Northeast Senior Controller

The Northeast Senior Controller ensures accuracy in reporting client financial information in a timely and accurate manner and reviews and approves reports and creates documentation that allows for the efficient "flow" of information for the Northeast region. The Senior Controller provides support to the Senior VP and Regional VP of the Northeast, along with Operational Accounting Manager and respective Home Office Accounting Team, including the Client Reporting Services Accountant and Senior Staff Accountant as they are the primary persons responsible for Financial Reporting to Clients, specifically where LAZ manages a contract under agreement with the owner. An integral portion of this position is the functional knowledge, and application, of our client reporting guidelines and requirements.
Principal Job Duties:
Oversees development of Region's financial plan.
Maintains internal controls within the Region.
Partnering with Operational Teams to problem solve operational and financial challenges within the region.
Assist Senior Vice President, Regional Vice Presidents, General Managers, and Directors of Operation with reporting needs including Vivid reports, AR aging reports, etc.
Assist with preparation of pro formas and analysis for New Business and retention plans for present business as well as subsequent follow up of actual performance vs. pro forma and adaptation of future pro formas.
Provide support to analysis of KPIs in marketplace (occupancy, developments, competitors, etc.).
Assist with ad hoc financial analysis as requested by the Senior Vice President, Regional Vice Presidents, General Managers, and Directors of Operation locally or by the Home Office.
Maintain and approve procedures and supporting contract summaries to ensure compliance with client contracts.
Interpret terms, structure and related financial elements of client contracts and ensure income and expenses accurately reflect contract term for each location's financial statements.
Support for significant new projects or initiatives being deployed with the region from a financial perspective.
Direct support for all administrative functions during the establishment of new locations in a particular manner ensuring that:
eData sheets are submitted in a timely manner and that a location number is assigned
Credit card processing and banking is set up
All expenses and revenues are duly allocated to the new location during the transition phase
Terms are timely updated in the E2 database for contract amendments, renewals, modifications
Act as the point person for Home Office Accounting, Treasury and Compliance teams.
Support Regional Data Analyst with data analysis & revenue management initiatives
Additional related duties as assigned.
Supporting Job Duties:
Responsible for oversight of all accounting activity within the Region including:
Ensure financial statements prepared in a timely and accurate manner by assigned Accountants
Ensure that accounting conforms to generally accepted accounting principles
Investigation locally of key variances prior to month-end close
Detailed understanding of regional and location performance
Follow up on open items from monthly P&L review calls
Interface directly with designated client accounting contacts
Prepare or review of critical prepaid and accrual accounting on a monthly basis for client locations
Point person for coordination of budgeting and comparative reporting of both Managed Locations and Lease Locations with operations staff.
Analyze performance and significant variances to budget
Local ownership of the budgeting process and reforecasts prepared on a location by location basis during the year to include Initial Budget (Aug/Sept), Detailed First Update (Feb/Mar), and Detailed Third Update (Aug/Sept).
Ability to travel
Requirements:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or similar area of study or equivalent work experience.
Experience:
6+ years in Financial Analysis, Financial Operations or an operational or general management role within the company or similar industry with financial reporting responsibilities
4+ years in a Management role
Property management or service industry accounting or financial experience a plus
Skills:
Familiarity with US GAAP and IFRS reporting requirements
Knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and General Microsoft Office Applications
Ability to solve problems and recommend comprehensive solutions
Ability to effectively interface with departments in order to provide effective financial information flow
Ability to work effectively with senior-level staff both regionally and within the Home Office.
Ability to seek improvement and create an environment of idea sharing and creative problem-solving.
Strong customer service skills and abilities.
Ability to be approachable and facilitate coaching conversations with employees and managers.
Ability to mitigate and lead others to overcome challenges (Never Ever Give Up Attitude).
Ability to encourage open expression of ideas and opinions.
Excellent teambuilding and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently and multi-task.
Ability to communicate professionally and effectively is critical with all levels of the organization.
Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and standard business practices.
Demonstrates a sense of urgency and timeliness.
Physical Demands:
Ability to lift, push and pull at least 10 pounds.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential duties/functions.