Accounting Specialist

Are you a detail-oriented accounting professional who enjoys keeping financial operations running smoothly while delivering exceptional customer service? As an Accounting Specialist at The Rosenblum Companies, you'll play a vital role in supporting the daily financial operations of our commercial and multifamily real estate portfolio. Reporting to the Finance Director, you'll manage accounts payable and receivable processes, support utility and tenant billing, maintain financial records, and serve as a key resource for vendors, tenants, and internal teams. Working collaboratively across departments, your contributions will help ensure accurate financial operations and support our commitment to creating Better Spaces for our clients, residents, and communities.

About us: The Rosenblum Companies is one of the Capital District's largest fully integrated real estate development and management companies. Our portfolio encompasses over 1.7 million square feet of award-winning properties. Our award-winning urban residences total 332 apartment units. This includes such groundbreaking properties as The News Apartments, Vincia Modern Urban Flats, Industrie Apartments, the first zero-emission multifamily building in Albany and soon to debut Sol Apartments, the first multifamily building to pursue Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) CORE certification. Our buildings embody our ongoing commitment to create and maintain better spaces that build stronger communities. 

Major Accountabilities 

Manage Routine Accounts Receivable (A/R)

• Preparation and distribution of billing statements, posting payments, monitoring AR aging reports 
• Handle initial stages of collections process; minimize outstanding A/R and internal escalations

Manage Routine Accounts Payable (A/P)

• Input invoices into the ERP system, ensure accuracy of coding, assign payable items in workflow
• Promote proper use of ERP system by vendors and internal team members to facilitate AP automation and minimize anomalies
• Monitor workflow aging reports and escalate as needed
• Oversee the posting, printing, execution and distribution of check runs

Energy bill-backs, including solar credits and submetering to tenants

• Enter submetering data and provide analysis to internal stakeholders

Internal customer service / front door for commercial and general inquiries

• Act as the main point of contact and ensure follow-up on all departmental inquiries
• Regularly update and audit accounting databases and records to ensure accuracy and integrity of contacts, W-9s, etc

Other General Duties and Expectations

• Support credit card expense management system, including assigning user credentials, reporting on workflow status, and following up on approvals where necessary. 
• Interact with vendors and customers/tenants via email and phone, respond to inquiries regarding payment statuses.
• Assure timeliness of AP in ERP system by monitoring workflows, reporting and following up on process delays.
• Maintain account information for recurring bills (e.g. utilities), ensure proper coding of credits on accounts including offsets for solar energy.
• Perform general data entry, research, special projects, year-end reporting, and audit assistance.
• Provide administrative support to all levels of the Finance and Accounting team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, facilitating communication, documentation and task completion. 
• Perform additional duties as assigned based on company need. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities 

• Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures with ability to provide efficient, timely, reliable and courteous service to internal customers. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively with a diverse community.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly. Uses task/workflow management to track open items and due dates.

• Handling sensitive financial documents with care, professionalism and confidentiality.

• Collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form. 

• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace, bilingual skills a plus. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business information, including but not limited to Company policies and procedures. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Understand and respond to a diverse population.
• Ability to calculate basic figures and amounts such as totals, averages, percentages, fractions, etc., using calculators and Excel formulas. 

Minimum Job Requirements 

• 1-3 years of directly related accounting experience; prior accounts payable experience preferred.
• Professional training in bookkeeping, accounting or equivalent professional experience; Associate degree or relevant experience required.
• Basic understanding of basic accounting practices and principles.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multitasking environment while meeting multiple deadlines with accuracy and quality.
• Experience with Yardi Voyager and Elevate preferred.
• Ability to work with sensitive files and maintain confidentiality.
• Computer literate, proficient with common business software/applications (e.g., Microsoft Office suite), and ability to adapt to new technology and mentor team in doing so.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort 

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. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to engage in physical activity including bending, transporting, reaching, operating a computer, phone, and communicating efficiently. The ability to remain in a stationary position as needed, potentially for prolonged periods, is required. 
• Work is typically done indoors in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels requiring the individual to moderate the volume of speech and devices; however, maintenance/construction/other activity at company properties may occasionally involve moderate exposure to elements such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, smoke, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.