Day-to-Day Roles and Responsibilities of a Community Manager

Eric Finke, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, takes great pride in his work as a community manager.

“I genuinely enjoy seeing how my work helps grow and protect what is a resident’s most valuable asset,” says Finke, general manager of Montebello Condominium Unit Owners Association in Alexandria, Va.

Finke manages 60 staff members who support the more than 1,000 condo units overlooking the Potomac River outside of Washington, D.C. Operations at Montebello are broken into departments that cover safety and access control, engineering, housekeeping, and administration.

Finke spends much of the day helping directors of each department stay focused on key priorities and guide them toward solutions that are efficient and effective.

“A property of this size and complexity requires a careful balance between trust and accountability,” he says. “I rely heavily on my directors and supervisors to manage their teams and handle the daily operations, but I remain closely involved in ensuring that the right systems and communication channels are in place to keep everything running smoothly.”

Because of Montebello’s scale, Finke’s attention is primarily on big-picture initiatives such as budgeting, capital planning, policy implementation, and community engagement.

He believes the keys to successful project management, whether it’s a small repair or a multimillion-dollar renovation, come down to proactive communication, clear expectations, and having a strong network of trusted professionals.

Every project begins with defining the scope and setting expectations, such as “identifying what success looks like, who the stakeholders are, and how the project fits into the larger goals of the community,” he says.

From there, he communicates the vision to the board, residents, and contractors via meetings and town halls to make sure there are no surprises along the way. Finke believes transparency is essential; if everyone understands the “why,” they’re more likely to buy into the “how.”

The next step is engaging the right experts. “One of the biggest keys to my success has been maintaining a black book of reliable contractors, engineers, and consultants,” says Finke.

“I believe in surrounding myself with people who know their craft better than anyone and then letting them do their jobs,” Finke says. “My role is to facilitate, coordinate, and remove obstacles, not micromanage.”

Once a project is underway, it’s critical to emphasize consistent communication and accountability. Progress meetings, written updates, and site visits ensure everyone stays aligned. “I make sure issues are addressed promptly,” he says. “And I never shy away from difficult conversations if quality or timelines start to drift.”

Once a job is complete, Finke conducts walkthroughs with contractors and stakeholders to ensure all expectations are met, documentation is complete, and lessons learned are captured for the next project.

“My management approach is about balance, trusting my experts to deliver while maintaining enough oversight to protect the interests of Montebello and its residents,” he says. “Projects succeed when communication is proactive, relationships are strong, and everyone understands that we share a common goal: doing the job right the first time with professionalism and pride.”

Finke advises people considering a career in community association management to be a sponge. “Absorb everything you can from the people around you — engineers, attorneys, contractors, inspectors, even your own maintenance staff,” he says.

Every community faces unique challenges that test a manager’s patience, adaptability, and judgment. “What separates good managers from great ones is their ability to learn from others, remain humble, and apply best practices with empathy and perspective,” Finke says.

Learn more about this growing profession or get your copy of the Community Association Manager Handbook in print or digital.