Angela Iversen, HUMC Manager, has more than 25 years of experience helping clients understand PBV compliance and accounting practices.

Help U Manage Compliance (HUMC) is a division within Quadel specializing in tailored compliance support to affordable housing communities across the country. Led by founder Lisa Williams and Angela Iversen, Manager, the HUMC team works closely with property managers, owners, and other stakeholders to ensure they meet all HUD requirements, from filing the necessary paperwork to navigating complex regulations.

In this week’s blog, Iversen shares her insights on navigating the complexities of  Project-Based Section 8 housing compliance and her team’s daily challenges.

Software Savviness 

Iversen’s experience spans over 25 years in the industry, with a deep understanding of both the technological and accounting aspects of compliance. She often assists clients with the submission of HUD vouchers. This process involves a combination of technology management, data analysis, and an understanding of HUD’s secure systems.

Iversen and her team work with Yardi, RealPage, and MRI software systems most often. Iversen noted all systems have their own intricacies that users have to navigate. Software issues are a common problem faced by HUMC’s clients.

“Each software has its quirks. Some are easier to navigate than others, and sometimes it’s a matter of knowing how to ‘trick’ the system to get the desired outcome,” Iversen said. “This is where my knowledge of both technology and accounting comes in handy. I’ve always been that computer person. If there is an issue with the computer, that is my superpower.”

Different Clients, Different Contract Administrators

Iversen noted the most common compliance issues her team deals with involve discrepancies in the data submitted to HUD or misunderstandings about HUD’s requirements. These challenges are compounded because not every contract administrator interprets HUD rules the same way. To mitigate these issues, Iversen and her team are proactive in their approach, often asking clients who their contract administrator is right from the start.

“Knowing who our clients are dealing with helps us tailor our approach and ensure everything is submitted correctly. Different states, and even different contract administrators, have different preferences for how they want to see things done. This can lead to confusion and errors if you’re not familiar with their specific requirements,” Iversen said. “We pride ourselves on being able to tailor our services to meet the specific needs of our clients. Whatever they need, we can provide the support and guidance necessary to help them succeed.”

Ledger Maintenance and Client Savings

Iversen often trains clients on how to prepare and submit vouchers to avoid costly errors. This involves a process she calls “ledger scrubbing,” where she meticulously reviews financial records to ensure compliance with HUD’s requirements. Iversen noted a standard CPA might not know what to look for in an affordable housing company’s ledger if they do not have an affordable housing compliance background.

Recently, HUMC assisted a property in New York that lost millions of dollars each month due to compliance issues.

“We came in, identified the issues, and helped them recover about three million over three months,” Iversen said. “It was challenging but incredibly rewarding to see the turnaround. Teaching clients how to make sure data is correct is important because they could be missing money, and money is everything with affordable housing units. Some of these companies live and die by these leases.”

To see how HUMC can assist with your compliance issues, contact Angela Iversen at aiversen@quadel.com or request a proposal today.