Real Estate Accounting Senior Director

: Posted 01-Dec-2025 Service line Advisory Segment Role type Full-time Areas of Interest Accounting/Finance, Property Management Location(s) Cleveland - Ohio - United States of America, Minneapolis - Minnesota - United States of America

Are you ready to start an exciting career with CBRE?

About The Role:

The Accounting Client Transition / Transformation Leader is focused on the transition and transformation of accounting relationships and processes for a strategic client relationship. This includes leading efforts to onboard a client into the CBRE and transform it into a best-in-class delivery model. This will include creating and leading complex project plans, conducting process evaluation, working and understanding structure of teams and creating clear strategies for accounting service delivery. This visible leader will effectively balance achieving client strategy, developing talent, financial accountability, and operational efficiency of the accounting platform.

This senior leadership role will be client facing and collaborate closely with operational decision makers within the client team and our executive team. They will partner with accounting leaders to build strategies and handle adoption on the Account. Talent excellence and performance are key features of this leadership role. The ability to analyze sophisticated client requirements, processes and team structures and propose organizational change is key.

The ideal candidate will possess deep real estate accounting expertise, technology savvy, operational experience, and success at influencing large, geographically disperse and diverse teams. Experience with running financial cases is also key.

A highly strategic mentality with an ability to operationalize and translate strategy into actionable plans is a requirement of this role.

What You'll Do:

- Establish and maintain transition plans, toolkits and communications

- Review and analyze team organizational structures and create applicable transformation strategies per the contract

- Create and maintain transformation and innovation agendas and supporting communication tools

- Provide leadership support of data program needed as a part of contractual KPI's

- Support Accounting Leader in formal recurring relationship meeting with assigned clients or participate in Property Management lead meetings

- Maintain appropriate communication with clients to build stronger personal and direct relationships

- Act as an accounting process authority in client's business and strategy, by pro-actively contributing to the improvement of the client's business

- Support growth of client's business through the development and execution of an Account Transformation Plan

- Represent the client's best interests externally and internally to Property Management and CBRE

- Lead recurring internal transformation team meeting with all client focused staff. Focus on action

- Lead by example, modeling behaviors consistent with our RISE values, to earn respect and trust of peers, employees and clients

- Lead client focused Transformation Team. Recognize expertise and empower peers and employees to build a dynamic team that is viewed by others as highly productive, capable and the best in the industry

- Champions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within sphere of influence, supporting company initiatives and Employee Resource Groups

- Provide mentorship for management and non-management colleagues

- Demonstrate and support a healthy balance between work and lifestyle

- Instill a ‘Change' culture with the Account

- Lead recurring accounting transition meetings and ensure agendas and communications are in place. Ensure accounting transition plan is proactively led

- Develop and implement an accounting transformation program in alignment with overall Account plan

- Know the team, know the processes - have connections with all the staff directly supporting the client and have working knowledge of all processes delivered for the client

- Proactively work with Financial Systems and Technology teams to ensure new tools are incorporated into overall Transformation plan. Be a promoter of technology usage

- Implement client transition programs and provide proactive communication. Ensure project plans meet key contract criteria

- Participate in Steering Committee and Innovation Board

- Support the Accounting Operational Steering Committee including both client and CBRE supporting functions

- Provide commercial governance for Transformation case

What You'll Need:

To perform this job successfully, an individual will need to perform each crucial duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Bachelor's Degree from four-year college or university, MBA or CPA preferred

8+ years of strategic leadership in a real estate accounting organization, leading large strategic transition or transformation projects

Expert change management skills

Financial fluency

Technically savvy

Operational excellence

Senior executive presence

Creating and managing large complex projects or transitions as well as enterprise level organizational change programs

Exceptional collaboration skills, and ability to ensure productive collaboration among regional teams and property management partners on account

Experience in managing onshore / offshore delivery models

Experience managing various contracts and commercial models, and success delivering on savings commitments

Monitor the fiscal impact of the account ground-breaking plans which impact the margin profile of account or portfolio and overall client against the market

Collaborating harmoniously with leaders, ensure surveyed target plans are implemented to drive measurable improvements, including consulting with Operational Excellence to drive margin achievement

Actively build successful network relationships with key constituencies and partners, ensuring visibility and extensive engagement

Successful partnership with internal supporting functions in the pursuit of alignment and excellence.

Champion cultural values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence

Supporting new pursuits as well as major transformation and growth initiatives

Leadership - proven leader who can influence team members at all levels of the organization

Analytics - ability to review, assess, and establish processes and project plans

Project Management - ability to design and manage a complex project plan

Strategic problem solver - how can we evolve through thinking and acting differently

Creates simple and compelling communications for multiple collaborator groups

Communicates technical financial strategies in simple, relatable language

Highly effective speaker and communicator capable of being an inspirational and motivating to staff (both direct and indirect)

Inquisitive, with high learning agility

Empathic, collaborative, listening skills

Ability to develop respected relationships across sectors, business lines, cultures, geography

Team player, driven & passionate to contribute, strong influencer and collaborator, and serve as a change agent

Why CBRE?

When you join CBRE you will have the support and resources of a global firm where an entrepreneurial mentality is encouraged. You'll realize your potential with exciting work, fast-paced assignments, an environment of constant learning and dedication to results! To enable your success, we provide the best tools, training and leaders in the industry.

Our culture is built on our RISE values and reflects the needs and perspectives of our clients and our people. Our work is guided by our North Star: Crafting the real estate solutions of tomorrow, so businesses and people thrive.

Coming to work for CBRE, you will receive a comprehensive benefits package, 401k, and extraordinary perks such as career growth and longevity!

CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law. We also provide reasonable accommodations, as needed, throughout the job application process. If you have a disability that inhibits your ability to apply for a position through our online application process, you may contact us via email at [email protected] or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).

NOTE: Some, but not all, of our positions may have an additional requirement to comply with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including COVID-19 vaccination proof and/or rigorous testing. If you have questions about the requirement(s) for this position, please inform your Recruiter.