Compliance Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Compliance Specialist

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Compliance Specialist safeguards the integrity of this property's leasing and resident file operations, ensuring every application, lease, and recertification meets federal, state, and local housing regulations before and after move-in. This role audits resident files and the property's records, keeps the property ahead of Fair Housing, landlord-tenant, and affordable housing program requirements (including LIHTC where applicable), and helps prepare the property for external agency and investor reviews. The Compliance Specialist also serves as a go-to compliance resource for the on-site leasing and management team, guiding staff on correct documentation and monitoring delinquency and notice timelines to keep them within statutory requirements. Success in this role requires strong regulatory knowledge, meticulous attention to detail, and the judgment to catch and correct errors that carry real legal and financial consequences when missed. This role is well suited to an experienced multifamily professional, such as an Assistant Property Manager, who is ready to move from resident-facing leasing work into a more administrative, compliance-focused career path.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Regulatory & Program Adherence

• Maintain expert knowledge of federal, state, and local housing regulations-including Fair Housing laws, landlord-tenant acts, and applicable affordable housing or tax credit compliance programs (such as LIHTC, if applicable).

Application & File Auditing

• Review incoming resident applications, income verifications, asset documentation, and tenant selection criteria to ensure complete accuracy and strict eligibility compliance prior to move-in.

Lease & Document Verification

• Audit executed lease agreements, addenda, and recertification paperwork to guarantee all necessary disclosures and legal requirements are properly met and archived.

Internal Quality Control

• Conduct regular internal audits of resident files and the property's database (such as AppFolio) to identify discrepancies, correct errors promptly, and prepare the property for official external compliance inspections or agency reviews.

Staff Guidance & Training

• Serve as the primary resource for the on-site leasing and management team regarding compliance questions, policy updates, and correct documentation procedures.

Delinquency & Notice Management

• Monitor compliance timelines for lease violations, notices to vacate, and legal notices, ensuring all documentation adheres strictly to statutory legal frameworks.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in multifamily property management (e.g., leasing, resident services, or on-site property administration). Experience outside multifamily property management does not meet this requirement.
• Working knowledge of Fair Housing law and landlord-tenant regulations.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to audit files for accuracy under deadline pressure.
• Proficiency with property management software (such as AppFolio, Yardi, or RealPage) and Microsoft Office.

Preferred

• Affordable housing compliance experience, including LIHTC, strongly preferred.
• Current Assistant Property Manager, Leasing Manager, or similar on-site multifamily role seeking to transition into a more administrative, compliance-focused position.
• Industry certification such as COS (Certified Occupancy Specialist), TCS (Tax Credit Specialist), or CPO (Certified Professional of Occupancy).
• Experience preparing a property for external compliance audits (state agency, HUD, or investor reviews).
• Experience training or mentoring leasing staff on compliance procedures.