*Preference to candidates in Minnesota.

Job Overview: 
Negotiates the real estate and personal property valuation of the Company, its affiliates and professional service customers. Minimizes corporate property tax liability through sound application of tax laws and regulations.  Reviews real estate tax payments and provides budgeting guidance to business units.  Identifies and negotiates federal, state and local credits and incentives.

What does it mean to be part of our Finance/Accounting Team? 
A role on our Finance and Accounting team involves helping UNFI maintain and grow its financial health as we continue to transform and scale. We need to ensure that our financial analysis and statements revolve around constant communication with our partners within the organization as well as outside to provide the most current statistics for our business health. By being attentive to details, trends, and inefficiencies, and communicating with our teams, you’ll be key to our success and continued growth as North America’s premier grocery wholesaler.  

Job Responsibilities: 

• Drive lower assessed property values through negotiations and by working directly with internal counsel, outside consultants and attorneys to ensure real estate and personal property is valued accurately.
• Lead the property tax compliance for personal property tax reporting/payments and real estate tax payments to ensure all reports and payments are filed accurately and timely.
• Actively research and pursue tax credits and incentives (federal, state, and local) on current portfolio of properties and anticipated purchase/lease of properties. Ensure compliance with credits and incentives agreements to ensure they are fully realized.
• Ensure as the final reviewer fixed assets are properly classified and reported on personal property renditions to ensure fair assessments are achieved.
• Review all personal property tax returns and payments for accuracy.  If any inaccuracies exist, then this role would send back to the preparer to investigate/correct.
• Maintain expertise in personal property tax law (both proposed and enacted) and reporting requirements by attending training and continuously reading research material.  Expected to also share relevant research with the team either via e-mail or team meeting discussions.
• Identify and calculate any potential transfer tax on property transfers.  Lead efforts to minimize potential transfer tax by partnering with Legal on purchase/sale language.
• Partner with legal team for acquisitions, divestitures, and lease terminations to ensure accurate property tax prorations on settlement statements.
• Resolve property tax-related conflicts on all landlord disputes to ensure accurate lease interpretation and accurate liabilities.
• Review real estate payments to ensure values are stated correctly and rates applied appropriately.
• Provide budget guidance for real estate taxes to business groups and finance.
• Acts as primary liaison between different groups (finance, accounting, real estate, income tax, indirect tax) to ensure property taxes are accurately recorded.
• Provide excellent customer service to Transition and Professional Service clients by responding timely to requests for information.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Director Tax.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
   

Job Requirements: 
Education/ Certifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field.

Experience: 

• Previous extensive real estate experience required (5-10 years), preferable with valuation experience.
• Must have prior advanced experience with personal computer spreadsheets, database, and document preparation applications.
• Previous supervisory experience required.

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.  Must be able to prepare researched documentation to substantiate a position and present it in an appropriate manner to outside parties.
• General knowledge of legal and lease applications.
• Possess ability to develop and maintain contacts/relationships throughout enterprise to achieve desired results.
• Detail-oriented, able to work on competing priorities, and must thrive in a fast-paced work environment.
• A high degree of initiative and self-motivation.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.
   

Work Environment: 

• Remote Role: This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
• Travel (minor): This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

Physical Environment/Demands: 
Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment. 
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday. 
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

About UNFI: We are North America’s premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more: Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI

Benefits: Competitive 401k, Flexible PTO plan, Remote, Health benefits – first of the month following 30 days of employment, mentorship program/developmental opportunities, other benefits applicable to specific role.