VP Accounting

Sunrise Senior Living•Mclean, VA

1d•$216,000 - $270,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President Accounting is the senior finance leader responsible for overseeing accounting and financial reporting for a senior living organization with a multi community footprint. This role oversees Financial Reporting & Accounting Policy, Owner and Joint Venture Reporting, Development Accounting, Corporate Accounting and Operations Accounting. This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant financial information across operating entities and varying real estate structures, while maintaining a strong internal control environment. The VP of Accounting reports to the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) and partners closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Financial Systems, FP&A, Asset Management, Operations, and Executive Leadership to support sustainable growth, regulatory compliance, and high quality resident care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (required)
CPA required
12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including senior leadership roles
Experience with complex entity structures, lease accounting, and multi‑location operations

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master’s degree preferred
Experience in senior living, healthcare services, hospitality, or real estate‑intensive, multi‑site operations strongly preferred
Public accounting experience (Big 4 or national firm) a plus
Familiarity with reimbursement, cost reporting, or regulated environments preferred
Experience with ERP systems and senior living or healthcare financial platforms

Responsibilities

Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for the Management Company (including our Insurance business) and multiple (250+) senior living communities, new development projects and other legal entities, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
Prepare and review financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including community‑level operating results and corporate consolidations.
Oversee accounting for industry‑specific transactions such as resident fees, development revenue, contract liabilities, and concessions.
Ensure accurate accounting for lease structures, management agreements, and real estate ownership (including REIT, joint ventures, not-for-profit bond financed, etc.).
Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures tailored to senior living operations.
Design and maintain a strong internal control framework across community and corporate operations.
Partner with the CAO and Internal Audit Department to support and drive SOC 1 compliance including walkthroughs, testing, remediation, and reporting. This includes coordination with external auditors and service auditors.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations impacting financial reporting (including healthcare‑related requirements).
Oversee 30+ annual external audits (JV, not-for-profit, individual community), regulatory reviews, and lender/bond-holder reporting.
Identify financial and operational risks specific to senior living and implement mitigation strategies.
Lead, mentor, and develop a geographically dispersed accounting team supporting the Management Company and multiple communities.
Establish clear accountability, standardized processes, and scalable systems across the organization.
Build strong partnerships with regional and community leadership to drive financial discipline and operational excellence.
Promote a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and service orientation aligned with the Sunrise Senior Living mission and resident care values.
Serve as a key advisor to the CAO, CFO, and other executive leadership on accounting, reporting, and control matters.
Support strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, new community openings, dispositions, restructurizations, and system implementations.
Partner with FP&A on budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis at both community and Management Company levels.