Sr. Staff Accountant

Seattle Social Housing Developer • Seattle, WA

6d

About The Position

The Senior Staff Accountant is a senior-level member of the Seattle Social Housing Developer’s accounting and finance team. Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer and outside CPA firm, this position leads day-to-day accounting operations and builds financial infrastructure to support a growing portfolio of social housing development. The role owns monthly, quarterly, and annual close; payroll and accounts payable; financial statement preparation; and project- and fund-level accounting for development activity. It also leads audit and tax coordination with external partners and designs and maintains accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls. As the team grows, the position may train, review, and guide other accounting staff.

The successful candidate works independently on complex and nonroutine accounting matters and provides well-supported recommendations to the CFO. The role requires communicating financial information to varied audiences, including leadership and the Board, and exercising sound judgment about which matters have financial, compliance, or policy implications that warrant escalation.

The Seattle Social Housing Developer is a Public Development Authority committed to creating, owning, and stewarding permanently affordable, mixed-income housing that is publicly financed, publicly controlled, and free from market speculation. Its work aims to expand access, strengthen Seattle’s social fabric, and provide housing that remains affordable and inclusive for current and future generations.

The position is in the Finance department and reports to the Chief Financial Officer. It is exempt and offers a salary range of $110,000–$126,000. Candidates must pass a background check, reside in King County, and not reside in a Seattle Social Housing Developer property. Occasional flexible hours may be needed during payroll processing, close, audit, tax, or other time-sensitive reporting periods.

Requirements

• At least five years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, including at least two years managing month-end close and preparing financial statements.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience owning full-cycle accounting, including close, reconciliations, journal entries, accounts payable, payroll, and financial statement preparation.
• Experience leading or coordinating annual audits and supporting tax filings.
• Experience designing or documenting accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Experience with QuickBooks or a comparable accounting system, including system setup, configuration, or implementation.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.
• Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and working knowledge of governmental (GASB) and/or fund accounting, with the ability to apply standards to complex or nonroutine transactions.
• Advanced proficiency with QuickBooks or a comparable accounting platform, including configuring the chart of accounts, classes, projects, and reports; experience with payroll and accounts payable systems.
• Ability to analyze complex financial data, perform variance analysis, build forecasts and models, and translate results into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Advanced Excel skills, such as pivot tables, lookups, and modeling, and comfort evaluating, implementing, and using new financial systems, productivity tools, and AI-enabled technology.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate, well-supported financial records and review the work of others.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and persuasively to financial and nonfinancial audiences, including leadership, the Board, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently on complex matters, make sound decisions, and determine when issues warrant CFO involvement.
• Ability to design, implement, and maintain effective accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Ability to train, guide, and review the work of others and serve as a trusted accounting resource.
• Ability to work effectively and build structure in a dynamic, evolving organization where systems and responsibilities will continue to develop.
• Ability to build productive working relationships with the CFO, development staff, outside CPA firm, auditors, lenders, funders, vendors, and other organizational partners.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive payroll, vendor, employee, and organizational financial information appropriately.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must reside in King County and may not reside in any Seattle Social Housing Developer property.
• Ability to work occasional flexible hours during payroll processing, financial close, audit, tax, or other time-sensitive reporting periods.

Nice To Haves

• CPA license or active progress toward CPA licensure.
• Experience with construction, real estate development, or affordable housing accounting, including project cost tracking, construction-in-progress, and draw management.
• Experience with governmental (GASB), public development authority, nonprofit, or fund accounting, including grant and restricted fund reporting.
• Experience building or scaling the accounting function in a new or growing organization.
• Experience training, mentoring, or supervising accounting staff.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including maintaining the close calendar and checklist, preparing and reviewing entries, and meeting deadlines.
• Manage end-to-end payroll processing, review payroll registers, reconcile payroll liabilities and benefit and PERS contributions, and resolve complex payroll issues.
• Oversee accounts payable and vendor administration, including approvals, documentation, payment controls, and year-end 1099 compliance.
• Prepare and review complex journal entries, including accruals, allocations, prepaid and deferred items, and correcting entries.
• Perform and review bank and balance sheet reconciliations and resolve complex or aged reconciling items.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and accounting system structure, including classes, projects, and funds.
• Manage cash activity and support cash flow forecasting for operating and project needs.
• Account for real estate development activity, track project costs, capitalize eligible costs, and maintain construction-in-progress and fixed asset records.
• Prepare and review construction draw requests and supporting documentation with development staff, lenders, and funders.
• Track and account for restricted funds, grants, loans, and other financing sources, ensuring compliance with funder and lender requirements.
• Prepare project-level budget-to-actual reporting and support development staff with project financial analysis.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports, including budget-to-actual variance analysis and explanations.
• Present financial results and accounting matters to the CFO, leadership, and, as requested, the Board and its committees.
• Lead ad hoc financial analyses, forecasts, and models; support organizational planning, decision-making, budget development, and ongoing forecasting.
• Research and apply GAAP and GASB accounting standards, as applicable, to new or complex transactions, documenting conclusions and recommendations for CFO review.
• Lead preparation for the annual financial audit and other external reviews, including audit schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor requests.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for the outside CPA firm and auditors, managing timelines, requests, and deliverables.
• Prepare and support filing applicable taxes, information returns, and regulatory reports in coordination with the CFO and outside CPA firm.
• Prepare required financial reporting for funders, lenders, and public agencies, and help maintain compliance with accounting, reporting, tax, and recordkeeping requirements, including applicable Washington State Auditor’s Office requirements.
• Coordinate with external partners and internal stakeholders to resolve complex accounting and reporting questions.
• Design, document, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls, including segregation of duties appropriate to a growing organization.
• Lead process improvement and systems projects, including evaluating, recommending, and implementing accounting, payroll, and accounts payable tools.
• Identify risks and gaps in accounting systems, controls, and documentation, and recommend practical solutions to the CFO.
• Train, mentor, and review the work of other accounting staff, interns, or temporary staff as the team grows, and act as a subject matter expert for colleagues.
• Exercise independent judgment on complex accounting matters and escalate issues with significant financial, compliance, or policy implications to the CFO.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), a retirement plan for state and local government employees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior