Staff Accountant - Housing & Property Operations

Casa Familiar, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

403(b) Retirement – Casa contributes 3%

Vacation, sick hours, wellness days

Job summary

A community-based organization in San Diego is seeking a dedicated Staff Accountant for its Housing & Property Operations. This full-time role involves maintaining accurate accounting records, preparing financial reports, and supporting organizational compliance with accounting standards. Candidates should have a degree in accounting and relevant experience, particularly in affordable housing. The position offers a salary range of $83,000 - $95,000 and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of experience in property accounting.
• Experience with affordable housing or non-profit accounting preferred.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate accounting records for property portfolio.
• Prepare journal entries and reconcile accounts.
• Assist with financial reporting and budget tracking.

Skills

Intermediate-level Excel user

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

Associate’s degree with relevant experience

Tools

QuickBooks

AppFolio

Job description

Staff Accountant – Housing & Property Operations

Classification: Full-Time (Exempt)

Salary Range: $83,000 - $95,000

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Casa Familiar (Casa) was founded in 1973 and is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization dedicated to serving residents in South San Diego County and specifically the border community of San Ysidro.

Casa Familiar’s mission is to enhance quality of life for low-income individuals and families through advocacy, social services, education, affordable housing, arts and culture, and community and economic development. Casa’s values are RESPECT, INTEGRITY, FAMILIA, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

Casa seeks members to employ individuals that perform all assignments with a positive “can-do” attitude while demonstrating organizational values. Ideal employees have a strong desire to support Casa Familiar’s mission and the community we serve.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Staff Accountant supports the Finance Department by maintaining accurate accounting records for Casa Familiar’s property portfolio and assisting with the preparation of financial reports. This role is responsible for property-related accounting functions, including reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close activities, while ensuring compliance with nonprofit accounting standards and internal financial procedures. The position works closely with the Property Management and Asset Management teams to support timely and accurate financial reporting and also assists with organizational accounting needs and routine bookkeeping tasks for the Accounting Department.

Real Estate Portfolio

Casa’s housing portfolio consists of several affordable multi-family complexes, community facilities and commercial spaces, located in the southern portion of San Diego County. Its portfolio includes several large affordable housing complexes in which Casa is the managing general partner. Casa Familiar manages a scattered site portfolio of smaller affordable housing complexes for which it is the sole owner. Casa also operates several community facilities including office space and recreational facilities owned by the City of San Diego.

JOB SUMMARY

The Staff Accountant performs a variety of accounting functions including recording financial transactions, preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts, and assisting with the preparation of property and organizational financial reports. The role supports financial monitoring of housing operations, assists with budget tracking and variance analysis, and helps maintain compliance with applicable regulatory, lender, and partnership requirements related to affordable housing programs. The Staff Accountant also assists with routine bookkeeping tasks, audit preparation, and process improvements to support the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Record all income and expenses related to properties and projects, including rent receipts, utility bills, maintenance costs, property taxes and the flow of funds for various real estate development transactions.
• Reconcile tenant ledgers, subsidy contracts, and housing assistance payment (HAP) deposits.
• Maintain accurate accounts receivable and payable records, monitor delinquency aging invoices, and tracking subsidy payments (Section 8, VASH, SDUF, etc.)
• Monitor intercompany transactions between properties, development entities, and the central office.
• Perform monthly reconciliation of banks, capital assets and depreciation, prepaid amortization, tenant security deposit reconciliations, and reserve activity.
• Create Month-End closing entries and post them to the general ledger.
• Prepare monthly property financial packages including income statement, balance sheet, rent roll tie-out, and cash flow analysis for each property.
• Review and analyze property operating results including NOI, vacancy loss, delinquency trends, utility consumption, and controllable expense ratios.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Assisting in developing annual operating budgets for each property.
• Monitoring actual performance against budget and variance analysis.
• Forecasting future financial performance based on market trends and occupancy projections.

Compliance and Audit

• Ensure adherence to all relevant accounting standards and regulationsand compliance with partnership and lender requirements.
• Maintain compliance with LIHTC, HOME, CDBG, and other public funding reporting requirements.
• Prepare financial schedules required for TCAC, CDLAC, HCD, City of San Diego, and other regulatory agencies.
• Assist with tax filings related to real estate transactions, annual owner certifications, surplus cash calculations, and residual receipt computations.
• Support welfare tax exemption documentation and property-use financial tracking.
• Prepare supporting documentation for internal and external audits

Other Duties (30%)

• Assists with organizational accounting needs and routine bookkeeping tasks.
• Support Accounting Manager with ad hoc projects and process development
• Collaborate with accounting and property management teams to implement updated procedures and integrate new tools.
• Participate in various agency events and initiatives as required or needed
• Demonstrates cultural competence by interacting respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and community and protects and preserves the dignity of each.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills, Experience, and Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minimum of three years of experience in property accounting, or an associate’s degree with four years of such experience.
• Experience with affordable housing or non-profit accounting, preferred
• Familiarity with government-funded housing programs or housing subsidies (e.g., Section 8, VASH, or similar programs) is a plus.
• Must be at least an intermediate-level Excel user, as well as proficient in Word and Outlook. Strong understanding of accounting principles and practices
• Experience with QuickBooks required, and AppFolio a plus
• Understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate with lenders, investors, and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing
• Keen attention to detail with focused adherence to strict deadlines and procedures
• High level of integrity and dependability, including handling sensitive and confidential information
• Teamwork mindset and temperament to work effectively with a diverse group of people
• Personal accountability and enthusiasm for achieving Casa Familiar’s goals
• Valid California driver’s license and regular availability of an insured vehicle for travel within the San Diego County area

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This position requires sitting at a desk or workstation, walking, standing, climbing stairs, hearing, speaking, being able to lift up to 25 lb., and being able to drive to the bank and do other errands pertaining to organizational operations. A background check is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. This is a full-time, exempt position with occasional work responsibilities on weekends and/or evenings, depending on the season calendar.

Casa Familiar is an equal employment opportunity employer. Casa does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

BENEFITS SUMMARY

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 403(b) Retirement – Casa contributes 3% of your annual income.
• Vacation, Sick hours, Wellness days, Holidays.