Lease Audit Sr. Manager

Cushman & Wakefield; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Lease Audit Sr. Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team within the Global Portfolio Lease Administration group in the US. The role drives financial accuracy, cost recovery, and value optimization across complex real estate portfolios.

The position oversees audit billing, project tracking, and cross-functional collaboration with global teams, delivering high-quality audits and client satisfaction. CPA certification and strong leadership are required.

Qualifications

• CPA required.
• Experience in lease audit, financial analysis, or real estate accounting.
• Strong leadership and team development capabilities.
• Experience managing billing, accounts receivable, and revenue tracking.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a high-performing Lease Audit Team across audits.
• Oversee end-to-end audit billing processes, invoicing, and collections.
• Own, maintain, and enhance the Lease Audit Playbook and SOPs.
• Collaborate with global teams (EMEA/APAC) for client engagements.
• Deliver timely client status reports and actionable insights.

Education

CPA certification

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

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: $ 119,000.00 - $140,000.00

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 [e-mail]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: "Cushman & Wakefield"