Job Information
Manulife Director, US Agriculture Finance in USA, United States
We are a leading financial services provider committed to making decisions easier and lives better for our customers and colleagues around the world. From our environmental initiatives to our community investments, we lead with values throughout our business. To help us stand out, we help you step up, because when colleagues are healthy, respected and meaningfully challenged, we all thrive. Discover how you can grow your career, make impact and drive real change with our Winning Team today.
Working Arrangement
Remote
Job Description
Manulife Investment Management Timber & Agriculture, Inc. (“MIMTA”) is a global investment management company specializing in managing timberland and agricultural portfolios on behalf of institutional investors. MIMTA manages over $15 billion in real assets across multiple geographies in six countries and three continents. MIMTA is part of Manulife Investment Management’s Private Markets platform.
Manulife Investment Management Agriculture Services, Inc. (“MAS”) is a farmland property management business with offices in Turlock, California and Savoy, Illinois. Its subsidiary, Manulife Investment Management Farmland Management Services, Inc. (“MFS”) is a direct operator of farms in several US states. Together, MAS and MFS provide farm management services for MIMTA’s agriculture clients as part of MIMTA’s integrated farmland investment management platform for institutional investors. MAS and MFS are subsidiaries of MIMTA. MAS, along with its subsidiaries, manages approximately 290,000 acres of farmland representing over $3.5 billion in client assets.
The Opportunity
The Director, US Agriculture Finance position is accountable for integral participation and management oversight of MAS & MFS finance and accounting functions, including controls, governance, and compliance. Specifically, the purpose of this role is to provide leadership, management and oversight of all finance and accounting responsibilities handling the day-to-day operations of MIMTA’s US agriculture client portfolio. These tasks are to be performed in a collaborative team environment involving the MAS/MFS staff and representatives of various other partner groups.
The Director will support the agriculture business, including the Head of North American Operations, the farm operations management teams, Portfolio Management & Client Services, Client Reporting and Business Development teams, among others. This is a dynamic leadership role with management responsibility for a growing team of professionals delivering timely and accurate financial data to a variety of partners within an expanding investment platform and across a large matrix organization.
Responsibilities
Provide management direction, oversight, and leadership for MAS’s US agriculture property management finance operations ensuring timely and accurate completion of key results to meet various client contractual and reporting obligations.
Lead a team of 10-12 professionals while creating an engaged and collaborative work environment ensuring proper training, development, mentoring and healthy work-life balance.
Manage efforts of farmland accounting to include G/L maintenance, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections, taxes, and cash management.
Working with operations staff and Portfolio Management, administer the annual client budgeting, reforecasting and long-term planning process for client properties to ensure timely and accurate budget data.
Provide frequent reforecasts of client operating results and cash flow expectations.
In conjunction with MAS/MFS field operations and the Boston office, develop, track and reconcile annual client budgets.
Establishing and ensuring leading practices in areas of accounting policies and procedures, agriculture specific accounting guidance, cash management, financial reporting, as well as operational procedures.
Ensure accounting operations are adhering to the requirements of the various client property management and investment management agreements.
Lead accounting efforts to provide agriculture operations and other key collaborators with information relative to their respective business enabling better property management for both direct farming operations and tenant lease management.
Collaborate with various functional teams across a matrix organization to ensure property operations are functioning following the guidelines of organizational goals and core company values. This includes groups such as legal, human resources, IT, risk management, internal audit among others.
Oversight and management of budget for MAS accounting cost center to ensure the business meets its profitability goals.
Implement continual improvement processes by identifying superior methods in processes and procedures within the teams or externally and implementing within those teams.
Lead efforts to ensure proper control environment is maintained to ensure both client and corporate assets are protected from loss.
Identify areas of key business risk and implement processes to ensure key risks are mitigated.
Guide/support the annual independent audits and other compliance and regulatory audits. Ensure financial records are maintained in accordance with federal, state and local laws as well as local GAAP/IFRS and, as needed, in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley financial reporting and internal controls.
Identify systems and reporting tool gaps and collaborate with internal groups to develop and implement solutions that provide for efficient information flows and single source of truth for financial and non-financial data.
Work with the leadership team to align the finance function with the company’s long-term strategic plan.
Working with Client Reporting team, assist with certain aspects of tax and regulatory compliance.
As needed, provide assistance and support for certain areas of asset management including acquisitions, dispositions, hold/sell analysis, risk management, debt service, and investment strategy.
What are we looking for
Strong leadership skills with the capability to inspire and empower staff for success. Previous experience leading remote teams of 8+ staff preferred.
Proven ability to flex and adapt to changing requirements and priorities, working collaboratively with others to build relationships across different groups and team members, achieving goals and strategies.
Proven ability to lead through change including system implementation projects.
Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains general ledger accounting system experience. Prophix reporting software and/or Esker AP experience is a plus.
Experience with accounting and financial systems in sophisticated organizations, demonstrating proven success as a financial leader.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, financial and investment management, debt financing, cash flow management, investment strategies, and accounting information systems.
Proficient in the areas of budgeting, internal controls, process and procedure, credit and collection, general ledger maintenance, employee relations, and agriculture accounting, federal and state tax accounting and generally accepted accounting principles.
A strong quantitative and analytic approach to building business strategies and establishing measurement systems to monitor growth, efficiency and profitability.
Master’s degree in accounting and 10+ years’ experience in accounting related fields. Experience in an agricultural related industry is preferred.
CPA or equivalent credentials are desirable.
A strong leader and confident listener and communicator who brings integrity, a calm presence, patience and the ability to build consensus and engender trust.
Organized, self-motivated and able to multitask in a fast paced and dynamic work environment, and work with minimal direct supervision.
Vision, respect for and understanding of mission-driven institutions.
Excellent interpersonal skills, along with a sense of humor
Work well with others, including all employees, management, vendors and lawyers.
Identify and evaluate potential vendors, negotiate contracts and agreements, and address and resolve vendor-related issues in a timely and efficient manner.
What can we offer you?
A competitive salary and benefits packages.
A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
A focus on growing your career path with us.
Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
Professional development and leadership opportunities.
Our commitment to you
Values-first culture We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
Boundless opportunity! We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career
Continuous innovation We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
Championing Corporate Citizenship We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.
#LI-JH-MIMTA
About Manulife and John Hancock
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Asia, Canada, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. At the end of 2022, we had $1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, including total invested assets of $0.4 trillion (US $0.3 trillion), and segregated funds net assets of $0.3 trillion (US$0.3 trillion). We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.
Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer
At Manulife /John Hancock , we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour , ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.
It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process . All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies . To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact .
Salary & Benefits
The annual base salary for this role is listed below.
Primary Location
USA, Washington - Full Time Remote
Salary range is expected to be between
$114,975.00 USD - $206,955.00 USD
If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.
Manulife/John Hancock offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.
Company: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)