Missed CAM reconciliations cost PM firms $0.11 per rentable square foot on average (BOMA FM Data 2024).
Five high-ROI CPA services: rent-roll accrual, CAM & NNN reconciliation, 1031/bonus-depreciation tracking, trust-account compliance, and multi-state sales-tax filings.
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Why Property-Management Accounting Is a Beast
- Accrual rent-roll vs. cash rent receipts causes timing gaps.
- CAM, insurance, and tax true-ups must reconcile annually per lease.
- Security-deposit trust accounting rules vary by state (e.g., CA Civil Code 1950.5).
- 1031 exchanges and bonus depreciation require entity-level tracking.
- Multi-state lodging taxes apply to short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO).
Five Services a PM-Specialist CPA Delivers
1. Rent-Roll Accrual & AR Aging
CPA ties lease schedule to GL so revenue matches occupancy dates—avoids phantom income.
Example:60-unit multifamily cut overdue AR from $48K to $9K in one quarter.
2. CAM & NNN Reconciliation
Quarterly or annual true-ups bill tenants for actual operating expenses vs. estimates.
Example:CPA recovered $1.27 / sq ft in under-billed CAM for a retail strip—$32K back in owner pocket.
3. 1031 Exchange & Bonus-Depreciation Tracking
1031 basis carries; CPA maintains depreciation schedules so bonus doesn’t recapture prematurely.
Example:Tracking avoided $75K gain when owner swapped duplexes.
4. Trust-Account Compliance for Security Deposits
States like CA require separate trust ledgers; CPA reconciles bank balance to tenant ledger monthly.
Example:Passed state audit with zero findings; non-compliance fines can hit $2K per deposit.
5. Multi-State Sales-/Lodging-Tax Filings
Short-term rentals trigger city + state TOT; CPA files monthly returns to avoid 10% penalties.
Example:Airbnb host with 12 properties cut audit risk by outsourcing filings across AZ, TX, and FL.