Senior Compliance Specialist (LIHTC)

Roost Affordable; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Roost Affordable is seeking a Senior Compliance Specialist to drive certification processing and ensure audit-ready tenant files at our Seattle LIHTC community. This hybrid role requires on-site presence at Viv Apartments, collaborating with the on-site team to move certifications through review and provide resident support.

You will deepen program knowledge across LIHTC, HUD Section 8, and related requirements, partnering with product to improve workflows and ensure accurate reporting.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of on-site property management experience in leasing and/or certification processing.
• Working knowledge of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and/or HUD subsidized housing programs.
• Proven experience meeting affordable program requirements, specifically WSHFC programs.
• Experience with WBARS reporting.
• Ability to read and interpret tenant file information and complex documents such as regulatory agreements and program regulations.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to produce accurate, timely documents and reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to explain complex compliance issues in simple, straightforward terms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, customer-service-oriented environment.
• Respect for and understanding of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to work in person at Viv Apartments in Seattle, WA, on the required schedule.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit tax-credit certification and recertification files for review and approval across assigned properties.
• Complete move-in certifications and audit files for accuracy, including household composition, lease terms, utility charges, and subsidy portions.
• Obtain and review first-year files for completeness and arrange proper electronic storage.
• Manage the electronic storage of tax-credit and lease-agreement files in Yardi and Roost software.
• Flag potential noncompliance issues early to the Compliance Manager and the relevant Client and community teams.
• Keep property and resident certification data current in Yardi, including units, utility allowances, and income and rent limits.
• Enter data into and maintain data in WBARS, ensuring accuracy, and reconcile with the Compliance Manager to resolve discrepancies.
• Track and help manage the extended-vacancy report.
• Assist with Tenant Selection Plans (TSP), Affluent Fair Housing Marketing Plans (AFHMP), and Language Assistance Plans (LAP), along with other compliance documents as needed.
• Apply and grow a working knowledge of LIHTC (IRS Section 42), HUD Section 8, and WSHFC requirements in daily file work.
• Interpret tenant file information and complex documents such as regulatory agreements and program regulations, and translate them into plain guidance for Clients and residents.
• Partner with the product team to surface friction and ideas that help build and refine Roost's compliance workflows.
• Provide clear, courteous technical assistance on certification and reporting questions, keeping a strong focus on resident experience and retention.

Skills

LIHTC knowledge

HUD compliance

WBARS reporting

Regulatory interpretation

Communication

Tools

Yardi

WBARS

Job description

The Senior Compliance Specialist is part of Roost Affordable's compliance team and the hands-on engine behind keeping our Clients' files accurate, complete, and audit-ready. This person processes tax-credit certifications and recertifications, keeps resident and property data current, and helps Clients stay compliant by default across the programs Roost supports, including LIHTC (IRS Section 42), HUD Section 8, and other local and national programs.

This is a hybrid role with a required in-person component at Viv Apartments, a LIHTC community in Seattle, WA, where the Senior Compliance Specialist works directly alongside the on-site team to process certifications, review files, and support residents through the qualification process.

It's a detail-driven role for someone who is genuinely excited about technology and eager to help replace paper-heavy, manual work with cleaner, faster workflows. Reporting to the Compliance Manager, the Senior Compliance Specialist learns the programs deeply, works closely with Clients and the product team, and grows into a trusted expert who helps Roost earn its place as an ally to the people creating affordable homes.

Duties & responsibilitiesCertification & File Processing

Job summary

The Senior Compliance Specialist is part of Roost Affordable's compliance team and the hands-on engine behind keeping our Clients' files accurate, complete, and audit-ready. This person processes tax-credit certifications and recertifications, keeps resident and property data current, and helps Clients stay compliant by default across the programs Roost supports, including LIHTC (IRS Section 42), HUD Section 8, and other local and national programs.

This is a hybrid role with a required in-person component at Viv Apartments, a LIHTC community in Seattle, WA, where the Senior Compliance Specialist works directly alongside the on-site team to process certifications, review files, and support residents through the qualification process.

It's a detail-driven role for someone who is genuinely excited about technology and eager to help replace paper-heavy, manual work with cleaner, faster workflows. Reporting to the Compliance Manager, the Senior Compliance Specialist learns the programs deeply, works closely with Clients and the product team, and grows into a trusted expert who helps Roost earn its place as an ally to the people creating affordable homes.

On-Site Compliance Support at Viv Apartments

Being the compliance presence on the ground at a live LIHTC community.

• Prepare and submit tax-credit certification and recertification files for review and approval across assigned properties.

• Complete move-in certifications and audit files for accuracy, including household composition, lease terms, utility charges, and subsidy portions.

• Obtain and review first-year files for completeness and arrange proper electronic storage.

• Manage the electronic storage of tax-credit and lease-agreement files in Yardi and Roost software.

• Flag potential noncompliance issues early to the Compliance Manager and the relevant Client and community teams.

Data, Systems & Reporting

Keeping the numbers clean and the reporting trustworthy across every system Roost touches.

• Keep property and resident certification data current in Yardi, including units, utility allowances, and income and rent limits.

• Enter data into and maintain data in WBARS, ensuring accuracy, and reconcile with the Compliance Manager to resolve discrepancies.

• Track and help manage the extended-vacancy report.

• Assist with Tenant Selection Plans (TSP), Affluent Fair Housing Marketing Plans (AFHMP), and Language Assistance Plans (LAP), along with other compliance documents as needed.

Program Knowledge & Product Partnership

Building real program expertise and helping Roost turn it into better tools.

• Apply and grow a working knowledge of LIHTC (IRS Section 42), HUD Section 8, and WSHFC requirements in daily file work.

• Interpret tenant file information and complex documents such as regulatory agreements and program regulations, and translate them into plain guidance for Clients and residents.

• Partner with the product team to surface friction and ideas that help build and refine Roost's compliance workflows.

• Provide clear, courteous technical assistance on certification and reporting questions, keeping a strong focus on resident experience and retention.

Minimum qualifications

• 1-2 years of on-site property management experience in leasing and/or certification processing.

• Working knowledge of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and/or HUD subsidized housing programs.

• Proven experience meeting affordable program requirements, specifically WSHFC programs.

• Experience with WBARS reporting.

• Ability to read and interpret tenant file information and complex documents such as regulatory agreements and program regulations.

• Detail-oriented, with the ability to produce accurate, timely documents and reports.

• Strong written and verbal communication; able to explain complex compliance issues in simple, straightforward terms.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Strong judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, customer-service-oriented environment.

• Respect for and understanding of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Ability to work in person at Viv Apartments in Seattle, WA, on the required schedule.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with Yardi or a comparable property management / CRM system.

• A compliance certification (e.g., C3P, TCS, COS), or active progress toward one.

• Genuine enthusiasm for housing technology and improving manual workflows.