Accountant I

About the Role

If you just finished your accounting degree and you're weighing a seat at a big firm against something with more range, this role offers broad exposure. At Elm Grove, you won't spend a year in a single lane. You'll touch AP and AR, month-end close, journal entries, audit workpapers, tax prep support, and entity-level reporting across a multi-entity real estate portfolio. We're looking for someone who wants to become an accounting "utility knife" — the person who understands how the whole picture fits together, not just one corner of it. This is a foundational role with a clear runway toward Staff Accountant. How fast you get there is largely up to you.

Our Culture & Values

At Elm Grove Companies, our values aren’t just words — they’re how we work every day. We lead with Respect, collaborate through Synergy, take Accountability for our actions, show up with Dependability, and embrace a Growth Mindset in everything we do. We expect every team member to live these values daily — in how they communicate, solve problems, and support one another. We offer freedom to think, create, and contribute without micromanagement, and we hold each other to a high standard of ownership and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Enter vendor invoices, including high-volume accounts (Home Depot, Lowe's, FW Webb) and utilities
• Manage the AP inbox and incoming mail, and own the AP side of work order matching — verifying invoices against work orders and confirming approvals
• Code invoices to the correct accounts, properties, and entities
• Process payments and reconcile vendor statements
• Support AR processing, cash receipts, and reconciliations
• Assist with month-end close, journal entries, and general ledger reconciliations
• Prepare audit workpapers and support tax preparation
• Support entity-level financial reporting and variance analysis
• Maintain data accuracy in Yardi, including supporting our ongoing system migration
• Support lender and LIHTC compliance requirements
• Take on ad hoc projects and requests from the senior team

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• 0–2 years of accounting experience — internships and relevant coursework count
• Solid grasp of accounting fundamentals, including working knowledge of GAAP and both cash and accrual methods
• Strong Excel skills and genuine attention to detail
• Drive, curiosity, and the ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment

Nice to Have

• Experience with Yardi, AppFolio, or Sage Intacct
• Real estate or property management accounting background
• Exposure to LIHTC, audit, or tax

Who Thrives Here

• Self-starters who take direction and run with it — you don't need to be checked on twice
• Organized operators who stay on top of details across both the accounting work and the transactional grind
• People who want the whole picture and are eager to grow into the full accounting function, not just master one task
• Flexible collaborators comfortable helping shape evolving processes