Manager, Global Real Estate Financial Operations

Manulife Investment Management (“MIM”) is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. MIM's global real estate platform provides investment solutions globally as part of its comprehensive private markets’ capabilities, offering core, core-plus, and value-add strategies.

MIM’s global real estate team leverages its global platform and regional market knowledge to identify opportunities and drive results for its clients. As of December 31, 2024, its sustainably operated platform includes 90 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, and multifamily assets located across Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region, with over $25 billion CAD of real estate (500+ properties). The team is expanding its capabilities to meet evolving market opportunities, building a strong and diverse global culture as an entrepreneurial investment manager.

General Accountability:

The Manager, Global Real Estate Financial Operations is responsible for the financial operations of the Global Real Estate (“GRE”) platform, working alongside the GRE team, other internal Manulife teams, our strategic third-party portfolio accounting partner, and third-party property managers. Responsibilities include, among others, review and oversight of the portfolio accounting and reporting deliverables, development and overall management of the global budgeting and forecasting policies, timeline and deliverables, compliance with relevant SOX controls, ongoing business support and maintenance of financial models, development of platform budgeting and forecasting, analysis and management reporting of platform profitability, management of scorecard metrics, and development and ongoing maintenance of platform-level financial operational policies.

The Manager will also support a Director, Global Real Estate Financial Operations, US, in providing financial and operational support to Global Real Estate’s strategic initiatives, as required.

The role requires a highly capable and accountable finance professional who is motivated to strive for success and be part of a highly engaged team. The incumbent will need to develop high levels of rapport and respect with key collaborators. The role will directly report to a Director, Global Real Estate Financial Operations, US.

Responsibilities:

1. MIM GRE Budgeting and Reforecasting
   • Provide high quality financial information and analysis for MIM’s GRE platform. Prepare and present the monthly financial results, including analysis of actual to budget variance, and progress against the objectives set out in the AIP scorecard.
   • Maintain and update MIM GRE’s flows, revenue and expense projections on a monthly basis, and provide GWAM Finance with the update.
   • Work with cost center owners to develop cost center budgets.
   • Develop an annual budget for MIM GRE business, including flows, revenue and expense projections. Review and finalize the consolidated annual budget with Global Real Estate Leadership Team (“GRELT”) and GWAM Finance.
   • Assist with development of MIM GRE’s Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) scorecard. Provide GRELT with periodic update on forecast AIP results including progress against the AIP target.
   • Develop and maintain relevant financial operations policies for MIM GRE’s platform including third party vendor and expense policies.
   • Support the tracking and appropriate accounting for the fund start-up expenses.
2. Portfolio Accounting and Reporting Deliverables Oversight
   • Perform initial review of portfolio-level accounting and reporting deliverables for reasonability. The third-party portfolio accounting manager will be responsible for reviewing property-level financial information and reports.
   • Follow up with third-party managers on any unresolved exceptions and issues that were flagged by the third-party portfolio accounting manager.
3. Global Portfolio Budget and Reforecasting
   • Support Director, Global Real Estate Operations, with:
   • Development and update of global budget policies and playbook including global budget assumptions and send the final budget policies and playbook to the third-party portfolio accounting manager who will share with third-party property managers.
   • Development of global budget and reforecast timeline.
   • Coordination with the Regional Heads of Asset Management to update Budget and Reforecast Dashboard template and distribution of the final template to the third-party portfolio accounting manager.
   • Perform the initial review of the Portfolio Budget and Reforecast Dashboards prepared by the third-party portfolio accounting partner.
   • Perform reviews of financial models to ensure accuracy and completeness.
4. Compliance Support and Oversight
   • Manage the SOX control walkthrough and testing requests.
   • Perform required SOX control activities to ensure compliance.
   • Perform an annual review of SOC 1 Reports from the third-party property managers and the third-party portfolio accounting partner and summarize the finding in a checklist/memo.
5. Strategic Initiatives and Projects
   • Provide commercial input and financial analysis for MIM GRE’s strategic initiatives and business projects, as needed. Where applicable, assist with development of project financials and performance tracking of implemented initiatives.
   • Support the implementation of Anaplan for Global Real Estate platform.
   • Work with Manulife’s Anaplan Center of Excellence (“COE”) and other internal/external collaborators to make required updates to Anaplan models.
   • Support major technology enhancement projects such as implementation of new modules and enhancements to Yardi system.
   • Assist with other ad-hoc projects or analysis.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies/Education:

• University Degree, preferably in Accounting or Finance.
• 3-6 years of professional experience. Experience in real estate industry and/or investment management industry is strongly preferred but not mandatory.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent accounting or finance professional credential.
• Strong finance background with 3-6 years of increasing responsibility in financial accounting / reporting and analysis.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and IFRS.
• Experience with financial reporting processes, data and information management, controls, reporting and analysis.
• Ability to work with complex investment structures and review fund offering / governing documents.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail but have ability to assess complex situation with a big picture mindset.
• Relevant experience with accounting and financial systems in complex organizations.
• Experience in financial planning and forecasting.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements and priorities.
• A strong quantitative and analytic approach to building business strategies and establishing measurement systems to monitor growth, efficiency and profitability.
• Organized, self-motivated and able to multitask in a fast paced and dynamic work environment, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Vision, respect for and understanding of mission-driven institutions.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to cater the message to various collaborators including senior executives.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across the Division and with external collaborators; ability to collaborate, negotiate, and influence effectively.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit our story.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact recruitment@manulife.com.

Primary Location: Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement: Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between: $86,250.00 CAD - $155,250.00 CAD

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.