Service Charge Team Leader

Service Charge Team Lead

Location: Birmingham
Salary: £40,000 – £48,000
Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

We are recruiting for an experienced Service Charge Team Lead to join a dynamic and customer-focused finance function within a large and complex organisation operating in the housing sector.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated finance professional with strong service charge expertise to lead a specialist team responsible for the accurate delivery of service charge activities, ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and outstanding customer service.

Working closely with senior finance leadership, you will play a key role in managing the annual service charge cycle, improving processes, supporting stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement across the function.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for the delivery of service charge activities.
• Manage day-to-day team performance, ensuring service standards and deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on customer service and continuous improvement.
• Support wider finance and operational teams through effective communication and partnership working.

Service Charge Operations

• Oversee the preparation and calculation of annual service charge estimates and actuals.
• Ensure service charge information is accurate, transparent, and communicated clearly to customers.
• Manage the delivery of annual rent review and certification processes, ensuring legal deadlines are met.
• Monitor sinking funds and ensure long-term asset provisions remain aligned and appropriate.
• Resolve service charge queries and disputes, escalating more complex issues where necessary.

Governance, Compliance & Audit

• Maintain robust controls, reconciliations, and audit trails across all service charge activities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and internal policies.
• Support internal and external audits, providing accurate information and documentation as required.
• Promote strong data governance and adherence to GDPR and information security requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement

• Act as a key operational contact for service charge-related matters across the business.
• Build strong relationships with operational teams and senior stakeholders.
• Support process improvement initiatives and system enhancements to drive efficiency and service quality.
• Contribute to innovation and best practice within the finance function.

About You

You will be a proactive and commercially aware finance professional with proven experience in service charge management within a complex organisation.

• Part-qualified or qualified status (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or AAT)
• Strong experience within service charge accounting or housing finance
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Previous team leadership and people management experience
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders
• Experience working with complex data, financial reporting, and compliance requirements
• A customer-focused and collaborative approach

Experience within housing, property, or public sector environments would be highly advantageous.