COMPANY SUMMARY:

The John Stewart Company is a full-service housing management, development and consulting organization that began in 1978 with a commitment to providing high quality service in the affordable housing sector. We work to enrich the lives of our residents and employees, while delivering our services cost‐effectively, efficiently and with the highest levels of professionalism, compassion, integrity and respect.

 

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Regional Accounting Director (“Manager”), this position is responsible for the direct supervision of the Accounting and A/P staff as assigned. Supervisor will act as the back-up for the Regional Accounting Director in assisting accounting Staff with MRI and BP questions and issues, and other management tasks. This position is also responsible for staff supervision, review of monthly financial statement reports prepared by accounting staff and banking duties. Additionally, this position will review and ensure accuracy of AP Specialists’ data entry and check processing, and site staff’s AR activities for properties assigned to their direct reports’ portfolio. The Accounting Supervisor monitors the financial statement preparation process and workflow of senior/staff accountants and AP Supervisor/Specialists and suggests any changes in the process to improve efficiency while maintaining strong checks and balances within the system. Most job functions of a Senior Accountant are incorporated in this position.

 

*Potential to WFH or remote hybrid*

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS

• Communication and Relationships

• Ability to effectively and professionally interact and communicate with your manager, regional directors and managers, other employees, vendors, residents, senior staff, auditors, owners, sponsors and clients.
• Explain accounting principles and internal controls and procedures to JSCO accounting and property staff.

• Supervision and Training

• Oversee direct reports as assigned
• Train new staff accounting policies and procedures, accounting software, and FS preparation
• Review and approve timesheets of direct reports
• Counsel direct reports and other staff, as needed
• Ensure and promote adherence to internal controls as designated by JSCO
• Assists Manager in determining allocation of new properties or re-allocation of properties to senior/staff accountants

• Financial Accountability 

• Provide solutions for clients’ financial reporting needs, including customizing financial reports.
• Assist Manager in the maintenance of banking relationships for all accounts.
• Back-up to Manager in providing approval of all MRI, Boston Post and Nexus users, their privileges, and entity access within his/her region
• Assist in the financial conversion for new management contracts and oversees its implementation.
• Assist in providing continued MRI training and support for regional staff
• Assist staff through annual audits
• Help with requests for information from regulatory and/or financial agencies which might include but not limited to, research, preparation, compilation, and submission of reports in an accurate and timely manner
• Assist in the development and improvement of accounting internal controls and procedures that adhere to GAAP standards 

• Operations 

• Perform timely performance evaluations of direct reports, help direct reports set goals and assist them in meeting their goals through training and support function for his/her region to ensure strong internal controls and smooth workflow
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of candidates for accounting positions
• Prepare and administer performance improvement notices (PINs)
• Provide performance feedback to management
• Manage timely submission of BOE registrations and payments
• Analyze data and make appropriate recommendations on special projects as needed
• Assist property and accounting staff in difficult account reconciliations
• Make occasional presentations on Accounting, MRI or procedural topics at company functions as requested
• Ensure adherence to Independent Contractor policy prior to setting up new vendors
• Perform banking tasks including adding new bank accounts, setting up new users, assigning entitlements, signing checks, approving wires and transfers
• Perform administrative tasks to support accounting staff with providing accurate financial reports (e.g. void checks and provide approvals)  

• Financial Reports 

• Oversee accurate and timely completion of monthly financial reports including all associated tasks as noted in the Financial Report section of the Senior Accountant Job description
• Review monthly financial reports for direct reports, and evaluate reasonableness of all accruals
• Review other accountants’ monthly financial reports as required to back up the Accounting Manager
• Reconcile adjusting audit entries and reconcile to the audited Trial Balance for own properties and assist others in this task
• Back up other staff accountants with financial report production when illness and/or vacation affect the department’s ability to produce reports in a timely fashion
• Work closely with outsourced accounting firm and overseeing their timely completion of reports

• Accounting Records

• If supervising the Accounting Admin staff, provide oversight to the annual file replacement for new fiscal year
• Work with designated staff to assure report distributions to all designated parties
• Oversee and ensure financials statement packets and back-up are archived on the S’ drive

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary job function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

SKILL

Accounting Principles - Knowledge of accounting principles and GAAP regulations. Ability to create and maintain supporting audit records in an organized manner. Ability to reconcile bank statements and cash reports. Ability to understand abstract accounting concepts.

Problem Sensitivity/ Deductive Reasoning — Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and then apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.  Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Written Comprehension and Expression — Ability to read, understand and communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Ability to effectively write reports, manuals, speeches, and articles   

Oral Comprehension and Expression — Ability to listen to, understand and speak so others can understand ideas and information presented verbally. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex business documents.

 

KNOWLEDGE

Policies and Regulations — Knowledge of company polices, federal, state and local laws, government regulations and agency rules that pertain to properties managed.

Management of Financial Resources — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices for creating a realistic budget, understanding financial reports and the ability to use mathematics to solve problems.

EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated experience as a Senior Accountant and/or an Accounting Supervisor.
• Demonstrated experience in problem identification, analysis, recommendation of options and development of logical and workable solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to support and develop diverse environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge on Microsoft Office programs such as WORD, EXCEL, and OUTLOOK are essential.

 

EDUCATION – Requires degree in accounting or related field or equivalent experience. CPA designation preferred.  

WORKING CONDITIONS/ PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Environment/ Requirements

• • This position deals with outside personnel such as residents and clients on a regular basis with contact in various forms such as in person, phone, and email.   
  • It is sometimes necessary to deal with unpleasant or angry people with the need to problem solve difficult situations.
  • It is necessary to adapt to a frequently changing environment.
  • Ability to sit at workstation for at least several hours daily, as needed. 

Salary Range: $95,000/Yr. - $140,000/Yr.

 Benefits for Employees who work 30+ hours/week -

• Medical, dental and vision care; preventative medical care paid at 100%.
• Vacation leave of up to ten days per year in the first year.
• Up to 80 hours of sick time per year.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health Care and Dependent Care.
• Company paid Life AD&D Long Term Disability.
• Free, confidential counseling through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Commuter benefit program.
• Discounts for AT&T and ClassPass.
• $50 annual Wellness Reimbursement.
• Matching 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan of up to 2% of your compensation (for any employee who works 20 hours or more per week).

 

Benefits for Employees who work less than 30 hours/week - 

• Free, confidential counseling through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Commuter benefit program.
• Discounts for AT&T and ClassPass.
• $100 annual Wellness Reimbursement.
• Matching 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan of up to 2% of your compensation (for any employee who works 20 hours or more per week)
• Up to 72 hours of sick time per year.

The John Stewart Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

The John Stewart Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative.

Effective January 1, 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act requires businesses that meet certain minimum threshold requirements to provide a “notice at collection” to applicants for employment who reside in California.  The notice at collection describes the categories of personal information to be collected about these California applicants and the purposes for using that personal information.  Therefore, we have posted the Company’s “Notice At Collection For California Applicants” here.  Please review this Notice at your convenience.