Lead Accountant - Real Estate Development

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals.

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In 1997, a coalition of 19 U.S. governors founded Western Governors University with a singular vision: to make higher education more accessible by offering full degree programs online. Starting small, we quickly expanded. Today, we’re one of the largest accredited online universities in the U.S.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Grade:
Professional 311 Pay Range: $ - $

The Lead Accountant, Real Estate Development is the accounting and financial-controls lead for WGU's large-scale construction and development program, including the new headquarters campus. This senior individual contributor owns construction draw accounting, project cost verification, reconciliations, close and capitalization support, control documentation, and audit readiness. The role partners with Development, Project Controls, Finance, Procurement, Treasury, Legal, contractors, architects, and external reviewers to protect the integrity of project financial records and payments.

• Design and operate project accounting procedures and controls, including project and cost-code setup, contract and commitment records, change-order controls, and documentation standards; lead related process, system, and reporting improvements.
• Review contractor pay applications against contracts and approved schedules of values; validate work completed, retainage, prior payments, approved changes, cost coding, calculations, and supporting documentation.
• Confirm required lien waivers or releases, certifications, and other payment conditions are complete; investigate exceptions and recommend draw or payment packages for approval under WGU's delegated-authority framework.
• Record and reconcile project costs, commitments, accruals, accounts payable, and funding activity; coordinate accurate and timely month-end and year-end close.
• Maintain construction-in-progress records and support capitalization, placed-in-service determinations, asset transfers, and related accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP and WGU policy.
• Reconcile accounting actuals and commitments to project-controls records and finance forecasts; identify and communicate variances, emerging exposures, and data-quality issues.
• Support debt or bond draws, incentive and grant documentation, covenant reporting, audits, and other compliance requirements with complete, audit-ready records; provide functional guidance and coordinate external accounting or draw-review resources.

Required CPA or MAcc, or equivalent relevant experience under WGU policy. Eight or more years of progressive accounting, construction accounting, or project accounting experience, including at least three years supporting construction draws, pay applications, or complex capital projects. Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, construction-in-progress and fixed-asset accounting, month-end close, reconciliations, and internal controls. Working knowledge of construction contracts,…