Credit Controller (Service Charge Specialist)

SUMMARY:
The Credit Controller will be responsible for the end-to-end recovery of service charge and ancillary arrears across a residential portfolio.

POSITION INFO:

 Credit Controller (Service Charge Specialist)
Play a key role in managing residential service charge debt recovery while supporting the growth of a fast-expanding Block and Estate Management business.

Location: Remote (South Africa) | Working Arrangement: Remote | Working Hours: UK Working Hours, Monday to Friday | Salary: R30,000 – R40,000 per month

ABOUT OUR CLIENT
Our client is an emerging Block and Estate Management business focused on delivering best-in-class management of residential leasehold and freehold portfolios. The business is building a modern, scalable platform that combines operational excellence, compliance discipline, high-quality customer service, and strong technology and data infrastructure.

Backed by an established residential property investor with experience building large-scale institutional platforms across the UK and US, the business has a secure pipeline of 15,000 units and plans to expand significantly through strategic acquisitions, service innovation, and organic growth. With a resident-first approach, the business is committed to ensuring properties are managed as homes while maintaining the highest operational and governance standards.

THE ROLE: CREDIT CONTROLLER (SERVICE CHARGE SPECIALIST)
The Credit Controller will be responsible for the end-to-end recovery of service charge and ancillary arrears across a residential portfolio. The role focuses on ensuring debt recovery processes are legally compliant, transparent, and managed with professionalism and empathy while maintaining accurate ledgers, supporting legal processes, and resolving resident queries.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proactively manage a portfolio of residential accounts, chasing overdue service charges and ancillary income via telephone, email, and formal letter cycles.
• Maintain an accurate sales ledger, ensuring receipts are correctly allocated, and accounts are regularly reconciled.
• Monitor aged debt reports and provide detailed weekly briefings to the Financial Controller on high-risk accounts.
• Ensure all statutory demands and reminders include the required Section 21B Summary of Rights and Obligations and Section 47/48 Landlord information.
• Liaise with Property Managers to ensure Section 20 consultation requirements have been met before pursuing major works arrears.
• Audit the ledger to ensure no costs breach the 18-month rule under Section 20B.
• Adhere to Building Safety Act 2022 protections to ensure qualifying leaseholders are not incorrectly charged for historical safety defects.
• Act as the first point of contact for billing disputes, investigating reasonableness claims under Section 19 (LTA 1985).
• Negotiate sustainable repayment plans for residents experiencing financial difficulty and document all agreements.
• Manage Breathing Space applications in accordance with the Debt Respite Scheme 2021.
• Prepare comprehensive witness of fact bundles for the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) or County Court.
• Liaise with external solicitors and mortgagees, providing accurate information to support forfeiture proceedings and County Court Judgments (CCJs).
• Successfully support the onboarding and steady-state management of the initial property portfolio.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the portfolio as the business grows.

ABOUT YOU

• Minimum of 2 years'' experience in Residential Credit Control.
• Strong knowledge of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (LTA 1985) and Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (CLRA 2002).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs.
• Strong negotiation skills with a high level of empathy.
• Experience within the Property or Block Management sector.
• Familiarity with the Building Safety Act 2022.
• Experience using Qube.
• Experience handling vulnerable debtor cases.

WORKING HOURS

• Monday to Friday
• UK working hours
• Six-month probation period

BONUS
Non-discretionary bonus