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Cherry Bekaert’s Strategic Financing Services Practice (SFS) is seeking a Community Development Associate with a background in the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) or similar program area. We offer an opportunity to work with a team of experts with a deep track record in NMTC allocation applications, tax credit placement and deployment, and tax credit compliance and asset management services. The Community Development Associate will support the process for writing NMTC Allocation Applications for the portfolio of client community development entities (CDEs) and support the grant writing and applications process for clients seeking funding from other tax credit and funding programs. The Associate will also support NMTC Compliance and Asset Management activities for Community Development Entities (CDEs) and Qualified Active Low-Income Community Businesses (QALICBs) and assist with a variety of services, including filing the CDFI Fund’s AMIS reports. Further, the Associate will assist the Project Finance team as they build a pipeline of potential borrowers and structured finance opportunities. The Associate will also support the work of our Community Development Consulting work, as needed, helping with presentations, memos and due diligence of potential CDE clients.

The successful candidate will work with the team as we expand into new markets and regions using in-depth knowledge of and relationships with CDEs, tax credit investors, and other community development stakeholders. The candidate will have strong attention to detail, commitment to deadlines and a mission to help make a difference in low-income communities.

**About SFS** : SFS has been involved in the NMTC industry since its inception and to date has secured over $1.7 billion in NMTC funding. SFS is proud to have structured and facilitated NMTC investments that have created 32,880 direct jobs, served 655,382 low-income individuals through community goods and services, and helped develop over 13.2 million square feet of new and improved commercial and industrial real estate. SFS’s current portfolio consists of investments in areas with poverty rates as high as 66%, median family income as low as 14.24%, and unemployment rates as high as 31.2%.

**Responsibilities** :

Support the NMTC Allocation Application writing process for CDEs, including:

+ Supporting the primary writer of the Application by reviewing and summarizing supporting documents for strategic and technical use in the application.

+ Support the drafting and review of compelling business strategies, community outcomes and other narratives to maximize scoring and increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

+ Identify and review appropriate NMTC pipeline opportunities to suit unique CDE needs (considering geography, project type, community impacts, etc.)

+ Synthesizing and incorporating industry terms, trends and data to support business strategies, community outcomes and compelling applications.

Support the NMTC Compliance and Asset Management activities, including:

+ Support the team with loan closing documents and reporting requirements.

+ Support the submittal of annual CDE compliance reports sent to the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund via the AMIS reporting system.

+ Monitor CDE compliance with NMTC Program and Allocation Agreement including analysis of Sub-All and Redemption testing.

+ Support drafting of QALICB certifications and community impact information, quarterly project level financial statements and compliance reports.

+ Provide CDE portfolio data to Application Writing team, as needed

Support the Project Finance team, including:

+ Collect, package, and manage due diligence on potential borrower and Project Sponsors.

+ Gathering data, drafting memos, assisting with fundings/closings

Support of overall SFS team, including:

+ Collaborating with SFS team participants to provide effective, prompt and detailed support as required for submission of various funding applications and/or financial closings.

+ Support with PowerPoint presentations, data gathering/summarizing, scheduling and materials preparation.

+ Other job-related functions as assigned.

+ Travel: 5-10%

**Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate/Posses** :

+ 3+ years of professional/industry experience in grant writing, community development finance, tax credit finance or CDE/CDFI Lending

+ Strong written communication skills

+ Knowledge of tax credit finance, data and/or reporting, with specific experience with NMTC and CDFI Fund’s AMIS reporting preferred

+ Passion for community investment and revitalization that will spark transformation, inclusion, and social justice

+ Ability to be flexible and work under fixed timeframes to meet deadlines

+ Experience in working with borrowers, lenders, investors and stakeholders

+ Ability to work independently and collaboratively on different phases of projects

+ Capable of prioritizing workflow and managing compliance and reporting obligations

+ Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel

+ BA in English, Journalism, Finance, Economics, Planning or related field preferred

What you can expect from us:

+ Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect

+ The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you

+ A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development

+ Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing

+ Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work

+ Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different cultures

Benefits Information:

Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program (https://careers.cbh.com/benefits/) which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.

Pay Range:

$71,700-$103,500

About Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit https://www.cbh.com/disclosure/

Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. https://careers.cbh.com/legal-disclosures/ contains further information regarding the firm's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws.

This role is expected to accept applications for at least five calendar days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Cherry Bekaert will not provide work sponsorship for this position.

Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us at  https://careers.cbh.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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