Senior Accounts Assistant Bournemouth, England
Job description
McCarthy Stone are looking for a Senior Accounts Assistant - Billing, to join the Services Finance Department. This role would ideally suit someone who has previous of credit control and billing and is either a qualified or part qualified accountant.
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week, 09:00 - 17:30 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 - 17:00 on Friday.
This role is currently hybrid working in head office Bournemouth on Tuesdays and Thursdays with one other day of your choice, and two days working from home.
Salary: Competitive plus benefits (see below)
Benefits:
- Company Pension,
- Life Assurance,
- Hybrid Working,
- Employee Assist Programme,
- two paid days volunteering each calendar year,
- company sick pay (subject to passing probationary period),
- free eye tests,
- remote GP Service,
- give as you earn towards your favourite charity,
- professional subscriptions where appropriate, mentoring and access to leadership programmes (subject to application),
- colleague referral scheme
- annual bonus (role specific) linked to colleague performance and overall business performance.
- Discounted McCarthy Stone apartments for immediate family and use of guest suites around the country subject to availability.
- Access to benefits platform offering discounted Gift Cards and eGifts providing discounts on a number of leading brands including restaurants and supermarkets
The purpose of the role:
We are recruiting a Senior Accounts Assistant (Billing) to work within the Management Services Finance team, to ensure all homeowner invoices are sent out in a timely manner and outstanding payments are collected, or that repayment plans are set up.
The successful Senior Accounts Assistant Billing / Credit Control candidate will be highly motivated and passionate. They will be a team player, an excellent communicator and someone who thrives in a diverse role within a creative environment.
Some of the areas you will be responsible for are:
- Chase outstanding debt via all mediums available and issue arrears letters and statements in line with the Company’s debt collection procedure
- Prepare monthly debtors’ analysis and co-present the monthly Debtors meetings
- Clearly articulate progress made in the month and communicate any risks identified
- Respond to verbal and written correspondence regarding account queries from House/Estate Managers and Homeowners in line with agreed SLA’s and our five-star customer service rating
- Maintain Legal Cases Tracker and co-present on the monthly Legal Cases meetings
- Support Internal Legal Team with debt collection issues escalation and investigation
- Ensure all written and verbal conversations are accurately recorded against the homeowners’ accounts
- Maximise cash collection, reduce and maintain aged debt to a minimal value using approved range of debt chasing methods
- Negotiating payments plans and setting up direct debit’s repayment plans for customers with deferment expiry
- Assist with half yearly Service Charge and ground rent invoicing
- Supporting other ad hoc duties within the Billing and Collections team
- Be a key point of contact for our debt collection partner and auditors
- Be proactive in all aspects of the credit controlling, to review and maintain accounts in the line with business requirements
- Working with the Finance Manager (Cash & Billing Team) and the wider team to identify and implement process improvements
We are looking for someone who :
- Able to stay calm under pressure
- Flexible approach to working as required by business demands
- Able to solve problems and enjoy investigations
- Goal focused with planning/organisational and delegation skills
- Excellent communication skills, to include excellent customer service delivery to our homeowners
- Able to rapidly develop good working relationships, and work across organisational boundaries
- Maintains a positive and ‘can do’ approach
- Confident to challenge processes
- Operates with an approach of continuous improvement
- Being professional and courteous
- Resolving problems quickly
Knowledge and desired experience we are looking for:
- GCSE Mathematics or equivalent at C Grade or higher
- Substantial credit control / billing experience.
- Qualified/partly qualified or qualified by experience accountant
- Previous experience of working in a demanding role dealing with high volumes of transactions.
- Excellent working knowledge of Excel and finance systems.
- Confident running meeting presentations.
- Customer service experience and excellent verbal skills
- Confident and experienced in process documentation/ SOP writing
Why this role with McCarthy Stone?
- This is a hugely varied role with experience to be gained in all aspects of billing, collections, cash book processing
- There is lots of interaction with the wider business and homeowners and scope for career development
- You will be part of the transformation journey – having input into process re-engineering to ensure we always evolve to maximize efficiencies in a constantly growing business
- McCarthy Stone has been officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’.
Further information is attached within the attached job description.
OUR VALUES
Being part of the McCarthy Stone family means being passionate about championing the role, wellbeing, and happiness of older people in society. We aim to create a better understanding and appreciation of older people by playing our part in helping them to live happy and healthy lives. From senior executive positions to front-line colleagues, we have a shared vision of creating a thriving retirement community, built with innovation and heart, that celebrates later life.
If these values resonate with you and you want to be part of a dynamic and professional team within McCarthy Stone, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Currently McCarthy Stone does not offer sponsorship for any of their roles. We will only be able to consider applicants that have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Life insurance
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Supplemental pay types:
- Performance bonus
Experience:
- Accounting: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- AAT qualification or above (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bournemouth
Reference ID: MCC894200
