Finance Business Partner - Customer Services

The role

We are looking for a Finance Business Partner - Customer Services to partner effectively with our Customer Services Directorate ensuring high quality financial data and advice to enable delivery of our strategic plans.

This role reports to the head of finance but will also have frequent engagement with the Directorate of Finance, IT and Governance, other Executive Directors and Heads of Service. Regular interaction with customers and a range of specialist advisers will also be a key part of the role. A strong focus on delivery, change management, problem solving and an ethos of customer service, combined with a strong character and a good sense of humour will be required to succeed in this exciting and rewarding role.

The post holder will provide accounting and financial analysis of the repairs service, including our Homeworks team and ensure accuracy of our rent and service charges processing and accounting, managing the finance specialists.

Accountabilities

Your accountabilities will include but not limited to:

• Provide accounting and financial analysis for the Housing, income management and other teams within the Customer Services Directorate.
• Accounting for repairs costs and ensuring correct allocation to related properties
• Setting rent & service charge budgets and determining actual costs in order to calculate surplus/deficit on service charges
• Collaborate extensively to understand key business performance issues across the directorate, its objectives and business drivers and provide financial insight and support to enhance performance in the face of current and future business challenges
• Supervise rent and service charge processing and accounting and perform key control accounting reconciliations (e.g. rent and arrears control, cash and bad debt provision)
• Lead and implement annual rent increases and service charge estimates and actuals in accordance with regulatory requirements and GHA policies
• Lead and manage a small team to deliver accurate and timely rent and service charge accounts, including processing of annual rent increases and service charges
• Prepare allocated sections of management accounts, annual budgets and forecasts

Please refer to the attached job profile for more details.

Key Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• CCAB qualified accountant
• UK GAAP, FRS102 and Housing SORP and relevant financial regulations and compliance requirements in social housing
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong digital skills including Excel and specialist finance systems
• Enabling process efficiencies and effectiveness through automation and effective use of systems and technology
• Setting and monitoring rent and service charges
• Financial planning, reporting and analysis
• Social housing or similar asset-based customer orientated entity