Senior Professional Statement

Question 1

What is a Bison wall frame?

Answer 1

The Bison Wall Frame system was a prefabricated concrete construction method used primarily in the UK during the mid-20th century, particularly for high-rise buildings and housing developments. The system involved precasting concrete panels off-site which were then assembled on-site to form the structure of the building. This method offered several advantages such as faster construction times, reduced labour costs and improved quality control.

Question 2

How would you identify Bison wall frame construction?

Answer 2

The most prominent feature is the use of large precast concrete panels for the external walls. These panels extend the height of each floor, giving the building a unique look.

Question 3

What type of agreement is used to document the privately rented garages?

Answer 3

A licence agreement is used to document the privately rented garages.

Question 4

What did you have to include within your tender submission?

Answer 4

Your tender submission should include project specifications, pricing, timelines, and relevant experience.

Question 5

What are KYC checks?

Answer 5

KYC checks are Know Your Customer checks that verify the identity of clients and assess potential risks.

Question 6

How did you assess for conflicts of interest?

Answer 6

Conflicts of interest were assessed through a review of relationships and financial interests of involved parties.

Question 7

What were the previous property manager’s obligations with regards to handover?

Answer 7

The previous property manager was obligated to provide all relevant documents and information during the handover process.

Question 8

What information was missing from the handover?

Answer 8

The handover was missing financial records and maintenance logs.

Question 9

How did you propose sourcing this information?

Answer 9

I proposed sourcing this information through direct communication with the previous property manager and relevant stakeholders.

Question 10

Why did you decide to allocate two Senior PM and Assistant PM to the estate management?

Answer 10

Two Senior PM and an Assistant PM were allocated to ensure effective management and oversight of the estate.

Question 11

What restructuring did you undertake to free up some of the Accounts Manager’s time?

Answer 11

I restructured the team by delegating routine tasks to junior staff to free up the Accounts Manager’s time.

Question 12

What financial irregularities were there?

Answer 12

Financial irregularities included discrepancies in budget reporting and unaccounted expenses.

Question 13

How did you ensure all the staff members involved in this instruction undertook their work effectively?

Answer 13

I ensured effectiveness by implementing clear communication, setting deadlines, and conducting regular check-ins.

Question 14

Why were the leaseholders and homeowners refusing to pay?

Answer 14

The leaseholders and homeowners were refusing to pay due to dissatisfaction with services and perceived lack of transparency.

Question 15

What were their obligations in terms of making payments?

Answer 15

Their obligations included timely payment of service charges as outlined in their lease agreements.

Question 16

What options were available to your debt recovery team to recover the arrears?

Answer 16

Options included payment plans, legal action, and engaging with a debt recovery agency.

Question 17

What obligations did the previous management agent have to produce service charge budgets and reconciliations?

Answer 17

The previous management agent was obligated to prepare and present annual service charge budgets and reconciliations.

Question 18

How were the service charges apportioned?

Answer 18

Service charges were apportioned based on the size of each unit and the services provided.

Question 19

What items were included in the ‘Estate’ schedule?

Answer 19

The ‘Estate’ schedule included maintenance, landscaping, and security services.

Question 20

What charges did you have to make to the service charge budget and why?

Answer 20

Charges included increased maintenance costs due to unforeseen repairs and enhancements to security.

Question 21

How were the works to deal with the garage block and building defects funded?

Answer 21

The works were funded through reserve funds and additional service charge contributions.

Question 22

What were the obligations to register the building?

Answer 22

The obligations included submitting necessary documentation to local authorities for compliance.

Question 23

How did you propose dealing with the 82 action points to ensure they were all actioned?

Answer 23

I proposed creating a detailed action plan with assigned responsibilities and deadlines for each point.

Question 24

How did you track completion of the action points?

Answer 24

Completion of action points was tracked using a project management tool with regular updates.

Question 25

How did you recruit for the new caretaker?

Answer 25

Recruitment for the new caretaker involved advertising the position, screening applicants, and conducting interviews.

Question 26

How do you know that the owners and residents now feel listened to?

Answer 26

Feedback from surveys and direct communication indicated that owners and residents felt their concerns were addressed.

Question 27

How have you kept your client informed and up to date over the past year?

Answer 27

I kept the client informed through regular reports, meetings, and updates on activities and progress.

Question 28

What would you do differently next time?

Answer 28

Next time, I would enhance communication strategies and involve stakeholders earlier in the process.

Question 29

How did you act ethically?

Answer 29

I acted ethically by maintaining transparency, adhering to regulations, and prioritizing stakeholder interests.

Question 30

What were your key achievements?

Answer 30

Key achievements included improved financial management, enhanced resident satisfaction, and successful project completions.