Careers

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Controller

The Planning Office for Urban Affairs (the Planning Office) seeks a Controller to join our mission driven professional staff. Reporting to the CFO, the Controller will support a collaborative affordable housing development and asset management team and will have responsibility for all day-to-day operational accounting and reporting duties.

The Organization and Its Activities

Established to develop low, moderate, and mixed income housing for families, the elderly, and the homeless, the Planning Office serves as a catalyst for local housing development, neighborhood revitalization, and housing advocacy. We have developed more than 3,000 units, channeling over $650 million of investment dollars into developments throughout eastern and central Massachusetts. We currently have more than 1000 units of rental and homeownership projects underway in Boston, Worcester, Brockton, Attleboro, Gloucester, Wayland, and Needham.

Our developments focus on the creation of strong communities where people of economic, racial and ethnic diversity can live with dignity and respect. They are designed to meet the needs of both our residents and the particular communities in which we build. We work with a number of nonprofit partners, service providers and property management firms and have an asset manager on staff to ensure effective property operations over time.

The Planning Office is led by an experienced affordable housing team that participates in and leads local and national advocacy efforts to increase affordable housing resources, avoid foreclosures, and address homelessness. Our board of trustees, appointed by the Cardinal, works together with our President to govern our financially strong and growing organization.

Expectations of the Controller

The Controller will demonstrate a strong commitment to affordable housing development and an ability to work well in a small, collegial environment. They will undertake the following responsibilities:

Maintain effective internal controls and take corrective action as needed.
Own the monthly close process. Perform all weekly, monthly and quarterly operational and financial accounting routines and periodic financial reporting.
Manage the General Ledger (setup and maintenance, processing journal entries), Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, payroll, billing and invoicing activities.
Perform monthly cash, prepaids, fixed assets, intercompany, and accounts payable reconciliations.
Create/review monthly financial statements and various analytical reports.
Provide analysis of variances between financial results month-over-month and year to date budget and subsequent tracking and forecasting throughout the year.
Aid the real estate development team with funding requisitions and job cost tracking, monitoring, reporting and budgeting.
Monitor payroll data for accuracy and ensure funding.
Resolve financial and operational accounting issues.
Assist with budgeting and forecasting.
Serve as the primary contact providing data and schedules to the company’s auditors and tax accountants and liaise with third party property management firms in the process.
Support the treasury function.
Complete ad hoc requests from the CFO, Asset Management and Development teams.
Identify areas for improvement within the accounting and financial support function (e.g. financial systems, accounting software, and process automation).
Initiate or carry out special projects to improve efficiency and support company growth.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned from time to time.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a highly motivated professional who takes initiative and has many of the following skills and experiences:

BA/BS in Accounting.
5+ years of progressive accounting experience.
Public accounting experience / CPA a plus.
Strong financial accounting and analysis skills.
Ability to identify and take initiative to resolve issues and improve processes.
Real Estate development budgeting and funding requisition experience strongly desired.
Knowledge of affordable housing finance, property management, and compliance a plus.
Advanced Excel and accounting software skills.
Proficiency with real estate development or property management software such as Yardi Voyager or RealPage Financial Suite, and with QuickBooks.
Strong communication skills including the ability to work well independently and with a range of peers, managers, and external parties.
Solid organizational skills, attention to detail, and an ability to meet deadlines.
High degree of professionalism and personal integrity.

The Selection Process

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter and resume as one document to https://annlsilverman.com/poua-controller/. Questions should be addressed to: jobs@annlsilverman.com. No phone calls or letters please.

The Planning Office offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including 100% coverage of individual or family health plan premiums, 401(k) Plan and company match, a Flexible Medical Savings Program, and annual bonus potential. Staff are expected to work in our downtown Boston office three days a week. The salary range for this full-time position will depend on experience and qualifications.

The Planning Office for Urban Affairs is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

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Resident Services Manager

Job Description:

The Resident Services Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and delivering programs that support stable tenancies and serve children, youth, adults and seniors living in Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) properties. The Manager is responsible for developing and managing partnerships with community leaders and service providers to expand opportunities for residents to access programming and resources that would enhance their quality of life. The RSM will assist residents in accessing resources in the community and will support meaningful and sustainable resident engagement in their housing, as well as within the broader community.

Responsibilities:

Plan, oversee, facilitate, and deliver programming such as afterschool/summer program, food pantries, holiday events and other seasonal events and activities.
Organize and coordinate community events such as an annual resident block party.
Promotes events happening at developments within the POUA portfolio on a building level and on an individual level.
Locate, develop, and maintain networks and partnerships with relevant service providers, community organizations, businesses and educational institutions.
Work with Communications Manager on grant applications to aid in supporting events and programming for Resident Services.
Oversee outreach to residents regarding available services.
Provide direct service and/or referrals for residents in need of assistance with navigating available community resources and complex systems.
Work with Property Management team to advocate for residents and create realistic timelines and processes to help residents retain their housing, address lease violations, and avoid eviction.
Consistently track program metrics and measure outcomes as the basis for continuous program improvement.
Regularly report program outcomes and trends to internal and external stakeholders and use data as the basis for continuous program improvement.
Analyze and use the data as the basis for program improvement and to refine or develop new programming to meet emerging trends.
Attend monthly meetings both with property management and other community partners as it relates to building connections with local service providers.
Seek out and attend trainings needed to be effective as a Resident Services Manager; and
Perform other duties as assigned in a timely and efficient matter.

Requirements:

A Bachelors degree or higher in Social Work, Psychology, Gerontology, Counseling or related specialty or significant work experience relevant to the position.
Knowledge of the Boston-area social service delivery network, particularly for low-income and moderate-income households.
Bilingual preferred, but not required.
Three – Five years’ experience in community organizing, case management, and/or resident services.
Demonstrated ability to work with low and moderate-income individuals and families and racially and culturally diverse communities.
Knowledge of subsidized housing programs.
Excellent time and project management skills.

The Planning Office for Urban Affairs is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and salary requirements to: Celeste Holmes at celeste@poua.org.