Finance Analyst (Rent & Charges)

Job Description

The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a Finance Analyst (Rent & Charges) to join the Finance Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to play a key role in supporting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), ensuring accurate rent and service charge setting, robust financial planning and effective financial management. Reporting to the Finance Manager, the postholder will provide expert financial analysis, business partnering and technical support that directly contributes to the long-term sustainability of the Council’s housing services and income streams.

The successful candidate will lead on a range of complex financial activities relating to rents, service charges and HRA financial management. You will support the annual rent-setting process, develop financial models and forecasts, analyse income and expenditure trends, and provide detailed financial advice to managers and budget holders. The role also includes responsibility for statutory returns, reconciliations, year-end accounting processes, benchmarking activities and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and financial regulations. Working closely with Housing Services and Finance colleagues, you will help identify risks, improve financial performance and support strategic decision-making.

This is a varied and influential role offering the opportunity to contribute to service improvement, systems development and long-term financial planning within a key area of the Council. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical finance skills with excellent analytical ability, business partnering expertise and a proactive approach to problem-solving. You will be capable of translating complex financial information into meaningful insight that supports high-quality services for residents and tenants across the borough.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience working within a finance or accounting environment, ideally supporting housing or public sector services
• Knowledge and experience of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) accounting and financial planning
• Experience of rent and service charge setting, including financial modelling and compliance requirements
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and identify risks and opportunities
• Experience providing financial advice and business partnering support to non-finance managers and stakeholders
• Strong understanding of financial systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly and confidently
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work to statutory deadlines and take ownership of complex financial workstreams
• A proactive and solution-focused approach, with a commitment to continuous improvement, financial governance and delivering value for money
• AAT qualified, part-qualified CCAB (or equivalent), or able to demonstrate significant relevant finance experience

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/ Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn