Assistant Manager, IPP Accounting

Job description

At Arbutus Properties, our ambition is to build lasting communities that foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity, where people feel genuinely connected to the places they live. As a leading residential and commercial real estate development company, we are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented accounting professional to join our team. We offer a dynamic work environment, a competitive compensation and benefits package, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and advancement. If you are passionate about real estate and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply. What’s in it for you! We provide a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support your well-being and growth: Competitive Wages Extended Health and dental coverage Healthcare and Lifestyle Spending Account Employee Assistance Program RRSP/TFSA matching Life insurance Paid Training and development opportunities Discretionary bonus And more. Position Overview The Assistant Manager, IPP Accounting is responsible for the owning the day-to-day accounting, reporting, and compliance activities for a portfolio of income-producing properties in Canada and the United States, , including full-cycle accounting, tax compliance, investor reporting, and financial analysis. Acting as a trusted business partner to senior leadership, you will recommend and implement internal controls, reporting processes, and operational improvements to support accurate financial reporting, strong governance, effective cost management, and scalable growth. This role plays a critical part in ensuring financial records are maintained in accordance with ASPE, applicable regulatory requirements, and company policies, while driving process improvements, supporting cross-functional initiatives, and contributing to the development of the accounting team. This position reports to the Director, IPP and Corporate Accounting and serves as the primary technical accounting lead between the Director and the IPP accounting staff. This is a hands-on role that offers significant exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to influence business processes, drive continuous improvement, and lead by example. If our values of ingenuity, thoughtfulness, tenacity, and prosperity resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. Key Functions & Responsibilities Reporting & Analysis: Own the full-cycle accounting and financial reporting for a growing portfolio of IPP assets, including monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, financial statement preparation, and audit support. Review financial statements and management reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with ASPE, management agreements, and corporate policies. Prepare and review journal entries and supporting schedules, including fixed assets, property taxes, insurance, and accrued operating expenses, ensuring completeness and accuracy. Oversee the timely completion and filing of GST returns, corporate tax returns, and property tax submissions, including the review of assessments and supporting documentation. Prepare and present monthly financial dashboards and key performance indicators, providing actionable insights and analysis to support management decision-making. Review balance sheet and bank reconciliations, ensuring timely resolution of outstanding items. Assess financial risks, evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, and support internal audit and compliance initiatives. Liaise with external advisors such as tax, legal, and other consultants. Lead the annual audit and tax compliance processes, coordinating with external auditors and advisors to ensure timely delivery of working papers and resolution of inquiries. Identify issues requiring escalation and bring forward complex accounting judgments, policy exceptions, and material reporting risks to the Director on a timely basis. Accounting Operations Partner with property managers to oversee rent collections, monitor tenancy obligations, and support lease administration, ensuring the accurate interpretation of lease terms and related financial impacts. Serve as a primary accounting contact for commercial tenants, managing CAM recoveries and allocations, coordinating lease-related correspondence, and issuing notices in accordance with lease agreements. Review lease agreements to ensure compliance and proper accounting treatment of renewals, escalations, amendments, rent increases, and concessions, including interpretation of non-standard lease terms. Support the transition of projects into income-producing properties by coordinating opening balance sheets, capitalization cut-off, and accounting handoff requirements, where applicable. Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, and improve the scalability of accounting operations. Review the work of junior accounting staff, including reconciliations, tax filings, intercompany transactions, and expense reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company standards. Develop and maintain close checklists, standard working paper templates, and accounting procedures to improve consistency, accuracy, and scalability across the IPP portfolio. Analyze and communicate the financial implications of operational activities, emerging issues, and business decisions to management. Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the preparation of annual budgets, periodic forecasts, and financial pro formas for assigned entities and projects. Monitor financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts, identifying and explaining key variances and trends. Provide recommendations to improve financial performance through cost management initiatives, operational efficiencies, and revenue optimization opportunities. Cash Flow Management: Oversee cash flow management across multiple entities to ensure adequate liquidity for operating expenses, debt obligations, and capital investments. Prepare and oversee weekly and monthly cash flow forecasts, including the prioritization and communication of vendor payment requirements. Ensure property-related cash receipts and disbursements are accurately recorded, monitored, and reconciled in accordance with established controls and timelines. Highlight emerging covenant, funding, or timing risks on a timely basis. Management & Collaboration: Lead, mentor, and develop accounting staff by providing coaching, performance feedback, training, and technical guidance, while promoting adherence to internal controls, accounting standards, and best practices. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging technology, automation, and process optimization to enhance team productivity, effectiveness, and collaboration. Support the execution of corporate initiatives and strategic projects by providing financial expertise, analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. Act as the primary reviewer for the Property Accountant’s work and provide day-to-day direction on priorities, deadlines, and technical issues. Key Criteria: Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline. CPA designation is preferred. Experience: 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including 2–3 years of supervisory experience that involves reviewing the work of others or providing informal leadership to junior staff. Public practice experience is highly desirable, and direct experience in real estate, commercial property accounting, or property management is strongly preferred. Technical Competencies: Systems & Technology: Proficiency in Yardi and Microsoft Excel, with the ability to leverage technology to enhance reporting, analysis, and operational efficiency. Financial Analysis: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends, evaluate business performance, assess risk, and recommend process improvements. Tax Knowledge: Experience with corporate taxation, indirect tax compliance (GST), and related reporting requirements is considered an asset. Real Estate Accounting: Strong understanding of lease interpretation, CAM recoveries, accruals, property tax and insurance accounting, intercompany transactions, and working paper preparation. Controls & Process Design : Ability to document procedures, strengthen controls, and implement scalable month-end and reporting processes in a growing organization. Soft Skills: Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a positive, collaborative, and accountable work environment. Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate financial information to both financial and non-financial stakeholders. Resourcefulness: Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset to identify options and recommend practical courses of action. Attention to Detail & Accountability: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to producing accurate, high-quality work while maintaining accountability for team deliverables. Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to manage competing priorities, perform effectively under pressure, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment Arbutus Properties is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. We welcome applicants that reflect this diversity. We respectfully acknowledge that we are situated on the traditional territories of the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut’ina, Îyârhe Nakoda, Nehiyaw, Dëne Sųłiné, Dane-zaa, Nakota Sioux. These lands are subject to Treaties 4,6,7,8, and 10, and have long served as meeting grounds, travel routes, and gathering places for many diverse First Nations including the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee, as well as Métis, and Inuit peoples. We recognize all these Nations and communities, whose rich histories, languages, cultures, and traditions continue to thrive and are key to the enrichment of all our communities.