Director, Corporate Accounting

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Overview

AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we’ve established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term.

Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work.

The Role

As the Director of Corporate Accounting, you will play a key role in overseeing the financial close and consolidation process, managing corporate overhead budgeting and forecasting, and driving process improvements within the accounting function. You will lead a team of accounting professionals, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and fostering collaboration across the organization. Your leadership will be critical in strengthening financial reporting processes and supporting strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

Corporate Close and Consolidation

• Oversee the financial close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reports.

• Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and procedures.

Quarterly External Reporting

• Oversee debt and investment disclosures for the earnings release, 10-Q, and 10-K.

• Work closely with external reporting, FP&A, and external auditor teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Support the quarterly and annual corporate overhead budgeting process, working closely with the Corporate Accounting lead, FP&A and department leaders.

• Collaborate with FP&A to enhance forecasting models and reporting.

• Play a key role in the implementation of a new entity wide budgeting system.

Workday Governance

• Maintain the financial data model, company hierarchies and chart of accounts.

• Oversee financial workflow, ensuring appropriate governance and controls.

• Partner with IT and FP&A teams driving system improvements and enhancing reporting capabilities.

Internal Controls

• Play a lead role in overseeing the company’s SOX framework and ensuring compliance with internal control requirements.

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors to support control testing.

• Continuously assess and enhance control processes to align with best practices.

Process Improvement and Documentation

• Identify and implement process improvements to streamline accounting operations and enhance efficiency.

• Oversee the development and maintenance of accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Leverage technology, to drive automation and operational enhancements.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and develop a team of accounting professionals, providing coaching, mentorship, and career development opportunities.

• Foster strong cross-functional relationships with FP&A, Tax, and other departments.

• Serve as a key accounting liaison for external auditors.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

• Master’s degree preferred.

Licenses/Certifications

• Active CPA license required.

Experience

• 10 years of relevant accounting experience, with at least 5 years managing a team.

• Public accounting background preferred.

• Experience with Workday or similar ERP systems preferred.

Skills

• Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience with US GAAP.

• Excellent leadership and team management abilities.

• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Effective communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.

How AvalonBay Supports You

Additional Info

AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment.  We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice (https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/)