Senior Manager, Asset & Lease Accounting
Location: Chicago, IL
Industry: Building Materials / Construction
Our client is a large, publicly traded North American organization operating across the construction and building materials sector. With a broad national footprint, thousands of employees, and a significant portfolio of infrastructure, commercial, and residential customers, the company is continuing to invest in its finance organization, systems, and data capabilities.
We are seeking a Senior Manager, Asset & Lease Accounting to lead accounting activities surrounding capital projects, fixed assets, leases, and related financial reporting. This position combines technical accounting, financial data analytics, process improvement, and team leadership and will play an important role in strengthening the company's financial reporting and controls environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead accounting for capital projects and expenditures, including tracking, capitalization, and reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
- Oversee fixed asset and intangible asset accounting, including depreciation, disposals, and impairment considerations.
- Manage lease accounting activities under ASC 842.
- Partner with Finance, Operations, IT, and project teams to improve capital expenditure tracking, reporting, and controls.
- Support accounts receivable analytics and allowance-related assessments as needed.
- Maintain compliance with U.S. GAAP, SOX requirements, and internal accounting policies.
- Develop and strengthen internal controls surrounding project and asset accounting.
- Coordinate with internal and external auditors and provide supporting documentation for audit activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting accuracy, automation, and overall efficiency.
- Leverage tools such as Power BI, Power Query, Alteryx, Python, and advanced Excel to analyze financial data and automate reporting.
- Improve data quality, governance, and integration across finance systems.
- Develop financial models, dashboards, and reporting tools that provide actionable insights to Finance and business leadership.
- Lead and develop a team of accounting professionals while promoting continuous improvement and automation.
- Partner with senior Finance leadership on finance transformation and technology initiatives.
- Oversee and review financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis related to the function.
- Contribute to public-company reporting readiness and accounting systems implementations.
- Serve as a subject-matter resource to leadership on project, fixed asset, lease, and related accounting matters.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- CPA required.
- 7+ years of progressive experience in accounting, with experience spanning areas such as project accounting, fixed assets, lease accounting, or corporate financial reporting.
- 3+ years of experience leading or managing accounting professionals.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 842.
- Experience with capital project accounting and fixed asset accounting.
- Strong understanding of SOX and internal controls.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience working with financial data and reporting tools.
- Experience with Power BI, Alteryx, Power Query, Python, or similar analytics/automation technologies.
- Familiarity with major ERP/accounting platforms such as SAP or Oracle.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex financial information into meaningful business insights.
- Excellent communication skills and comfort partnering with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, improve processes, and drive finance transformation initiatives.
- Experience within a public-company environment or IPO/public-company readiness is highly valued.
- Additional credentials such as CMA or CFA are a plus.
Why This Role
This is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad accounting function while also helping shape finance analytics, automation, reporting, controls, and transformation within a large, complex organization. The role offers significant exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders and sits at the intersection of technical accounting and modern finance technology.