Vice President of Finance

Summary: Universal Development & Construction (UDC) is a real estate development company focusing mainly on multi-family real estate development in the southeastern United States. Partnering with UDC is a family of companies providing brokerage, property management, asset management, development, design, and construction services for multi-family, hospitality and commercial real estate. The company is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee and primarily operates in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Job Summary: This position is a senior leadership position with oversight for the real estate investment portfolio’s performance including financial results, cash flows, and investment returns all with an eye toward building long term value. Responsibilities also include portfolio analysis, financial strategies, tax returns and strategies, capital markets including bank and lender relationships, and entity/ownership level accounting responsibilities.

Leadership & Personal:

• Models the UDC mission and values, promoting the company at all times.

• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop staff with a focus on professional growth and development.
• Facilitate cross-company and cross-functional communication and cooperation.
• Proactively create and maintain positive relationships with external partners and other third parties.
• Develop strategies to improve management practices and introduce more efficiency in business operations.
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures in areas of responsibility.
• Maintain professional affiliations and enhance professional growth and development.
• Identify and leverage critical drivers to track and assess achievement of defined business goals and objectives.

• Analyze and monitor financial performance of each property in the portfolio from an operational and capital perspective to identify asset value enhancement opportunities.
• Track property metrics comparing to business plan budget, acquisition pro forma, effective rent and capital renovation goals and return on costs; identify trends, monitor success, and identify areas for improvement.
• Review financial performance returns, including IRR, equity multiples, cash returns and time-weighted returns.
• Oversee cash management and cash planning for improvements and distributions.
• Provide guidance and approval to property management in preparing operating and capital improvement budgets to meet strategic business plan objectives and ensure appropriate return on costs.
• Responsible for all aspects of tax including tax returns, tax review and tax planning.
• Provide technical guidance to construction, hospitality, and commercial and multi-family property management accounting teams as requested.

Capital Markets:

• Manage and oversee the capital market function including financing strategy, execution, and exploring various capital structures to build long-term value.
• Lead the structuring and execution of capital raising transactions across multiple structures and investor types.
• Manage the capital pipeline and ongoing capital relationships.
• Monitor loan compliance and covenants and monitor loan level reserves.
• Ensure compliance with investor and venture operating agreements and guidelines, management agreements, property purchase agreements and loan documentation.

Other:

• Understand general real estate trends and individual property markets/submarkets and apply to asset plans.
• Work closely with the development team in the pursuit, acquisition, planning, design and delivery of a variety of projects.
• Oversee contract compliance with respect to existing management & franchise agreements and work with General Counsel for future agreements. Review all proposed property-related contracts for business content as well as potential conflicts with existing obligations.
• Other duties as required.

Leadership Competencies:

• Able to make decisions focused on implementing practical, timely solutions.
• Self-assured with the confidence to purposely drive toward results while constantly problem-solving and engaging the commitment of others.
• A sense of urgency and the confidence to handle a variety of challenges,
• A full commitment to the success of the business and high standards of achievement.
• Able to lead and oversee to achieve results on steady and consistent basis. Able to express ideas and disagreements collaboratively, constructively resolve conflict, and encourage others to do the same.
• Communicate effectively orally or in writing with relevant stakeholders, internal and external, from a variety of backgrounds.
• Ethical and honest in all dealings and able to maintain confidentiality at a high level.
• Able to encourage and inspire others’ development and growth while also working to improve themselves.
• Projects a professional image in all aspects of work performance, which includes but is not limited to personal habits, demeanor, appearance, and attire.
• Meets company standards and values as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Demonstrates good communication skills to ensure positive communication with the community, agencies, owners, staff, and residents.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of financial and legal best practices and requirements with a proven ability to provide sound and ethical financial counsel to executive leadership.
• Thorough understanding of and personal involvement with systems and methodologies of finance and administration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or related field. Master’s degree preferred but not required.
• Strong background in finance and accounting.
• CPA preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive finance and accounting experience.
• Experience in multi-family housing highly preferred as well as experience with ground up development and/or hospitality and commercial/mixed use assets; investor relations experience a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move 25/50 pounds occasionally.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• This position requires physical presence at the specified location.

**NO RECRUITERS PLEASE**