Job Description
About Us Harborlight Homes is a nonprofit community development and property management organization providing service-enriched affordable housing throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. We create and preserve affordable, inclusive, service-enriched homes because we believe everyone deserves a home.
About the Role The Real Estate Development Accountant plays a key role in supporting Harborlight Homes' mission to create affordable, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable housing opportunities. This position provides accounting support for affordable housing developments from predevelopment through construction and stabilization, helping ensure the financial integrity and success of projects that create lasting community impact.
Working across development, property, and corporate accounting functions, the Real Estate Development Accountant partners with cross functional teams to maintain accurate financial records, support project funding and reporting requirements, and strengthen accounting processes. This role contributes to a diverse portfolio of affordable housing communities serving individuals and families of varying ages, backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences.
This position offers a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the full lifecycle of affordable housing development, including construction financing, cost certifications, property transitions, and ongoing operations. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and eager to apply their accounting expertise in support of a mission-driven organization dedicated to expanding housing opportunities across the region.
What You'll Do - Manage accounting for assigned predevelopment and construction projects.
- Track project costs, contracts, requisitions, draws, and financing activity.
- Maintain sources and uses schedules and reconcile project activity to the general ledger.
- Support audits, cost certifications, annual reviews, and financial reporting.
- Assist with property accounting, account reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end/year-end close.
- Help improve accounting workflows, documentation, and internal controls.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to meet deadlines and support project success.
How You'll Thrive You'll thrive in this role if you are detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate values accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement, communicates proactively, works collaboratively with others, and is motivated by the opportunity to support a mission-driven organization dedicated to affordable housing and community impact.
Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Three or more years of accounting experience; experience in real estate development, construction, affordable housing, or property accounting preferred.
- Knowledge of general ledger accounting, reconciliations, and month-end/year-end close processes; familiarity with construction draws, AIA documents, and sources and uses reporting preferred.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office; experience with RealPage or similar accounting software is a plus.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Location: This position requires a hybrid work schedule at the Cummings Center in Beverly, Massachusetts. The role requires working in the office five days per week during the first 90 days of employment.
Why Harborlight Homes? At Harborlight Homes, you'll join a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to expanding access to quality affordable housing. If you are passionate about affordable housing, enjoy building relationships, and want to be part of an organization dedicated to creating thriving communities, we'd love to hear from you.
Harborlight Homes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and embrace diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.
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