Director, Accounting Policy

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 perfor