Service Charge Specialist

Closing date for completed applications: 14th July 2024 at 11:59 pm
Interviews will be held the week commencing 22 nd July 2024
**Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the advertisement and interview earlier than stated
This is an exciting opportunity to join L&Q's recently expanded Managing Agent Contract Team. Over 22,000 L&Q residents currently live in homes where services are provided by Managing Agents.
You will play a key role in monitoring the service charge (currently more than 23 million per annum) and compliance activity undertaken by Managing Agents, either appointed by superior landlords or by L&Q.
As a Service Charge Specialist, you will be responsible for:
Building good working relationships with the agents, ensuring that their service charge expenditure is both fair and reasonable and that agents undertake all necessary statutory compliance activities
Setting service charge budgets and reconciling accounts
Understanding the relevant Landlord and Tenant Legislation and legal agreements in place such as leases and management agreements
To be successful in the role you will have:
Strong understanding of legislation relating to leasehold and tenancy law with working knowledge / understanding of services charges and legal agreements (Leases, Head/Superior Leases, Management Agreements)
Knowledge of financial accounting (income / expenditure) with analytical and mathematical skills to facilitate work on Managing Agent costs
High level Microsoft Excel and Word skills with experience of V-Lookups, macros, and mail merges
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), including writing letters, contacting customers via telephone and meeting with internal/external stakeholders
Strong diplomacy, negotiation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to deal with challenging situations and respond to complaints both face to face and on the telephone
Why work for L&Q?
L&Q is Great Places to work certified (#####) and for the fifth year in a row, we have been recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Women in the super large category.
The successful candidate will have access to our full suite of benefits, which includes;
Annual leave starting at 28 days and increasing to 31 days after 3 years continuous service
Excellent Pension Scheme - double contribution up to 6%
Generous non-contributory life Assurance
An Employee Assistance Programme
Recognition bonus scheme (spot awards)
Strong family friendly policies
A range of diverse networking groups to join, Kaleidoscope, Inspire & Spectrum
Up to 21 hours per year to volunteer with the charity of your choice
Commitment to Learning & Development
If you are interested If you are interested in this role and have the experience required, then apply without delay!
We are a multi-site organisation, so some roles may require occasional travel between offices, but expenses will be covered.
As a charitable organisation, our role goes beyond providing homes and housing services. We are a long-term partner in the neighbourhoods where we work. We hope to build aspiration, opportunity and confidence in our communities through our £250 million L&Q Foundation and our skills academy.
Our vision is that everyone has a quality home they can afford, and we combine our social purpose with commercial drive to create homes and neighbourhoods everyone can be proud of.
At the foundation of everything that we do are our corporate values and associated behaviours. Our organisational behavioural framework outlines the core expectations of all employees, which should be demonstrated at all times when representing L&Q. More information about L&Q's values can be found on our website and a copy of our behavioural framework can be provided on request.
Our commitments:
At L&Q, people are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. This is why we are committed to developing our people. It's only by investing in a well-trained and motivated workforce that we can continue to prosper and sustain business success.
We are committed to supporting your work-life balance and recognise the changing demands and circumstances in life. Please let us know during the recruitment process if you're interested in part time working or job sharing. In addition, should your circumstances change once you have joined L&Q, you can also request flexible working arrangements, e.g. a change to working hours - if it's feasible then we'll make it happen.
We are recognised externally for our commitment to inclusion. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident (Committed) employer and have signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to end mental health discrimination in the workplace.
We expect all of our employees to support our environmental policy and social responsibility work. We are an employer committed to environmental and social responsibility.
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