Accountant

General Accountant with Real Estate Accounting

The Accountant/General Accounting provides detailed financial and accounting analysis and serves as the primary accounting control for approximately 7-10 properties. This position is responsible for overseeing the general ledger accounting, financial reporting, and the forecasting functions.

Specific duties include the following:
*Accept overall financial responsibility and take complete ownership of accounting and financial reporting matters for assigned properties. This includes understanding information received from other shared services, having a strong working knowledge of such information, and critically analyzing the impact of such information on properties economically and from a financial reporting perspective. Examples include CAM adjustment billings, recovery accruals, overage rent, straight-line rent, and fixed assets.
*Oversee application of GAAP for applicable property including reconciling general ledger accounts. Includes inquiry of other shared services departments in regards to items affecting general ledger that were prepared by other departments.
*Analyze in detail all factors affecting net operating income and net profit including what/if scenarios for acceleration/deceleration of CAM depreciation and affect of performing certain capital projects.
*Prepare analysis of partner distributions in relation to expected cash inflows/outflows and current cash position.
*Prepare accrual and general journal entries at month-end.
*Prepare financial statements on a monthly basis. On a quarterly basis prepare a partially electronic working paper package that serves as a detailed audit trail.
*Prepare actual versus budget/prior year monthly analysis with variance explanations for monthly property reports. Must effectively work with Property Manager to develop variance explanations.
*Oversee yearly budget process and take lead role in compiling and preparing budget.
*Prepare quarterly forecasts of accounting data for property by effectively analyzing trends, and anticipating certain developments by interviewing mall team and/or applicable party.
*Manage and ensure payment of debt service, ground leases, real estate taxes, and other miscellaneous special payments and analyze and reconcile related general ledger accounts.
*Serve as primary liaison with Accounts Payable and Property Manager on general ledger coding questions.
*Perform miscellaneous special calculations including ground rent participation payments, business license fees, etc. Research the underlying agreements, ordinances, etc. to ensure accurate calculations.
*Travel to assigned properties to meet with mall teams and tour properties on at least a biannual basis.
*Perform occasional special projects.
*Assist in year-end audit with outside auditors.

Requirements
*Bachelor's degree with a preference for accounting or business degree.
*Experience with taxes and cost accounting.
*Real estate accounting experience preferred but not required.
*Knowledge of accounting principals required with a preference for knowledge of real estate specific accounting principals including CAM, straight-line rent, overage etc.
*Analytical ability to identify, comprehend, and solve problems and important issues through review of accounting and financial data.
*Ability to effectively work in a team environment.
*Ability to communicate effectively with mall team, other shared services departments, controllers, and accounting managers.