Manager Real Estate Lease Accounting

About the Role

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. This position is 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. The role involves implementing, managing, and coordinating 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 to ensure accurate and timely financial statements. This position also represents the lease accounting function on special projects, committees, and system initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the team of analysts responsible for all lease accounting activities across all U.S. Brands, including developing and maintaining accounting principles, practices, and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements.
• Handles day-to-day issues within lease accounting activities and coaches team members in researching and resolving reporting variances, lease data concerns, accounting questions, and system-related issues.
• Manages 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, partnering with internal stakeholders to resolve issues and implement corrective actions.
• Establishes departmental goals, supports corporate goals and initiatives, and sets 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, driving 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, partnering with business and IT teams, third-party providers, and Global stakeholders.
• 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 partnerships 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.
• Experience supporting lease accounting system implementations, upgrades, or transformation initiatives.

Schedule

Hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations (Salisbury, NC; Quincy, MA; Scarborough, ME; Carlisle, PA) and 2 remote days.

Pay

Salary Range: $63,440-$95,160. Actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on unique qualifications and experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Final compensation decisions will be made in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.

Benefits

Ahold Delhaize USA is committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. We invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow, and deliver at all levels of the business. Our benefits include a focus on collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning, with a culture where personal and professional growth are prioritized alongside business growth.