Job Description

Responsible for the operational finance function of British Land commercial and retail properties.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

People Leadership and Team Management

• Leadership of a team of 5 property accountants, as well as wider leadership role within the Finance and Property Management department
• Encourage an environment that supports teamwork, financial transparency, co-operation and performance excellence.
• Manage and supports the team to ensure high staff morale, trust, work ethics, clear goals and performance reviews.
• Retain, Attract and Develop the talent within the team
• Improve team performance through regular coaching and feedback; Recognising success where appropriate

Reporting and Processes

• Work closely with management surveyors and site based teams to ensure the operational costs for all sites/buildings are managed and controlled
• Work closely with surveyors and to ensure rent and insurance are accurately billed and collected from occupiers
• Ensure the property accounting team support the service charge budget, half year and year end processes in accordance with internal procedures and RICS guidelines
• Ensure rent and service charge are billed as soon as possible - target 6 weeks prior to due date
• Manage the half year forecast and annual service charge budget processes and ensure occupier invoices are issued at least one month prior to the new service charge year
• Review the property accountants bank reconciliations and unallocated cash schedules on at least a monthly basis in accordance with agreed procedures
• Ensure the property accountants “Know Their Numbers” and accurate financial information is available for all the properties to enable operational decisions to be made in a timely manner
• Support completion of statutory year end reporting working with external auditors as appropriate
• Ensures that appropriate process and systems controls are in place and maintained to guarantee the integrity of all financial transactions.
• Develop, manage and implement consistency in approach for the property accounting team by working with peer group
• Highlight and escalate key risks and provide solutions where possible

Projects

• Responsible for all new asset set up in Qube
• Work with team and Group Technology to implement improvements to systems and reports to aid team efficiency
• Partner with the Systems Projects team to assist in the development of a new finance system in the longer term (“Project Elevate”).

Ad-hoc

• Be prepared to roll-up sleeves and get things done, as and when required

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Skills Required

Experience

• Ability to lead and develop teams
• Prior experience of the service charge industry
• Working knowledge of property management finance systems

Technical knowledge and skills

• Qualified Accountant or Qualified by experience
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with senior stakeholders

Values:

Bring your whole self

• Foster an open and inclusive culture
• Encourage others to be themselves
• Lead by example

Listen and understand

• Ability to communicate confidently with accountants and surveyors and site teams
• Listen to feedback and action as relevant to improve and empower the Team
• Adapt to ensure every team member is heard, strengths are capitalised and the best output is achieved

Be smarter together

• Work as a Team
• Take ownership of workstreams

Build for the future

• Strong organisational skills with ability to anticipate and plan for workloads
• Drive operational improvements in quality of data and efficiency
• Grow and learn from experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities