Housing Development Accountant, Senior

Self Enhancement, Inc. seeks a Housing Development Accountant to oversee all aspects of development project accounting, serving as the primary liaison to the Housing Development department and is a key member of the Finance Department reporting to the Director of Finance. This position collaborates closely with the Director of Housing Development, Director of Finance, and project managers to ensure accurate financial oversight of real estate development projects. Key responsibilities include preparing and maintaining development budget spreadsheets, managing general ledgers, overseeing project invoicing, handling purchase, loan, and closing escrows, and assisting with cost certifications and audit preparation. The role also advises on investor, lender, and audit compliance and collaborates with the Finance Department and Property Management team to ensure smooth transitions from development to operations.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Housing Development Cash Management: Oversee cash flow for development project sources & uses, reconcile project receivables and payables, and provide monthly reports on advances and repayment schedules. Track developer fees and provide variance reports for the Housing Development Team.
• Loan Closings: Coordinate and perform journal entries for acquisition, construction, and permanent loan closings. Manage the funding of reserves and accounts.
• Development Draw Requests: Collaborate with project managers to review and prepare development funding draw requests and manage line of credit drawdown and repayment processes.
• Accounts Payable: Manage accounts payable for development projects, ensuring proper authorization, coding, and documentation. Oversee payment processing and check disbursement.
• Cost Certifications: Support project managers and auditors in preparing cost certifications for new or rehabilitated housing projects and assist with funder financial reporting requests.
• Audit Support: Assist with audit preparation, including providing trial balances, reviewing capitalized costs, and responding to auditor requests.
• General Ledger Support and Journal Entries: Ensures that all development project activity is accurately recorded in the general ledger and assist with routine general ledger close and account reconciliation functions. Maintains the general ledger and trial balance for real estate development projects and entities, reconciles draws to actual costs and the construction budget; tracks projectedbudgets with actual costs, creates financial reports for funding sources and external parties, where required.
• Property Tax Exemptions: Responsible for the annual filing of property tax exemption applications.
• Corporate Tax Returns: Responsible for working with external tax accountants to file all corporate tax returns related to housing development accurately and timely.
• Analysis and Thought Partner: Participate in development planning meetings, including pre- and post-closing meetings, and provide analysis and recommendations where needed. Responsible for understanding and communicating the impact of housing development decisions on SEI’s financial statements at all time periods during the development process, including pre-closing, post-closing, and end of-compliance periods.
• Major Grant Tracking: Responsible for tracking, compliance, and reporting of a major grant, requiring significant reporting of expenses, cash management compliance, and other outcome reporting.
• Annual Operating Budgets: Responsible for meeting with administrative leaders on a regular basis to go over actual to budgeted spending and work with leadership to compile annual administration budgets, housing development budgets, housing development grant budgets, capital budgets, and any other budgets as needed. Participates in developing housing development budgets for grant applications.
• Accounting Process and Procedures: Document all processes and procedures related to Housing Development finance and accounting functions and draft-related policies, where needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting with at least five years of experience in real estate development or construction accounting.
• Experience in affordable housing real estate development and low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) preferred.
• Proficient in Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with Intacct or similar cloud-based enterprise accounting systems preferred.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong problem-solving skills with a detail-oriented approach.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and manage complex tasks with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with different departments.
• Highly organized with a proactive mindset to identify and propose solutions.
• Positive attitude, adaptable to a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse, multicultural team.

Mindsets

• You thrive on problem-solving and wait to rest until questions are answered.
• You are meticulous and take pride in getting details right.
• You seek continuous improvement and enjoy streamlining processes.
• You manage multiple tasks calmly and prioritize effectively in a dynamic environment.
• You excel in entrepreneurial settings, staying resourceful amid ambiguity and change.