Manager - Lease Payments

Job description

Provide operational leadership for lease-related financial obligations and lease revenue activities across the Company’s real estate portfolio. Lead the Lease Payments team and oversee lease payment and billing processes, financial compliance, reconciliations, reporting, and related controls. Serve as the department’s subject-matter expert and primary escalation point while partnering with Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Real Estate, Tax, Fixed Assets, and other stakeholders to resolve issues, strengthen controls, and drive continuous process improvement. Key Responsibilities Provide leadership and oversight of lease-related payment and billing activities across the Company’s real estate portfolio, including more than $300+ million in annual payments and $150+ million in annual tenant/subtenant billing activity including base rent, percentage rent, OPEX, association assessments, late fees, and other contractual obligations. Ensure financial obligations are accurately interpreted, calculated, processed, and documented in accordance with lease requirements, including oversight of monthly escalations, annual and one-time payments, and other routine and non-routine transactions. Review lease provisions and system abstractions to validate payment requirements and monitor payment variances, rejections, check inquiries, and other issues through resolution. Partner with Accounts Receivable and other stakeholders to resolve collection issues and ensure accurate financial records. Oversee the review, approval, processing, and resolution of more than 800 annual OPEX reconciliations, serving as the primary escalation point for landlord and subtenant account reconciliation matters. Review reconciliation statements and supporting documentation to validate contractual compliance and financial accuracy, identify and resolve discrepancies, and work directly with landlords, subtenants, and internal stakeholders as appropriate. Lead the resolution of financial disputes and, when appropriate, negotiate mutually acceptable outcomes while protecting the Company’s contractual and financial interests, and establish controls and processes to identify recurring issues and reduce financial leakage and compliance risk. Oversee submission of financial reporting obligations under Company’s leases, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, P&L statements, sales reports, and other tenant reporting. Review lease requirements to determine applicable reporting obligations, deadlines, and supporting documentation, ensuring all required reporting is accurate, timely, and appropriately documented. Partner with Accounting and other stakeholders to ensure lease-related financial information is accurately reflected across systems and financial reporting processes, and maintain and distribute lease payment, billing, and variance reporting to support timely and accurate financial processing. Lead and develop three (3) direct reports within the Lease Management department by establishing clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards while providing ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development. Recruit, onboard, train, and develop team members while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Effectively allocate work across the portfolio, establish consistent processes and standards, and ensure work is completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with department and company expectations. Serve as an escalation point for complex issues and provide guidance and subject-matter expertise to support team success. Serve as the department’s subject-matter expert for lease and sublease financial provisions. Lead lease payment and billing related enterprise projects and initiatives, working cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to develop scalable processes, controls, and system enhancements. Support acquisitions, dispositions, organizational changes, and other business initiatives while building strong internal and external relationships, driving continuous improvement, and supporting strategic priorities and special projects within Lease Management. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS or ABILITIES: Strong knowledge of commercial real estate leases and related documents, including amendments, assignments, deeds, estoppels, SNDAs, license agreements, easements, and other real estate agreements. Strong ability to interpret and apply lease language, particularly financial and operational provisions. Demonstrated knowledge and interpretation of lease financial obligations, including base rent, OPEX, taxes, percentage rent, and other additional rent provisions. Strong understanding of percentage rent calculations, reporting requirements, rent adjustment methodologies (CPI, FMV, etc.), and related lease provisions. Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a team while driving accountability and performance. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess financial and contractual risk. Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, deadlines, and competing business needs in a fast-paced environment. Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail and accuracy. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within a complex, matrixed organization. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate complex financial and contractual matters to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strong customer-service orientation and ability to build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and other relevant business systems. Self-directed, results-oriented leader with a strong work ethic and demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement. PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES: Advanced knowledge of commercial real estate lease administration and financial provisions. Experience with lease administration or lease accounting systems, preferably in a large corporate portfolio. Experience managing large-scale payment, billing, reconciliation, or accounts receivable processes. Experience implementing process improvements, system enhancements, and cross-functional business initiatives. Experience negotiating or resolving complex landlord/subtenant financial dispute Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.