Sr. Manager (Real Estate)

About the Role

Senior Manager, Real Estate team, Brookfield, WI. The role offers continuous learning through client‑facing interactions, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to share knowledge of how accounting impacts the business world with junior staff. You will collaborate with an accomplished and diverse team of professionals in an independent, growing professional services firm certified as a Great Place to Work®.

Position Summary

Senior Managers are responsible for ownership/In‑Charge of complex engagements for affordable‑housing real‑estate clients, focusing on Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) entities. They monitor, develop, train, and fully utilize each staff member on their assigned team, review work within their expertise, and sign‑off on simple engagements as assigned.

Responsibilities

Client Work (≈60%)

• Execute complex affordable‑housing and LIHTC audit and tax engagements from start to finish, coordinating planning, staff scheduling, field work, review process, and client communication.
• Track progress against budgeted time, expenses, and scheduled completion dates.
• Ensure all engagement phases are performed properly and in optimal sequence, anticipating problem areas and questions.
• Identify and communicate opportunities for process improvement and system enhancements.
• Supervise preparation of all work products delivered to the client.
• Keep the In‑Charge informed of important developments in the work and client relationship.
• Communicate major problems with facts, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Interact directly with client personnel and third parties, serving as a trusted advisor on accounting, tax, and compliance matters related to LIHTC and real‑estate operations.
• Identify opportunities to expand affordable‑housing and LIHTC services, including audit, tax, consulting, compliance, and advisory offerings.
• Prepare monthly billings and maintain confidentiality of client information in accordance with laws, regulations, and SVA policies.
• Work efficiently, typically 55 hours/week during busy season (including weekends) and 40‑45 hours/week during non‑busy season.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervision and Leadership (≈30%)

• Assign work to staff based on knowledge and capabilities.
• Perform quality‑control reviews.
• Prepare and discuss staff performance evaluations.
• Train staff, provide guidance, constructive feedback, and recognize achievements.
• Accountable for staff performance, engagement, and retention; conduct stay interviews and address themes with leadership.
• Transfer client relationships to junior staff appropriately.
• Identify low performers and have difficult/direct conversations to manage or transition them, focusing on retaining qualified staff.
• Provide individualized, meaningful recognition and focus on intrinsic rewards.
• Participate in staffing strategy, highlight gaps or excess capacity, and work to address them.
• Recruit passive talent using networks and experience; promote SVA to attract high‑functioning employees.

Professional, Personal and Business Development (≈10%)

• Research meaningful complex topics and present findings analytically with recommendations.
• Mentor multiple members of the accounting staff.
• Oversee professional development and personal growth of all team members.
• Facilitate professional‑development courses, write articles, and represent SVA at professional and civic functions.
• Deepen expertise in a technical area, industry, or service line.
• Lead large, complex internal projects.
• Achieve client‑retention targets and cross‑selling/upselling goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field (required).
• CPA certification (required).
• 9+ years of public‑accounting experience, including significant work with affordable‑housing, real‑estate, and/or LIHTC clients (required).
• Deep knowledge of partnership taxation, affordable‑housing accounting, LIHTC structures, and real‑estate financial reporting (required).
• Familiarity with HUD, RD, and state‑housing‑authority reporting (preferred).

Benefits

• Continuous learning through client‑facing work and mentorship.
• Personalized development and mentoring opportunities.
• Collaboration with a diverse, accomplished professional team.
• Recognition as a Great Place to Work®.