Corporate Accountant

City San Mateo State California Job Location San Mateo Corp Office Position Type Regular Ready to make a tangible impact on a multi-billion dollar real estate portfolio? We are looking for a sharp, collaborative Corporate Accountant to drive our month-end operations, unlock financial insights, and play a pivotal role on our corporate accounting team. WHAT YOU WILL DO: General Responsibilities: Drive the monthly close process by preparing timely journal entries and reconciliations. Provide critical financial insights through thorough income statement and balance sheet fluctuation analysis. Manage payroll accounting activities and ensure accurate reporting. Own and streamline various balance sheet reconciliations. Partner with Treasury to maintain and optimize corporate debt activities. Collaborate across Corporate Accounting, Property Accounting, and Property Managers to align bank reconciliations and deposit tracking. Communicate effectively with internal and external partners to keep financial operations moving smoothly. Champion process improvements, including upgrading reconciliation schedules for maximum efficiency. Detailed Responsibilities: Act as the central liaison between banks, property teams, and accountants to resolve complex bank reconciliation items. Manage debt schedules, ensuring interest payments are made on time and building quarterly debt logs to guarantee accurate interest accruals. Keep the month-end close schedule on track and moving efficiently. Perform comprehensive reconciliations across payroll, accrued liabilities, cash, investments, debt, prepaids, section 125, notes receivable, and equity. Manage daily cash visibility by clearing deposits and checks within Yardi Systems. Maintain and oversee the daily Corporate and REIT consolidated cashbook. Take full ownership of the cashbook lifecycle, from initial data entry and researching unidentified deposits to final month-end closing. Collaborate with the Corporate Accounting team to reconcile and optimize the purchasing card program (P-Card) liability account. Prepare impactful month-end closing journal entries and supporting work papers. Play a key role in quarterly reviews and annual audits by compiling supporting schedules, financial reports, and audit packages. Independently research financial discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement proactive corrective actions. Collaborate with the broader accounting team, providing backup support and partnering on special initiatives. Engage in strategic accounting projects and other duties as assigned to support company growth. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) from a four-year college or university in Accounting, Finance or related field. 3+ years of accounting experience or training is recommended. Must be self-directed, able to work independently and work in a team-oriented environment. Excellent analytical abilities and spreadsheet skills. Attention to detail and accuracy in daily routines is critical. High degree of integrity and honesty. Strong Microsoft Excel and Word skills. Experience with Yardi software and FloQast is preferred. Organizational skills and attention to detail to maintain organized and complete documentation and records. WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES: Work is primarily conducted in an office setting. Requires sitting at a desk or workstation for extended periods. Involves the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers. Operates in a fast-paced work setting. Requires the ability to multitask and adapt quickly to changing priorities. May involve tight deadlines and high-energy work situations. Requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods. Minimal physical effort in the day-to-day tasks. The position includes in-person work requirements consistent with the hybrid policy located at Essex's corporate offices in Woodland Hills, Irvine, Bellevue or San Mateo. The hybrid policy is subject to change at Essex’s sole discretion. This role does not require any travel; work is primarily conducted at the office. WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE: Ability to comprehend and interpret instructions, short correspondence, and ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, co-workers, and/or supervisor. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret documents. Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations. Requires intermediate analytical and quantitative skills. Decisions made with thorough knowledge of procedures and company policies to achieve set results and deadlines. Responsible for setting own project deadlines. Errors in judgment may cause short-term impact to co-workers and supervisor. All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%. Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career. New hires generally start between $78,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs. This role is also eligible to participate in Essex’s discretionary Annual Bonus program that is commensurate with the level of the position. Come build a career with us! Essex Property Trust is an S&P 500 company and a proven leader in West Coast apartments. We are committed to the vibrant communities in which we operate, and we continually push to innovate, improve, and add value to the lives of our residents, associates, and shareholders. At Essex, we believe a company focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is the key driver of innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive benefits, opportunities to grow your career, and a positive workplace environment in which every employee is empowered to provide a meaningful contribution to our Company’s mission. All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%.