Accountant, Incentive Compensation

About the role

At Northmarq, you can be part of something special. Northmarq is a unique capital markets resource for commercial real estate investors, providing our clients access to experts in debt, equity, investment sales, loan servicing, and fund management. We offer you a career path with best-in-class training, and we foster inclusive teams committed to collaboration, mentoring, and growth. At Northmarq, we will help you unlock your potential - whether you are an industry veteran or you're just getting started. Your new career is waiting. Start something special today. This role supports a flexible schedule that prioritizes in-office teamwork, with flexibility for remote work when appropriate. Northmarq was voted by Real Estate Forum as one of The Best Places to Work in Commercial Real Estate.

Key facts

What you'll do

Calculate incentives for multiple business lines and compensation plans in the compensation calculation platform, taking ownership of the end-to-end process and becoming a trusted expert in both the technical and business aspects of the system.

Thoroughly read, interpret, and understand plan documents, extracting and documenting key data points to ensure accurate application of compensation rules and assumptions.

Ensure compensation-related and benefits accruals and expense entries are recorded accurately and completely, adhering strictly to established accounting policies and internal controls.

Reconcile supporting schedules for compensation-related and benefits-related accruals, expenses, and related accounts, identifying discrepancies and proactively researching root causes to drive timely and effective solutions.

Collaborate with HR and Business Operations to resolve payroll, incentive, and plan-related inquiries, escalating urgent or higher-risk situations to Finance & Accounting leadership in a timely manner.

Process payroll and bonus-related wire instructions with precision, verifying details and maintaining strict confidentiality throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Continuously review processes for improvement and efficiency gains, proposing and implementing enhancements that increase accuracy and reduce manual effort.

Provide support for budgeting and forecasting processes, as well as specialized assistance to the Finance & Accounting team on ad-hoc analyses and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Maintain compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements, ensuring all activities related to incentive compensation are handled with integrity and confidentiality.

Serve as a point of contact for internal stakeholders, responding to questions and providing clear, professional guidance to support their compensation-related needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required for this role.

Possess 2+ years of relevant accounting or finance experience, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred understanding of commercial real estate and mortgage banking concepts to better align with client and business needs.

Demonstrate strong attention to detail and accuracy in all work products, with a proven track record of minimizing errors and ensuring thoroughness.

Show technical ability to navigate, maintain, and update moderately advanced spreadsheets and systems, including learning new platforms as needed.

Proactively identify, research, and solve problems, taking initiative when encountering obstacles or process gaps.

Communicate exceptionally with both internal and external customers, using clear, professional language in written and verbal interactions.

Commit to providing outstanding customer service while consistently maintaining company compliance and effective risk mitigation practices.

Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, adhering to all data security protocols and privacy standards.

Cultivate a curious, eager-to-learn mindset, showing willingness to support cross-functional projects and adapt to evolving responsibilities.

Embrace a continuous improvement mindset, regularly seeking efficiency opportunities and contributing ideas that enhance team performance.

Nice to have

Understanding of incentive compensation specific to commercial real estate and mortgage banking environments.

Experience with similar compensation calculation platforms or systems that manage variable pay structures.

Familiarity with payroll processing and payroll-related reconciliations within a corporate finance setting.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The role supports a flexible schedule that prioritizes in-office teamwork, with flexibility for remote work when appropriate. Employment is at-will. Northmarq offers a highly competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401K match and an annual discretionary contribution based on business performance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance, education assistance, volunteer paid time off, charitable contribution match and so much more! Northmarq carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate's education, training, and experience. The salary range for the Accountant, Incentive Compensation position is $65,000.00 to $85,000.00 annually. This range is a good faith estimate and the actual compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.