Head of Rents and Service Charges

A senior Rents & Service Charges opportunity with a well-established, mid-sized housing association, leading a strong team and taking ownership of one of the organisation’s most important income functions.

We’re partnering with a mid-sized social housing provider based in the Manchester area to appoint a Head of Rents & Service Charges. This is a niche opportunity for an experienced housing finance professional with strong knowledge of rent regulation, service charges and income management.

About the role

You’ll lead a strong and established function, with direct management responsibility for two Finance Business Partners, alongside a wider team of Assistant Finance Business Partners and finance support.

Your key priorities will include:

• Leading the annual rent setting and rent increase process, ensuring full regulatory and legislative compliance.
• Providing strategic oversight of service charges, budgeting and recovery.
• Ensuring strong compliance with the Rent Standard and wider housing legislation.
• Managing and developing the Finance Business Partners, providing clear direction and accountability.
• Working closely with budget holders and Heads of Service across the organisation.
• Supporting the organisation to maximise income recovery and value for money.
• Ensuring robust financial controls, processes and audit assurance.
• Supporting energy procurement and wider projects across rents and service charges.
• Providing confident advice and challenge to senior stakeholders where required.

This is a role where you can come into a strong existing team and keep things moving, rather than needing to completely rebuild the function.

About you

We’re looking for someone with strong social housing rents and/or service charge experience, who understands the regulatory environment and can confidently lead and advise others.

You’ll ideally have:

• Strong experience across rents, rent setting and/or service charges within a housing association or local authority.
• Excellent knowledge of rent and service charge regulation.
• Previous experience managing finance professionals, ideally at FBP or equivalent level.
• Strong budgeting and financial management experience.
• The confidence to work with and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong Excel and analytical capability.
• A practical management style, with the confidence to get into the detail when needed without becoming overly hands-on.

Qualifications are not essential. We’re much more interested in your technical knowledge, leadership ability and understanding of the social housing environment.

Experience of heat networks or energy management would be a bonus.

What’s on offer

• £65,000 – £70,000
• Permanent position
• Hybrid working
• Based in the Manchester area
• Opportunity to lead an established and capable team
• Strong, collaborative Finance function
• Genuine exposure to senior stakeholders and wider organisational projects
• A non-hierarchical and supportive culture
• The opportunity to take ownership of a critical area of housing finance

If you’re an experienced Rents & Service Charge professional looking for a senior leadership opportunity within a strong social housing environment, get in touch for a confidential discussion.