Associate Director - Surveying

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Company Overview

As a leading specialist in property management, Ashdown Phillips & Partners is committed to providing innovative, client-centric solutions. Our team is dedicated to delivering an outstanding property management service for clients and occupiers, leading and setting the standard for excellence in the industry.

At Ashdown Phillips, we celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion - embracing individuals from all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive and be themselves. We believe that by bringing together unique perspectives, we create dynamic, forward-thinking teams.

Job Summary

As an Associate Director, you will play a crucial role in driving and delivering our objectives, ensuring that property management services are executed to the highest standards. Your responsibilities will include acting as an ambassador for the business, leading by example, and serving as a role model for colleagues, clients, occupiers and service partners. You will be expected to understand the commercial and financial impact of your work, as well as how your contributions align with the broader goals of the organisation. You will take an active role in maintaining and continuously improving client relationships, ensuring the highest levels of satisfaction to cement long-term partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• The effective delivery of property management services provided by the company to clients across a range of properties.
• Working in concert with other senior management colleagues, identify and deliver opportunities to continually improve the service offered to our clients.
• Actively support more junior members of the Surveying Team and work to promote the Ashdown Phillips service ethos throughout the business.
• Enthusiastically participate in driving our company strategy forward.
• Ensure compliance with our Property Management and Duty of Care Agreements and support junior team members in ensuring they are aware of their responsibilities in this regard.
• Undertake and document regular inspections (monthly, quarterly, or annual basis in accordance with the PMA) following up with any actions accordingly to demonstrate the proactive management of the assigned properties.
• Work in partnership with clients and their consultants to achieve their sustainability targets for their properties and promote initiatives that will improve the building(s), in particular removing reliance on gas.
• Providing advice to clients regarding the effective management of their properties, and particularly matters pertaining to landlord and occupier issues, thus demonstrating the role as the client's trusted advisor.
• Maintain, establish and develop appropriate relationships and communication channels with occupiers, colleagues and other stakeholders (including members of client's professional teams, such as solicitors, architects and building surveyors) to ensure that the required service levels are sustained and, over the longer term, improved.
• Undertake regular meetings with occupiers to ensure standards of service delivery are maintained at a high level across our managed portfolio, creating a positive working environment and ensuring any issues are addressed promptly.
• Work in partnership with the Client Accounting teams to ensure smooth running of the budgets, credit control and service charge reconciliation in compliance with the RICS guidelines.
• Creating and managing service charge budgets, ensuring the setting of budgets and the completion of reconciliations are undertaken in line with the RICS Service Charge Code, making certain all costs are properly allocated against the respective property schedule.
• Proactively advise clients on the service charges, reporting as required and ensuring that properties are run as efficiently and smoothly, clearly demonstrating a focus on value for money and robust financial stewardship.
• Work in partnership with facilities management colleagues to deliver compliance with all statutory and internal obligations applicable to the ongoing occupation, operations and maintenance (including project work) of the portfolio.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• MRICS qualification preferred
• Minimum 6 years of commercial property management experience
• Strong leadership qualities and team management abilities
• Advanced financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting skills
• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving attributes
• Proficiency in relevant software and building management systems
• Strong understanding of property law and lease administration
• A role model in customer service orientation with a proven ability to manage client and occupier relationships in particular
• Continually demonstrate a keen awareness and understanding of ESG considerations in relation to the properties being managed