Experienced Bookkeeper - Property Management/Real Estate

COMPANY OVERVIEW
We are a private real estate holding company overseeing investments in multiple U.S. states, including property management, construction, and related activities. Our organization combines operational execution with rigorous financial discipline. We value clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement as we modernize systems and reporting in a data-driven environment.

We work together as a small team that believes in supporting one another, building trust, and maintaining a healthy work–life balance that reflects our diverse backgrounds and interests. We value competence, encourage thoughtful experimentation with new ideas and approaches, and foster an environment where management is accessible, collaboration is genuine, and personal boundaries and time are respected.

POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly experienced Bookkeeper with deep, practical expertise in property management and real estate accounting, specifically using AppFolio. This role requires confident, hands-on mastery of AppFolio’s particular workflows, constraints, and reporting logic—not just general accounting knowledge.

This position requires prior, real-world AppFolio experience. AppFolio is the system of record for our operations and has its own rules, structures, and best practices (as all enterprise software does). Candidates must already know how to work effectively within AppFolio without training. If you have not previously used AppFolio in a professional property management or real estate context, this role will not be a fit.

You should already be fluent in real estate bookkeeping concepts and able to explain, defend, and document your work with evidence within AppFolio. You will work closely with ownership, property managers, and accounting leadership in a collaborative, high-trust environment.

Clear written English is required. Day-to-day communication occurs via Microsoft Teams, Outlook, WhatsApp (for time-sensitive coordination), and shared documentation.

WORK ARRANGEMENT
• Engagement: Independent contractor
• Schedule: Full time availability (we maintain a steady pipeline of on-going work)
• Time Zone: Flexible, with 2–4 hours of overlap with U.S. Pacific Time
• Location: Remote (Philippines preferred)
• Equipment: Late model computer, dual high resolution monitors, headset/microphone, and reliable high speed internet (?20 Mbps)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Accounting & Close
• Maintain full cycle accounting for multiple entities: general ledger, balance sheet, P&L, and cash flow.
• Perform intercompany reconciliations within 2–3 business days of month end.
• Complete account reconciliations by the 12th of each month.
• Deliver a clean, supportable month end close by the 15th of each month.
Trust, Cash, and Controls
• Reconcile operating, trust, reserve, and escrow accounts with absolute accuracy.
• Ensure strict compliance with trust accounting principles (no commingling, clear audit trails).
• Maintain documentation sufficient for audits, lender reviews, and regulatory inquiries.
Loans, Capital, and Assets
• Track intercompany notes payable/receivable and owner loans.
• Maintain amortization schedules for loans receivable and payable.
• Record capital improvements, fixed assets, and depreciation accurately.
Reporting & Collaboration
• Prepare transparent monthly and quarterly reporting packages for leadership and ownership.
• Substantiate balances, variances, and assumptions with written support.
• Coordinate with property managers and executives to resolve discrepancies and improve accuracy.
Process Improvement
• Identify and implement improvements to systems, workflows, and internal controls.
• Contribute to documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS
Must Have:
• Significant, hands-on AppFolio bookkeeping experience is mandatory. Candidates must be able to operate independently in AppFolio without supervision or training.
• Demonstrated mastery of AppFolio, including:
o General ledger structure, journal entries, and posting logic
o Bank, trust, and reserve reconciliations as implemented in AppFolio
o Owner contributions, distributions, and equity tracking
o Intercompany transactions, clearing accounts, and due-to/due-from handling
o AppFolio report packages and limitations (trial balance, balance sheet, income statement, custom reports)
• Strong understanding of GAAP as applied to real estate and property management within AppFolio’s data model.
• Demonstrated experience with:
o Multi-entity accounting and consolidations
o Trust / escrow accounting (no commingling)
o Depreciation and amortization
o Capital project and fixed-asset tracking
• Excellent written English and ability to communicate clearly via Teams and email.
• High computer proficiency (Excel, Word, reporting tools).
• Ability to independently research, self-learn, and validate answers using AI tools and authoritative sources.

Bonus / Strong Plus:
• Prior experience serving as a bookkeeping lead, accounting lead, or senior reviewer, including responsibility for reviewing others’ work, setting close timelines, or maintaining accounting controls—particularly in a remote or distributed team environment.
• Experience doing research by AI-prompt

Controls, Integrity, and Expectations
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data security.
• Use least privilege access and follow documented approval workflows.
• Provide written support for material journal entries.
• Maintain clear audit trails; work must be reproducible by another accountant.
• No commingling of funds under any circumstance.

Personal Attributes
• Curious with high integrity and intellectual honesty.
• Relentlessly analytical, detail-oriented, and evidence-driven.
• Organized, disciplined, and reliable across multiple entities.
• Comfortable explaining and defending accounting decisions.
• Collaborative and open to constructive challenge.
• Demonstrated maturity and judgment to operate as a de facto accounting lead when needed, despite working remotely.

ASSESSMENTS of Skills & Knowledge (Examples)
Short-listed candidates should expect one or more AppFolio-centered practical tests, such as:
1. AppFolio Intercompany Exercise: Reconcile two AppFolio-managed entities with an intercompany loan, interest accrual, and payment; explain all journal entries and reports used.
2. AppFolio Month-End Close Scenario: Review an AppFolio trial balance and reports to identify missing accruals, misclassifications, and required adjustments.
3. Trust Accounting Test (AppFolio): Reconcile an operating account and a tenant trust account in AppFolio and identify compliance issues.
4. Reporting Task: Generate specified AppFolio reports and demonstrate how figures tie back to the GL and supporting schedules.
5. Written Explanation: Provide a short written justification (as if to an auditor or lender) explaining an AppFolio-based journal entry or reconciliation.

COMPENSATION (All In Contractor Rate)
Compensation is determined based on depth of experience, demonstrated responsibility, and ability to operate independently in a complex real estate accounting environment using AppFolio.

As a general guideline:
• Candidates with approximately 3 years of solid, hands on AppFolio and real estate bookkeeping experience typically align with the lower end of the range.
• Candidates with 5+ years of experience with functional responsibility, month end close, and reconciliations typically align with the mid range.
• Candidates with 7+ years of experience, including proven bookkeeping or accounting team/office leadership in a remote environment, typically align with the top of the range.
Final compensation is set based on demonstrated AppFolio proficiency, real estate accounting sophistication, judgment, and ability to operate independently with minimal supervision.

TO APPLY, Please submit:
• A resume highlighting your relevant experience.
• A thoughtful cover letter. We want to know you so describe your real estate accounting experience, AppFolio proficiency, and what “advanced bookkeeping” means to you as well as how this kind of work fits into your life you want for yourself and your career.

Selected candidates will be asked for references and to complete skills based assessments. We value clarity, competence, and professionalism—and we look forward to hearing from you.