Service Charge Analyst- Permanent

Department: Customer – Homeownership Team

Location: Leathermarket JMB
Reports to: Leasehold and Homeownership Manager

About Leathermarket JMB

Leathemarket JMB is Southwark's largest resident-managed housing organisation, managing approx.1600 homes in Borough and Bermondsey between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Our vision is to provide excellent housing services for our residents, better than those provided by other organisations with similar resources.

Our values:

• We do the right thing and keep our promises.
• We only spend what we can afford.
• We are kind to each other, and we pull together.
• We love new ideas.

Organisational Context

The JMB is a tenant managed organisation (TMO). We manage 1,550 homes, under the terms of a Management Agreement with Southwark Council. Strategic decisions are made by a board of resident directors, elected by their fellow residents.

The partnership between Southwark Council and Leathermarket JMB. Represents the most significant sharing of control and responsibility with council residents anywhere in England. Southwark funds the JMB to provide all aspects of the housing service that affect residents’ lives and does this through a Self-Financing arrangement.

The Council provides funding equal to all residents’ rents and service charges, (rents £7m & service charges £1m per annum). From this the JMB has to pay off the historic debt on our homes, deliver major works and provide the full range of housing services for the benefit of our tenants and leaseholders.

As a resident managed organisation, we are required to hold a continuation ballot every 5 years. This requires us to ask our residents whether they still want the JMB to deliver the housing service and provides a mandate for the approach of the organisation. Including the initial ballot to establish the JMB there has been 6 formal ballots over 25 years. Resident support has stayed very consistent at around the 90% mark.

We are a run by a group of ‘ordinary’ people whose commitment, drive and achievements are truly extraordinary.

Our immediate priorities are:

• Delivering a high performing housing service which includes rent and service charge collection, repairs, tenancy management etc.
• The reliability of our responsive repairs service and reducing our void turnaround times.
• Building safety, especially regarding fire safety and dampness.
• Enabling more residents to engage in our decision-making, especially those who have not had a Voice so far.
• Staff recruitment and retention.
• Supporting residents with the cost-of-living crisis and maintaining income collection.
• Improve our use of technology to enhance our service delivery.

Purpose of the role

The Service Charge Analyst is responsible for the accurate calculation, monitoring, and reporting of service charges across the organisation. The role ensures that service charge income and costs are appropriately allocated, transparent, and compliant with relevant legislation and lease agreements.

Working within the Homeownership Team, the post holder will collaborate closely with colleagues across Finance, Property Services, and operational teams to deliver robust service charge management processes. The post holder will provide prepare service charge budgets and statements, and support effective financial management of communal and planned works costs.

The role also acts as a key point of contact for service charge queries from leaseholders, tenants, internal stakeholders and auditors.

Main Accountabilities

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Review actual expenditure against service charge budgets and identify variances.
• Forecast future service charge costs based on contracts, historical data, and operational plans.
• Work closely with property managers, management teams, and finance colleagues to ensure accurate financial planning.
• Support the preparation of annual service charge budgets.

Calculating Service Charges

• Allocate communal costs including cleaning, repairs, electricity, grounds maintenance, and other shared services.
• Ensure service charges are apportioned accurately in line with lease agreements and contractual obligations.
• Prepare estimated and actual service charge statements.
• Lead on production of service charge billing for service charge revenue and major works revenue.
• Work collaboratively with finance teams to ensure financial data used in billing is accurate and complete.
• Review service charge and major work income and expenditure monthly to ensure correct allocation by scheme, identifying and resolving anomalies such as miscoding, duplication, or omissions.

Legislation and Compliance

• Ensure service charge processes comply with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Support Section 20 consultation requirements for major works where applicable.
• Provide financial evidence and supporting documentation for disputes, audits, or legal queries.

Stakeholder Support

• Respond to leaseholder and tenant queries relating to service charges.
• Work closely with property managers, surveyors, and finance colleagues to resolve financial queries.
• Support auditors during annual financial certification and reviews.

Job Context

The Service Charge Analyst sits within the Homeownership team and plays an important role in ensuring service charge costs and income are accurately calculated, managed, and communicated.
The role requires close collaboration with colleagues across finance, property management, and operational teams to ensure service charge processes are transparent, compliant, and effectively managed.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience preparing service charge budgets and statements.
• Experience analysing financial data and resolving financial discrepancies.
• Experience working with stakeholders across finance and operational teams.

What we offer

• Competitive salary package: £43,659 £45,696 per annum L8 P26- L8 P29
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising with service).
• 2 Giveback Days per year to volunteer in our local community.
• Supportive and inclusive working culture.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• The opportunity to make a real, visible difference in people’s lives.

Leathermarket JMB is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. If you need any adjustments or support with your application, please let us know.

Person Specification

Unless stated Desirable (D) all criteria are essential. Candidates should ensure that they provide a supporting statement with their application that evidences their ability to meet each point of the person specification detailed below.

The criteria noted under experience and knowledge will be assessed at shortlisting stage and may be discussed further in any interview.

Experience

• Experience contributing to the preparation of service charge budgets and financial statements.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting information and investigating discrepancies where required.
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues across finance and operational teams to support financial processes

Knowledge

• An understanding of financial processes and accounting processes and practices, including how budgets and financial statements are produced (D)

Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to review data and identify issues.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good communication skills with the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to organise and prioritise work to meet deadlines.