Job Details

At Vanderbilt Mortgage, we believe homeownership makes lives better. For over 50 years, we've been committed to making homeownership more attainable for families across the country by providing mortgage solutions that unlock the freedom of home. As a national housing lender, we specialize in financing new and pre-owned manufactured and modular homes. With a diverse range of loan products, a reputation for world-class customer service and a coast-to-coast presence, Vanderbilt continues to be a leader in the industry. Our strength is our people-which is why we prioritize investing in our Team Members through opportunities for growth, a healthy work-life balance, and meaningful recognition of their contributions. Whether just starting out or bringing years of experience, Vanderbilt empowers our Team Members with the tools and training to build a successful career and reach their full potential.

POSITION TITLE: Lead Accountant - Payroll GL (Non - LO - No Consumer Contact

JOB STATUS: Full-Time/Salary

DEPARTMENT: Accounting & Finance

REPORTS TO: Sr. Accounting Manager

TRAVEL REQUIRED: None

JOB SUMMARY

The Lead Accountant - Payroll Reconciliations is responsible for supervising and supporting the Payroll Reconciliations team by completing high level analysis, reconciliations, audits, and assisting in research. This position reports to the VMF Senior Accounting Manager and communicates with a variety of departments to problem solve and improve processes. This position is expected to have a thorough understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Lead Accountant - Payroll Reconciliations has a high level of secure accesses to business unit wide pay data and is expected to exhibit the highest level of discretion.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Team Leadership

• Leads team in personal development goals by meeting biweekly with team accountants to review short term goals and help ensure that team members are on track to meet long term goals.
  • Trains various VMF departments on the use of custom-built bonus submission templates.
• Participates in development opportunities to continually improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Develops other Payroll Reconciliations accountants by providing training and clear expectations on assigned tasks.
• Creates and review Payroll Reconciliations team procedures and job aids to provide complete and accurate documentation of department functions.
• Builds mutually beneficial relationships with research partners inside and outside of the Accounting department.
• Manages communication between general ledger and payroll teams on the management of cost center mapping, allocations, payroll, bonusing, and other confidential pay related subject matter inquiries for the company.
• Manages resolution of all payroll related questions between Payroll Reconciliations team and Budget and Management Reporting team.

Department Bonus Review and Automation

• Analyzes and processes bonus submissions for payments ensuring accuracy and adherence to stated compensation guidelines, VMF and Silverton team members receive proper bonus compensation, and audit backup is sufficient and available as needed.
• Leads executive bonusing review and payment submission. This includes but is not limited to compiling various metric result measures, applying pay matrix logic, recommending bonus results for approval by senior management, and processing payment requests.
• Reviews audit of bonus payments submitted to Payroll to confirm accurate team member payments.
• Creates and updates custom VMF and Silverton department bonus templates ensuring all proper documentation and audit backup is compiled and stored. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Identifying automation improvements,
  • Reviewing bonus criteria with department leadership to ensure full understanding of expected outcomes,
  • Creating or updating custom Excel sheets with advanced functions and calculations to improve efficiencies,

• Performs second review of bonus submissions initially reviewed by Intermediate Accountants to ensure accuracy, coaches Intermediate accountants as needed in bonus review best practices.

Reconciliation and Review Tasks

• Supervises calculation of Loan Officer compensation for VMF and Silverton to ensure compliance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) compensation guidelines including but not limited to:
  • Reviewing signed agreements,
  • Testing result metrics and final payments to ensure all compensation calculations were completed accurately,
  • Resolving any deviations
  • Issuing an audit report for Credit, Compliance Audit, and Accounting manager review.
• Reconciles or reviews weekly Workday payroll reports with general ledger (GL) activity to ensure payroll posted as expected and resolves all deviations accurately.
• Analyzes payroll general ledger account activity to ensure complete and correct financial statements.
• Guides review of salary account activity for preparation of Schedule D and H of the quarterly Mortgage Banker Financial Reporting Form (MBFRF) and provides to Financial Accounting team.
• Provides requested feedback on payroll account fluctuations to other accounting teams, department leaders, and senior management as needed.
• Reviews flux notes for Payroll general ledger accounts for quarterly GL review prepared by Senior and Intermediate Accountants.
• Reviews and provides feedback as needed on monthly payroll liability reconciliations created by Intermediate Accountants.
• Reviews, at a high level, Workday and Compensafe reports utilized in the creation of journal entries to ensure accuracy. This may include guiding Senior Accountant in more strenuous analysis when warranted.

Monthly Close Processes

• Reviews and approves monthly journal entries for VMF and Silverton, these journals include but are not limited to,
  • paid time off, salary, TECH, severance, Teamshare bonus, group bonus, and 401K accruals
  • deduction reclasses,
  • payroll tax,
  • advance balance true ups.
• Reviews monthly bonus accrual file and collaborates with management to ensure all monthly, quarterly, and yearly accruals needed are booked accurately.
• Reviews and approves miscellaneous journal entries completed by Payroll Reconciliations team monthly.
• Reviews the summary and analysis of Silverton medical deductions for reclass to VMF.
• Reviews the Silverton Compensafe advance balance report analysis compiled by the Senior Accountant and posts the associated journal entry.
• Reviews all Loan Officer compensation audits prior to issuance to ensure accuracy and continuity.

HR/Personnel Responsibilities

• Partners with manager to conduct interviews, makes offers, hires, and onboards new team members.

• Coaches and develops team while providing team building opportunities for the overall success of the Accounting & Finance department.
• Develops team leads by providing constructive feedback, and coaching opportunities to ensure the team finds success at a high level.
• Counsels team members regarding performance and completes Performance Reviews on an annual basis.
• Creates and maintains job descriptions.
• Evaluates compensation plans and incentive-based plans.

Approval/Sign-off/Decision Making

• Decisions absence requests as well as computer access requests such as requests for equipment, systems, files, SharePoint sites, websites, etc. necessary to complete audit functions.
• Reviews and authorizes company documents in association with compliance audit.
• Exhibits high level of judgment and discretion.
• Makes decisions for the Compliance Audit department.
• Understands when to escalate business decisions to executive leadership.

Other duties as assigned

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all the functions that a team member and other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required, advanced degree and/or professional certification is a plus.
• 4-6 years' experience in Accounting or related field required.
• Querying skills, knowledge of Sequel ViewPoint, Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW), AS400, Accounting related Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills, including utilization of advanced and nested functions.
• Open to receiving and implementing feedback.
• Great attention to detail, organizational and analytical skills, and excellent time management.
• Capable of gathering facts accurately, analyze causes, evaluate alternate solutions, and arrive at sound conclusions on action to be taken.
• Appropriate sense of urgency and follow-up in various situations.
• Experience managing multiple and/or conflicting responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently via phone, email, and person to person.
• Advanced knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Be a quality minded motivated self-starter, willing to learn, hardworking, determined, and assertive.
• Ability to lead in a team environment.
• Capable of and excited to embrace change culture.
• Capable of fostering and maintaining strong inter-department relationships.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time.
• Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a telephone, calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Regular communication methods include phone, email, and person to person. Must be able to exchange accurate information at all times.
• Ability to identify and assess account status and determine appropriate process.
• Constantly works in an indoor temperature controlled, sealed window office environment.

BENEFITS:

• Medical and Dental Plan with Prescription Coverage and Vision.
• Competitive benefits including 401(K) includes 100% company match of the first 4%.
• Paid time off days (PTO), maternity/paternity leave, and holidays.
• Community involvement including Volunteer Paid Time Off (VTO).
• Tuition Assistance for your first degree
• Enjoy coming "home" to our brand new, state-of-the-art Home Office equipped with onsite fitness facility with full gym, workout classes, volleyball and basketball courts, ping-pong, disc golf course, and onsite restaurant.
• Wellness programs that focus on emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, physical, and financial well-being.
• Collaborative and energetic work environment.
• Professional development and promotional opportunities.
• Competitive bonus programs.

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

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