Controller

Job Overview:

The Controller will lead the accounting organization for MarWest Commercial, a division of FirstService Residential.

The Controller is a key leader who works closely with the President and Director of Financial Operations. The Controller partners with department leaders, property managers, and the support team to promote client retention, build healthy relationships internally and externally, improve processes, provide training, reduce liability, and enhance overall operations within the accounting department of MarWest Commercial.

The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership experience, project management skills, and technical accounting expertise, with a proven ability to collaborate with various departments, and drive process improvements within the accounting department.

Compensation: $125-140k

FirstService Residential will compensate the successful candidate in accordance with the posted range. The salary or wage paid to the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience, education, and specific job responsibilities. For positions designated at a client's property, the salary or wage will also be premised upon the client's directive. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Job Responsibilities

Financial Reporting

• Ensures quarterly and monthly financial statements are prepared in a timely and accurate manner, with attention to detail to identify potential errors or areas of risk, including variances to budget, linkage to supporting schedules, lingering bank reconciliation items, cash shortages, proper coding of general ledger activities, and investment management opportunities.

• Listens to clients, plans for their changing needs, monitors client satisfaction, and follows up on client inquiries.

• Works closely with department leaders to identify any areas of concern relating to financial production efforts and works to rectify issues or provide additional resources, ensuring timely and accurate financial statement delivery.

Treasury

• Ensure timely communication with Property Managers about upcoming CD maturities.

• Field investment inquiries and oversee the CD placement process.

Client Onboarding & Offboarding

• Oversee the client onboarding and off-boarding process as it relates to the accounting functions.

• Communicate with prior and new management companies to ensure a smooth account transition and close out of any prior bank accounts, etc.

Tax & Compliance

• Oversee the Vendor Management process, ensuring adherence to national guidelines.

• Partner with local and national risk teams for risk management, segregation of duties, and maintaining a proper control environment.

• Ensure timely completion of association tax filings.

• Collaborate with the associations CPAs on technical matters.

AR & AP

• Support an Accounting Manager who oversees the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes.

• Collaborate with the Accounting Manager to ensure efficient and accurate processing of AP and AR transactions.

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership to improve AP and AR workflows and systems.

Leadership

• Lead and develop the team to ensure client financial deliverables are completed accurately and timely.

• Identify and implement service levels, as well as key productivity, quality, and efficiency metrics.

• Attend Board/Finance Committee meetings when appropriate. Collaborate with Property Management teams and clients to present important issues along with appropriate recommendations.

Other Duties

• Play a crucial role in the ongoing business transformation by ensuring the implementation and utilization of best-in-class processes and tools.

• Provide generalized and ad-hoc training to Property Managers as needed.

• Use independent judgment to resolve issues and provide guidance to team members. Ensure that consistent policies and practices are being followed.

• Prepare and maintain procedures for specific job duties.

• Liaison with IT and other departments on various projects, impacting the organization including future migration from Jenark to a new platform.

• Drive the recruiting, hiring, and separation of personnel.

• Participate in special projects as needed & other duties as assigned.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct business at all times with the highest standards of personal, professional and ethical conduct.

• Perform or assist with any operations as required to maintain workflow and to meet schedules.

• May participate in any variety of meetings and work groups to integrate activities, communicate issues, obtain approvals, resolve problems and maintain specified level of knowledge pertaining to new developments, requirements, policies, and regulatory guidelines.

• Ensure all safety precautions are followed while performing the work.

• Follow all policies and Standard Operating Procedures as instructed by Management.

Supervisory Responsibility

Oversees a team of Accountants and others as deemed appropriate by business needs. Ensure personnel meet all service level expectations and escalate/resolve any performance issues with the appropriate Supervisors.

Education & Experience

• Experience supervising a high-volume transaction processing organization is desired.

• 5+ years of experience leading team members accountable for responsibilities similar to those required for this position. Must have strong leadership skills including the ability to effectively and respectfully address performance concerns and create a culture of strong accountability and performance.

• 5+ years of technical accounting experience including accrual-based experience.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and steer the direction and team toward improving current processes and protocols.

• College degree in business management or equivalent related experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Proficiencies

• Hold oneself and the team accountable for delivering on business goals.

• Demonstrate and model company values with internal and external customers.

• Show awareness of factors affecting employee retention and morale; lead in developing strategies to ensure employee engagement and retention, including creating growth plans for accounting team members.

• Exhibit excellent relationship skills with external and internal clients; be persuasive and patient, listen well, and address concerns with colleagues in a straightforward, open, honest, and respectful manner.

• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines; committed to getting the job done.

• Prioritize effectively and use sound judgment and decision-making.

• Be creative, take initiative, and self-assign ownership.

• Identify, manage, and mitigate risks.

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Applications, especially Word and Excel, including complex Excel functions (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPs).

• Possess excellent oral presentation and written communication skills.

• Proficient in English.

Physical Requirements / Working Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to lift 25lbs.

• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.

• Must have finger dexterity for typing/using a keyboard, and sorting.

• Must be able to move around the office, using office equipment, connecting with associates, etc.

• Talking and hearing occur continuously in this position.

• Hours over and above 40 will occur.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Occasional evening meetings may be required.

• Consistent and regular attendance required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Due to business requirements, hours may extend past 40 hours/week as necessary. Schedule is subject to change based on business needs.

Travel

Limited if needed

What We Offer:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans (full time and part time 30+ hours)

• Part time 20+ hours qualify for dental and vision

• 401K match

• Time off including vacation, sick, and company paid holidays

• Pet insurance available

• Verizon discount

• Tuition reimbursement

• Legal services

• Free emotional wellbeing and daily life assistance support for all associates

• Domestic partner coverage

• Health savings account

• Flexible spending account

About Us:

FirstService Residential transforms the property management landscape by providing professional association management services to over 9,000 residential communities across the United States and Canada.

Our dedication to associate satisfaction and growth is recognized by our Great Place to Work certification, exemplifying our commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Our 19,000 associates can count on competitive salaries, top-tier medical, dental, and retirement benefits, career training, and support for continued professional development.

Experience exceptional service with a fulfilling career in property management with FirstService Residential.

To learn more about our company and culture, please visit www.fsresidential.com/california

Disclaimer

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. This is not an all-inclusive job description; therefore, management has the right to assign or reassign schedules, duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

FirstService Residential is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.

Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances.

All offers of employment with FirstService Residential are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.