Senior Director, Centralized Services

Job Title : Senior Director, Centralized Services

Department : Property Accounting

Reports to : Vice President, Property Accounting

Location : Denver, CO (On-site / Hybrid)

Salary Range :Pursuant to state regulations, the salary range is $155,000-$185,000 plus bonus potential. ​Eligible to participate in the company benefits plan. We offer health, vision, dental, and pet insurance. We offer a 401(k) retirement plan, student loan assistance, licensing and continuing education reimbursement, parental leave, and housing allowances or gifts.

Company Overview

Cardinal Group is a fully integrated real estate firm specializing in the investment, development, and management of multifamily and student housing communities. Our primary focus is to create a "Best in Class" experience for our residents and our team members. We are looking for a dynamic, technology-forward leader to join our Property Accounting team and drive the success and modernization of our centralized services division.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Centralized Services is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and operational execution of our shared services teams, including Centralized Accounting Services (CAS), Accounts Payable (AP), and Cash Management. This individual will lead the transformation and optimization of these functions, driving efficiency, accuracy, and best-in-class service delivery across the organization. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a proven track record of building and scaling shared service operations in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will be an expert in the Entrata platform with a proven track record of designing, implementing, and leading AI-driven accounting workflows, automated OCR billing, and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) initiatives to build a highly scalable, modern shared-services operation.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide strategic leadership and direction to the CAS, Accounts Payable, and Cash Management teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, automation, and accountability.

- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the centralized teams to ensure timely and accurate completion of all tasks in accordance with service level agreements (SLAs).

- Centralized Accounting Services (CAS): Lead the team responsible for property-level accounts receivable, resident move-outs, collections, evictions, past resident inquiries, and month-end reporting.

- Accounts Payable (AP): Build and direct the new AP vertical responsible for invoice entry, automated invoice routing, invoice research, vendor inquiries, and vendor account reconciliations.

- Cash Management: Build and manage the new Cash Management vertical focused on daily and monthly bank reconciliations,security deposit true-ups, p-card (purchase card) entries, cash workbooks, and treasury-related tasks.

- AI & Automation Leadership: Architect and execute technology roadmaps to automate manual tasks within the department, utilizing AI-driven document processing, OCR systems, automated bank feeds, and intelligent reconciliation tools .

- Drive the adoption of new technologies and automation to streamline processes and improve operational effectiveness.

- Develop and implement standardized policies, procedures, and SLAs to enhance processing speeds and ensure internal control compliance across all managed functions.

- Recruit, train, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, including Directors, Managers, and individual contributors.

- Collaborate with other departments, including Property Accounting, Treasury, and Operations, to ensure seamless integration and support for business objectives.

- Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs)—including automation rates, invoice cycle times, and reconciliation accuracy—to senior leadership.

Qualifications

- Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. CPA or MBA is highly preferred.

- 10+ years of progressive experience in accounting or finance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing shared services or centralized accounting operations.

- Proven track record of successfully championing and deploying AI, RPA, or advanced software automation initiatives within an accounting or shared services environment.

- Experience in the real estate, property management, or related multifamily industry is strongly preferred.

- Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate multi-tiered teams (including directing other management-level reports).

- Demonstrated experience in process improvement, change management, and project management.

- Strong understanding of GAAP and internal controls.

- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.

- Proficiency with property management software (e.g., Entrata, RealPage, Yardi) and other accounting systems