housing

What do I need to be successful?

• Member of, or training for membership of, a professional institution (ICAEW, CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA)
• Well-developed IT skills, particularly with MS Office products, and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other teams across the organisation.
• High degree of problem-solving skills.
• Ability to apply your skills to motivate, support, influence and organise work in order to deliver high quality services.
• The ability to network and develop strong partnership working.

How will I evidence my success?

I will …

• Display and demonstrate behaviours that reflect our Values and put Customers First.
• Contribute and be proactive at 121s, team meetings and other forums attended.
• Successfully meet agreed key performance indicators and reporting deadlines.
• Develop positive and productive working relationships both internally and externally with relevant colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Identify and support the management of risk and health and safety associated with my service area.

About Homes in Sedgemoor

We are an ALMO responsible for delivering housing management, maintenance and community services to more than 4,200 tenancies and leaseholders on behalf of Somerset Council.

We commenced operations on April 1, 2007 and agreed a new 30-year Management Agreement with the council this year. This sets out the condition, obligations, and service requirements with which we are required to comply.

Our current strategy

Our strategic objective is to be the best managing agent in England by 2023.

To achieve this, there are three core pillars: great services to our customers, good quality, safe homes and building a stronger business. Each pillar is delivered through a small number of core objectives and associated delivery plans and our success will be measured and reported through Strategic Performance Indicators.

Our behaviours to achieve success will be underpinned by three new company values:

Recruitment timetable

How to Apply

To apply, you should submit:

• An up-to-date CV which shows your full career history – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages
• A completed Application form (available on our website)
• A completed Applicant Information form (available on our website)
• Full contact details for two referees (including your current/most recent employer). Please note, we will not take up references without your prior permission

Please indicate within your supporting statement if you are unable to make the interview date.

Please send your application, preferably in MS Word format, by email to People@homesinsedgemoor.org.

The closing date for applications is 17 September 2023.

Your application will be acknowledged and treated with strictest confidence.