Job Summary
The Director, Accounting Policy will be responsible for the interpretation of accounting policies and practices set forth by regulatory agencies and standard setters throughout the world and the application of those policies and practices to MVW. The Director, Accounting Policy will be responsible for continuous monitoring of emerging financial, accounting and reporting issues and preparing preliminary conclusions on the impacts to MVW. This position will work in collaboration with the Vice President, Financial Reporting, in assessing such issues, in order to determine the potential and eventual impacts on MVW’s operations, as well as its internal and external reporting. The Director, Accounting Policy will participate in updating members of senior management and key stakeholder groups on emerging accounting issues and the potential impacts to MVW. The Director, Accounting Policy, will work with various departments within the organization to understand the nature of proposed transactions, identify accounting issues and present preliminary accounting conclusions. The Director, Accounting Policy will draft new and amended accounting policies for review and approval by the Vice President, Financial Reporting and the Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer. Responsibilities will be performed under the supervision of the Vice President, Financial Reporting when the transactions and issues are complex in nature. The Director, Accounting Policy is highly visible to executive management and works closely with members of senior management. The Director, Accounting Policy, is expected to work on developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholder groups to ensure a free flow of communication and collaboration to ensure the timely exchange of accurate information.
Expected Contributions
- Leads consultation on business transactions (e.g., mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, asset sales and leases, entity structuring) by identifying and addressing accounting policy and reporting issues and opportunities while providing support to the Vice President, Financial Reporting (e.g., leads financial accounting due diligence efforts; applies complex accounting and reporting concepts to deal structures such that they minimize risk and maximize return for the enterprise).
- Researches complex technical accounting literature and applies technical standards to complex business issues and transactions. Leads/Facilitates discussions with external auditors and internal finance and accounting team members, including the creation of technical accounting memos, as well as contemporaneous documentation of decisions reached, and the relevant accounting guidance used in those assessments. In addition, partners with individual process owners to implement new requirements throughout the business.
- Provides accounting conclusions on various matters identified within the Accounting Policy group and others within and associated with MVW, such as the external auditors. When issues and transactions are complex in nature, perform such duties under the direct supervision of the Vice President, Financial Reporting by performing technical research, formulating initial conclusions and drafting written communication of the issues, research performed, and conclusions reached.
- Participates in the operationalization of recently issued accounting guidance by working with senior leaders of functional areas impacted (Marketing and Sales, Operations, Mortgage Bank, Treasury) to interpret its requirements and ensure compliance while minimizing disruption of day to day operations.
- Stays abreast of existing and emerging financial accounting and reporting principles, assessing their applicability to MVW and proactively advising the Vice President, Financial Reporting, and other stakeholders as necessary. Provides recommendations as to proposed accounting treatment supported by authoritative accounting guidance.
- Contributes to the development of discipline and enterprise policies that facilitate a strong internal control environment.
- Ensures that senior management is updated on current / pending changes to accounting policies. Establishes and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with the finance and accounting leadership team and other internal stakeholder groups to understand the business and ensure timely exchange of information.
- Facilitates agreement on accounting conclusions with Vice President, Financial Reporting and the external auditors with a focus on bringing issues to conclusion in a timely manner.
- Collaborates in implementing new accounting pronouncements, as requested by the Vice President, Financial Reporting.
- In addition to performance of the essential functions above, the Director, Accounting Policy may be required to perform a combination of supportive functions on an as needed basis for special projects such as debt structuring.
- Leads documentation of quarterly reporting matters, (e.g., preparation of accounting memos specific to transactions occurring in the relevant quarter, preparation of disclosures for new and future accounting standards, review of disclosure checklist) as requested by the Vice President, Financial Reporting.
- Assists the AVP, SEC Reporting with XBRL tagging, as needed.
- Provides expert, proactive consultation to the members of internal stakeholder groups on financial data interpretation and MVW’s accounting policies.
- Establishes and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholder groups to understand the business and ensure timely and accurate exchange of information.
- Provides ongoing guidance concerning issues related to areas of responsibility.
Candidate Profile
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or related discipline required.
- MBA or Master of Science Degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline preferred.
- CPA license required.
Experience:
- 7+ years professional accounting experience, including work experience similar to that described in this job specification with a large, accelerated SEC registrant, and/or public accounting experience.
- Public accounting experience to include serving large, publicly traded companies.
- Experience analyzing and recommending appropriate strategies addressing technical accounting issues of complex real estate, joint venture, merger & acquisition, disposition and tax transactions.
- Lodging / timeshare / hospitality industry experience preferred.
- Thorough knowledge of audit procedures, including audit planning techniques and methods used to examine, verify, and analyze financial and operating records, statements, and reports.
- History of consistently delivering business results.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Expert knowledge in generally accepted accounting principles and controls.
- Demonstrated expertise in appropriate accounting treatment and reporting policies of routine and complex financial transactions.
- Strong business acumen and service orientation.
- Able to consistently make decisions in a timely manner sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure. Comfortable with respectfully challenging organizational norms and accepted thinking to improve effectiveness.
- Able to develop and maintain effective relationships with a broad group of stakeholders to foster trust and influence key decisions.
- Exceptional communication skills; creates an atmosphere in which timely information flows smoothly through the organization.
- Able to persuasively “sell” ideas, settle differences and win concessions without damaging relationships; can be both direct and forceful while remaining diplomatic and respectful.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills; able to take large volumes of complex information and present it in a clear and concise manner to senior management, able to use data and a cogent problem-solving methodology in decision making and impact assessment.
- Strong business performance management skills - able to deploy and manage resources (use data to systemically monitor the progress of work against schedules, budgets, and quality standards) to achieve/exceed objectives in a dynamic operating environment.
- Able to integrate and balance priorities, work activities and resources for the benefit of multiple key stakeholders.
- Able to work in a matrix organization, partnering with resources to achieve results through others.
- Active learner -- able to enhance personal, professional, and business growth through new knowledge and experiences; pushes the organization to learn from other industries’ standards and practices.
Attributes:
- Relationship builder; networker.
- Results oriented; consistently delivers timely and accurate results under difficult conditions and demonstrates balanced judgment under pressure.
- Persistent; drives ideas.
- Meticulous and detailed oriented.
- Collaborative; self-directed team player.
- Persuasive; able to influence with effective communication (both verbal and written).
- Exhibits leadership presence, ability to establish credibility necessary to influence at all organizational levels and give project credibility.
- Trustworthy with strong business integrity and ability to hold sensitive information in confidence.
- Demonstrates sound organizational and prioritization skills; high performance levels under tight deadlines and/or while managing multiple priorities at any given point in time.
- Comfortable with complexity, ambiguity and changing priorities.
- Innovative thinker and agile learner; able to readily apply past learnings in new situations.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture.
