Manager II Real Estate Lease Accounting

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

Primary Purpose: 

Responsible for managing all aspects of the U.S. real estate lease accounting function and serving as a key point of contact between Brands, Ahold Delhaize business partners, Finance, Leasing and Global stakeholders to achieve major business goals of the Company. The primary purpose of this position is to implement, manage and coordinate the proper accounting and reporting of lease-related transactions, including right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, rent expense, lease modifications, reassessments and other complex real estate arrangements, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements. This position also represents the lease accounting function on special projects, committees and system initiatives and coordinates activities related to lease accounting tools, enhancements and upgrades. Ensures efficient departmental processes are in place and well controlled, establishing departmental goals, supporting corporate goals and initiatives, and setting priorities to ensure yearly goals are met. Acts as a knowledge expert in the organization.

Our hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC, Quincy, MA, Scarborough, ME, Salisbury, NC, Carlisle, PA

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Oversees the team of analysts responsible for all lease accounting activities across all U.S. Brands, inclusive of developing and maintaining accounting principles, practices and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements. Responsible for all day-to-day issues that arise within lease accounting activities and coaches team members in researching and resolving reporting variances, lease data concerns, accounting questions and system-related issues from business areas.
• Oversees and is responsible for all lease accounting activities, including accounting for right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, rent expense, lease modifications, reassessments, renewals, terminations and other complex real estate transactions.
• Ensures accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year-end close, as well as periodic reporting of lease accounting activities for all U.S. Brands and Support Companies, including review and approval of journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis and subsidiary ledger to general ledger balancing.
• Reviews lease-related financial activity, lease data and reporting to ensure accuracy, completeness and reasonableness. Leads investigation of trends, variances and unusual items and partners with internal stakeholders to resolve issues and implement corrective actions.
• Manages the team to ensure efficient departmental processes are in place, establishing departmental goals, supporting corporate goals and initiatives, and setting priorities to ensure yearly goals are met. Acts as a knowledge expert in the organization.
• Partners with Brand Finance leads, FP&A, Investment Planning and other business partners to support budgeting, forecasting and periodic estimate processes associated with lease accounting and real estate activities, including analysis of variances to budget, forecast and prior periods.
• Responsible for performance management, training and development of the team and drives continuous improvement and standardization of lease accounting processes.
• Provides Global partners (GSO) and other stakeholders with critical U.S. lease accounting reporting by Brand and Support Company that supports management reporting and external financial disclosures.
• Manages, organizes and administers implementation of special projects, business enhancements and changes in business processes related to lease accounting. This involves partnering with business and IT teams, third-party providers and Global stakeholders to ensure system upgrades, enhancements and accounting tool changes are appropriate, adequately tested and successfully implemented.
• Acts as a lease accounting liaison for business partners, including Brand Finance, FP&A, Leasing, Asset Management, Investment Planning, Tax, Finance Operations, offshore support teams and other support functions. Serves as the primary point of contact for EU-related lease accounting inquiries and coordination activities.
• Leads the partnership with internal and external stakeholders, including landlords, tenants, service providers and third-party software vendors, to ensure accurate financial reporting, data integrity and effective operational execution.
• Partners with internal and external auditors to ensure audits are supported with adequate documentation of processes and controls and timely submission of all requests.
• Performs and signs off on all key controls identified by the Risk and Controls department and ensures compliance with service level agreements, internal control requirements and company policies.
• Manages compliance with internal controls and adherence to IFRS accounting standards, lease accounting guidance and the Ahold Delhaize Accounting Manual through providing advice and counsel to business partners within the U.S. Brands.
• Participates in regular meetings with Global IT and software providers regarding lease accounting tools and serves as the business lead for testing, validation and implementation activities related to system enhancements and upgrades.
• Works closely with business functions to ensure lease transactions are appropriately evaluated, documented and accounted for in accordance with applicable accounting standards and company policies.
• Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support Company values.

Qualifications: 

• 8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Strong understanding of lease accounting guidance, real estate transactions, IFRS accounting standards and the Ahold Delhaize Accounting Manual.
• Experience leading accounting close processes, reconciliations, audits, controls and cross-functional business partnerships.
• Experience in SAP or other ERP platforms and lease accounting systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to research and resolve complex accounting matters.
• Strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence and effectively partner across functions and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop associates and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
•  Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships across business functions.
• Demonstrated process improvement mindset with the ability to identify opportunities for simplification, standardization and scalability.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• CPA preferred but not required
• Experience in lease accounting, real estate accounting or related controllership functions preferred.
• Experience supporting lease accounting system implementations, upgrades or transformation initiatives preferred

ME/NC/PA/SC Salary Range: $63,440-$95,160 

Actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on their unique qualifications and experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Final compensation decisions will be made in accordance with company policies and applicable laws. 

At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent.

Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.

Our associates are the heartbeat of our organization. We are committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. Guided by our values of courage, care, teamwork, integrity (and even a little humor), we are dedicated to being a great place to work.

We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.