The role
We are currently recruiting for a Revenue Service Charge Officer who will be part of a small team that analyses and consults on day to day repair costs.
You will scrutinise the council’s accountancy systems to identify repair costs across the borough to ensure that they are coded to the correct blocks and estates, analysing the text to ensure that work is chargeable.
This work involves analysis of a very large body of information using excel functionality, individual scrutiny of orders and investigation of detailed circumstances in some cases. You will collate and manipulate data to ensure that charges are correct and comply with our leases and identify and investigate anomalies.
You will be responsible for liaising with the repairs teams and the engineering teams to ensure that statutory consultation requirements are met to evidence the need for work and the reasonableness of the costs. You will be responsible for calculating individual costs from specifications of work, ensuring that that they are correctly costed, and will deal directly with observations from leaseholders in writing and by telephone.
We are a small team with responsibility for analysis of a wide range of costs. We aspire to improve our construction of charges through better use of technology and better liaison with the service providers who incur costs. You will be keen to contribute towards this through proactively identifying solutions and through effective liaison with colleagues across the council
Key Responsibilities:
• Construct accurate and timely revenue service charge accounts and estimates, ensuring transparency and compliance with industry standards
• Provide expert guidance on statutory consultations with leaseholders and tenants' associations for qualifying work and long-term agreements
• Offer professional advice and support to homeowners, addressing queries and complaints related to service charge construction
• Deliver strategic insights to improve customer experiences and evolve the Homeownership service
• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to develop value-adding initiatives and represent the council's interests
• Contribute to the team's continuous improvement by identifying innovative solutions and liaising effectively with colleagues across the council
How will you make an impact as our Revenue Service Charge Officer?
• Knowledge of effective financial management practices
• Understanding of housing management services for council-owned residential blocks
• Basic knowledge of local authority residential leases and service charge issues
• Experience in analysing complex statistical information and exercising judgment
• Proficiency with computer packages, including accounting systems
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment to providing responsive customer service and driving continuous improvement
Join us in this rewarding role where your expertise will shape the future of revenue service charges in Southwark.
Additional details
We will only consider applications from internal candidates, that are current employees or agency workers on an active assignment.
About Southwark Council:
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals, and attend our universities.
Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice, and inequality) underpins all that we do.
Benefits and more information:
In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:
• A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff)
• Strong supportive senior management team
• Regular one to one supervision
• Professional development & training opportunities
• Clear career development pathways
• Agile and flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Season ticket and cycle loans
• Annual Leave starting at 27 days per year, increasing to 36 (with length of service) (pro rata for part time staff)
• Wellbeing programme
• HSF Health plan and eye care scheme
• EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support
• Social clubs and staff groups
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Recruitment timetable
Closing date: Thursday 3rd October 2024 at 23:59
Interview date: to be confirmed
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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