Ground Lease Accounting Manager at American Tower Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia

Job Description:

SUMMARY:

The Manager, Ground Lease Accounting will lead the accounting for a specific portfolio of ground leases, ensuring that activities within the incumbent’s responsibilities are in compliance with  both the   company’s  policies and procedures and with  the guidance as prescribed under ASC 842 and IFRS 16 (as applicable). The incumbent will build effective partnerships with applicable market land management functions to ensure that all additions and changes to the lease portfolio are reflected in the accounting on a timely basis such that the various finance lease components (Right of Use Asset, Lease Liability and Lease Expense components) are accurately reflected in the region /market financial statements.  

In addition, the Manager will oversee specific lease review projects, from time to time, relating to routine activities or new contractual arrangements and acquisitions. Critical to the effectiveness of this role is the organization of monthly and quarterly workload to ensure that reporting deadlines and specific regions deliverables are met and that Country and Global management information and analysis supports the lease components to the financial statements are delivered in timely fashion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

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  Execute and ensure the integrity of the Lease accounting components (that may be made through either Oracle or off-line in spreadsheets) that are made to both lease revenue billed and lease expense paid and reported in group and standalone financials statements

  
  


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  Direct and develop the routine (i.e., cycle) testing of the accuracy of lease data and the resulting straight-line adjustments to support the calculation of appropriate reserves

  
  


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  Maintain the integrity of the bridge between lease accounting adjustments reported in group financial statements and the lease accounting adjustments recorded in the statutory financial statements and management reports

  
  


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  Monitor and retain acceptable level of offline spreadsheet calculations

  
  


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  Maintain Oracle systematic calculation current with accounting for lease amendments, renewals and rewrites by coordinating process improvements across the Finance organization

  
  


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  Provide short- and long-term planning and forecast of potential lease accounting adjustments for leases and potential amendments

  
  


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  Support the corporate office and other worldwide operating businesses with lease accounting projects enhancements, lease review projects and audit planning

  
  


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  Assist as needed with the implementation of ASC 842

  
  


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  Ensure appropriate disclosure support for External reporting purposes

  
  


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  Partner with Local Accounting teams to perform below functions as a team

  
  
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    Journal entries and reconciliations associated with lease accounting

    
    
  
  
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    Interpret new contracts and record any resulting accounting activities

    
    
  
  
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    Review financial results and any affiliated reporting

    
    
  
  
  
  


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  Ensure lease accounting interpretations in accordance with US GAAP and Statutory requirements relevant to specific countries/regions.

  
  


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  If a lease portfolio is maintained in a language other than English, the incumbent will liaise with the company’s services engaged to provide translation / interpretation support to ensure the company is able to report  in English regardless of the  language of the underlying contract

  
  


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  Provide management support to country/region management in form of reviews, reconciliations, close schedules and management reporting.

  
  


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  Ensure Global Business Service support and feedback to abstractions and data entries teams.

  
  


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  Ensure proper utilization of the company custom build lease accounting solution (ATLAS) and compliance with associated controls.

  
  

OTHER:

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  Other duties as assigned.

  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

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  Supervise and manage the performance of Staff Accountants, Senior Accountants and Contract Analysts

  
  


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  Proactively identify and resolve personnel issues in conjunction with Human Resources

  
  


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  Recruit, develop and retain staff, partnering with Senior Management, Recruiting and Human Resources.  This includes on-boarding and orientation for new hires

  
  


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  Provide disciplined performance management for team.  Define and communicate annual goals, perform formal and informal performance reviews, and ensure changes and updates are communicated in a timely and professional manner

  
  


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  Create strong collaborative team environment

  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

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  Strong relationship-development skills resulting in long-term, mutually beneficial client relationships

  
  


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  Self-motivated; able to work independently to complete tasks and respond to department requests and to collaborate with others to utilize their resources and knowledge to identify quality solutions

  
  


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  Strong organization, planning and project management skills; ability to prioritize tasks for self and team to meet requirements and deadlines

  
  


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  Strong leadership skills; ability to drive and motivate team to achieve results

  
  


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  Ability to work in a time-sensitive and high volume environment

  
  


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  Ability to identify key contacts for follow up; excellent ability to communicate project and status updates to team and cross-functionally to ensure understanding

  
  


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  Good strategic and problem solving skills to effectively influence decision making

  
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

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  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required

  
  


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  A minimum of 5 years of experience in lease interpretation and lease accounting preferred

  
  


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  At least 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred

  
  

ENVIRONMENT:

100% performed in climate-controlled internal office environment working under normal office conditions.  Up to approximately 25% travel will be required in support of the position’s responsibilities.

American Tower is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, creed, religion, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, marital status, familial status, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.