Lease Audit Sr. Manager

Job Title Lease Audit Sr. Manager Job Description Summary The Lease Audit Team operates within the Global Portfolio Lease Administration service line, supporting approximately 400 corporate client accounts and generating a significant stream of annual revenue. The team plays a critical role in driving financial accuracy, cost recovery, and value optimization across complex, global real estate portfolios.Job Description Primary Responsibilities  Operations, Team Leadership & Governance  Team Leadership  Lead and manage a high-performing, multidisciplinary Lease Audit Team, including:   4 auditors responsible for full-scope lease audits  1 Lease Audit Coordinator supporting operations, billing, and audit tracking  Recruit, develop, and retain top-tier talent, fostering a results-driven and collaborative team culture   Conduct annual performance evaluations and mid-year reviews, delivering actionable feedback and development plans   Establish clear performance objectives aligned with business priorities and provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, and support   Ensure quality assurance, consistency, and adherence to audit standards across all deliverables  Celebrate success by sharing kudos, employee recognition, individual and team achievements, and facilitate regular line of sight to senior leadership    Audit Billing Coordination and Preparation  Oversee end-to-end audit billing processes, including:   Preparation of client invoices  Coordination with auditors, accounting teams, and internal/external stakeholders  Monitor receivables, proactively manage delinquencies, and ensure revenue integrity   Track and manage third-party audit firm billing thresholds and approvals   Ensure timely payment to third-party vendors following client collections    Process Development and Maintenance  Own, maintain, and continuously enhance the Lease Audit Team Playbook and standard operating procedures   Ensure alignment with evolving GAAP standards and Cushman & Wakefield policies   Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service quality    Project and Task Tracking  Oversee project tracking and reporting using tools such as Smartsheet, including:   Active audit pipelines and project status  Billing, receivables, and financial metrics  Ensure data accuracy and visibility to support operational decision-making and leadership reporting  Lease Audit Project Management  Audit Management  Direct and drive the success of multiple client engagements  Lead and oversee a large portfolio of client engagements, while managing  a consistent high volume of concurrent audits on a rolling basis   Prioritize audit activity based on property type, audit history, recovery potential, and other salient factors, optimizing resource allocation and revenue generation   Drive successful execution while maintaining quality, timelines, efficiency, and client expectations  Collaborate with EMEA and APAC teams to support global client engagements     Audit Execution  Act as a player/coach by leading the team while independently managing complex audit assignments   Provide technical expertise, guidance, and escalation support for high-impact audits and/or unique audits with a high degree of complexity    Reporting & Communication  Ensure timely delivery of client-facing Lease Audit status reports (monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly)   Oversee preparation of quarterly reporting for PLA and IPM Leadership teams   Deliver clear, concise, and actionable insights to stakeholders    Third-Party Coordination:  Manage relationships with third-party auditors and vendors to ensure:   Timely project execution  Accurate reporting and billing  Leverage third-party providers to address capacity constraints and mitigate potential conflicts of interest    Client Relationship Management  Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, ensuring a high level of satisfaction throughout the audit lifecycle   Proactively identify risks and resolve issues through root cause analysis and solution-driven approaches   Exhibit subject matter expertise through thought leadership, best practices, and insights on emerging trends and innovation  Business Development   Represent the Lease Audit function in client pitches, onboarding discussions, and strategic meetings   Partner with brokerage and operational teams to support new business and client expansion initiatives   Contribute to revenue growth by identifying and promoting innovative solutions and service enhancements   Support business development efforts, contributing to approximately 15% of team capacity  Partner with PLA Leadership to identify cross-sell opportunities and expand service offerings  Assist with development of case studies that demonstrate successful outcomes for our clients  Financial Oversight & Accountability   Partner with the Global Head of PLA, Americas PLA Lead, and GOS Finance to develop annual budget and forecasts for the Lease Audit function  Own achievement of annual Lease Audit revenue and profitability targets  Monitor and analyze monthly and YTD financials prepared by GOS Finance, proactively addressing any negative variances  Maintain strong cost control discipline to ensure efficient and profitable operations  Key Skills & Qualifications  CPA required   Proven experience in lease audit, financial analysis, or real estate accounting   Strong leadership and team development capabilities   Expertise in client relationship management and strategic account oversight   Experience managing billing, accounts receivable, and revenue tracking   Demonstrated ability in process improvement and SOP development (Playbook ownership)   Familiarity with Smartsheet or comparable project tracking tools preferred   Experience in cross-regional collaboration and global portfolio management   Strong audit execution, review, and quality assurance skills   Experience managing third-party vendors and external partners   Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills  Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements. The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications. The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role. The compensation for the position is: $ 106,250.00 - $125,000.00 Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [email protected]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us. INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”