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UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
UW Facilities (UWF) is one of the largest and most diverse administrative units on the Seattle campus supporting a large urban campus. UWF manages the University’s buildings, infrastructure and land, with more than 1,100 employees in a variety of fields. Our teams are organized into four main groups: Finance & Administration, Asset Management, Operations, and Business Intelligence.
We have an outstanding opportunity for an Accounting Manager to support the portfolio of properties managed by UW Real Estate, a department within the Asset Management group of UW Facilities. The Accounting Manager manages the day-to-day accounting functions related to this portfolio, and provides reporting and analyses to assure assets are well managed and to support management decisions.
UW Real Estate (UWRE) manages over 1.5 million square feet of space leased as tenant in office, clinic, laboratory, academic, and residential space. In addition, the portfolio includes 1.9 million square feet of University-owned commercial space in downtown Seattle and on three campuses leased to tenants, and over 400,000 square feet of University-owned facilities located at Sand Point occupied by UW departments.
This position requires in-depth knowledge and demonstrated expertise in application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The successful candidate must have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task. The position requires the ability to read and comprehend complex lease agreements to ensure compliance with contractual obligations. Commercial real estate accounting experience is critical because this position will oversee the property accounting across a portfolio of office, academic, research and residential properties.
This role includes acting as a liaison to other department personnel and heads, initiating financial system development and improvements, and providing accounting controls for lease accounting and reporting. The Accounting Manager will provide monthly financial reporting and partner with leaders in UWF to provide financial support. This includes Real Estate and other UWF Asset Management groups, such as Capital Planning and Portfolio Management, Campus Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Sustainability, and Resource Conservation.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
The Accounting Manager will support the Assistant Director of Finance in the financial management of UWF. This position will be primarily responsible for the accounting and budgeting for multiple units within UWF with an emphasis placed on UW Real Estate.
Accounting and Reporting (80%):
•Manage the accounting, reporting and systems development functions related to UWF Real Estate.
•Responsible for the real estate accounting activities including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, journal entries, and monthly closings.
•Supervise the work of the Property Accountant to ensure appropriate accounting procedures are in place and the University is compliant with all lease obligations.
•Collaborate with asset managers, third party managers and internal UW customers in the preparation of annual budgets, periodic performance reports and special projects as necessary.
•Provide regular quarterly and monthly real estate portfolio reporting.
•Manage accounting of foreign leases.
•Manage annual external audits and financial reporting including coordinating with third party managers, preparing and reviewing audit work papers, and adhering to audit timeline.
•Provide required reporting as requested by other University departments for annual audits, budgets, and cost reporting.
•Review, analyze and negotiate with UW’s landlords in leased space regarding operating expense adjustments and reconciliations in accordance with specific leases in place.
•Serve as a contact for UW departments in leased space whose budgets are charged for the payment of monthly rent.
•Identify and implement improvements to accounting systems and processes and maintain appropriate accounting control procedures.
•Serve as system administrator for the Yardi system, the real estate accounting software package.
•Manage the leasehold excise tax process ensuring timely and accurate filings and payment to the Department of Revenue.
•Keep current on tax, real estate finance and accounting, lease valuation and other matters that may affect University real estate operations.
•Develop and maintain standards for accounting and reporting for the real estate and asset management groups.
•Provide additional financial and accounting support as requested by the Assistant Director or other UWF leaders.
Management (20%):
•Manage the day-to-day financial operations of UW Real Estate.
•Supervise and evaluate the performance of staff.
•Lead the accounting team through mentoring, building skills through experience and training, assigning and approving work, problem solving, relating strategic planning strategies to staff positions, and providing management support to the Real Estate and Asset Management teams.
•Review staff work and provide coaching and assistance in performing their duties.
•Assign and balance department workload.
•Other duties as required
Core Competencies
•Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness.
•Manage stressful situations and changing priorities effectively.
•Anticipate, recognize and resolve problems.
•Be responsible and accountable.
•Use organizational skills and provide attention to details.
•Maintain a positive, optimistic, and success-oriented attitude.
•Exercise professionalism, which includes being tactful and courteous.
•Exhibit a professional work ethic.
•Continuously promote a safe work environment.
Requirements include:
•Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field AND five years of progressively responsible experience managing an accounting organization.
•Demonstrated experience analyzing and presenting financial information from multiple sources
•Proficiency in Excel and other Microsoft Office products
•Knowledge of accounting standards and principles with an emphasis on lease accounting.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired:
•CPA/CMA license preferred
•Knowledge of PM Web, Asset Works or Yardi, a real estate industry accounting software.
•Background and experience working in a real estate-related industry
•Experience working in a high-volume environment
•Higher education or state agency experience
•Working knowledge of GAAP according to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Conditions of Employment:
•Must be able to work in a non-smoking environment
•Regular and predictable work hours are required
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. |
