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Full-Time

Vice President of Accounting Policy

Posted on 8/1/2024

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s

1,001-5,000 employees

Auction house for fine art

Financial Services
Consumer Goods

Compensation Overview

$175k - $225kAnnually

+ Discretionary Bonus + Competitive Benefits Package

Senior, Expert

New York, NY, USA

Category
Financial Accounting
Financial Analysis
Management Accounting
Accounting
Required Skills
SAP Products
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required;
  • 10+ years of accounting experience (minimum 5 years in public accounting, with experience outside of public is a plus);
  • CPA required, active license;
  • Strong knowledge of Financial Statement Reporting and US GAAP with a working knowledge of IFRS preferred
  • Ability to stay knowledgeable about, research and reach well-reasoned conclusions on technical accounting issues.
  • Forward thinking business professional with strong analytical and problem solving skills;
  • Strong attention to detail, demonstrated integrity and professional temperament;
  • Effective communicator who can distill down and present complex accounting topics to senior executives;
  • SAP and Hyperion/HFM experience preferred (if candidate does not have, must be willing to learn and immerse themselves within the systems). Experience with DFIN Donnelly financial reporting tool a plus;
  • Internal controls experience;
  • Strong project manager skills with ability to multitask and prioritize diverse tasks;
  • Ability to motivate teams to produce quality materials within tight timeframes;
  • Proven ability to perform under pressure and stress and to adjust plans to meet changing needs and requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Oversee the Company’s accounting policy function:
  • Identify, analyze, summary, document and conclude on the Company’s complex transactions from an accounting perspective, and communicate results to relevant stakeholders (including but not limited to on financings/debt, lease, revenue, investment and other complex/non-standard transactions) from both a US GAAP and IFRS perspective;
  • Monitor and evaluate new FASB accounting standards and lead implementation efforts on all new standards including fully analyzing potential implications, documenting conclusions and working with finance to implement technically sound and operationally practical accounting guidance;
  • Maintain and keep current the Company’s accounting policies and policy library;
  • Provide company trainings to staff members on key accounting policy topics, including but not limited to, debt transactions, leases, revenue recognition, etc;
  • Key technical accounting liaison to our RM Sotheby’s luxury automobiles subsidiary;
  • Partner with business units and departments across the organization, including Treasury, Tax, Legal, Financial Planning, Executive Management, and others.
  • Own various areas of the financial accounting, reporting and audit process, including, but not limited to:
  • Debt transactions;
  • CECL calculations;
  • Asset recoverability assessments;
  • Prepare and/or review various financial statement footnotes.
  • Lead the preparation of the quarterly unaudited and annual audited Property reports (including all financial statements and footnotes) for three or more legal entities, ensuring timely and quality preparation of all financial statements and audit requests;
  • Enhance Sotheby’s internal control procedures, including, but not limited to:
  • Reviewing and/or preparing monthly reconciliations in Blackline;
  • Review reconciliations prepared by Finance to ensure consistency in preparation of reconciliations across similar accounts, and advise reconciliation preparer/reviewer of potential improvements required;
  • Assist in preparation and review of the Sotheby’s cash flow statement process (individual and consolidated) and assist in efforts to make that process more efficient
  • Act as a key Corporate Controller’s Group financial reporting liaison on the Company’s implementation of new Environment, Social and Governance (“ESG”) standards, including the new European Union CSRD rules and California ESG regulations (working knowledge of ESG concepts preferred but not required)
  • Other special projects, as requested

Sotheby's is a global auction house that focuses on selling fine art, luxury items, and collectibles. It serves a variety of clients, including private collectors and investors, by organizing both live and online auctions, as well as offering private sales for direct transactions. Sotheby's makes money through commissions on sales and fees for appraisals. The company is distinguished by its expertise in valuing rare items and providing online estimates to potential sellers. Auctions are held in major cities worldwide, attracting a diverse audience of bidders. Sotheby's also curates special collections and offers a more private buying experience through its gallery network, catering to clients who value discretion.

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$4M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1744

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

3%

1 year growth

3%

2 year growth

3%
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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Sotheby's groundbreaking $700 million securitization backed by art-secured loans demonstrates their innovative approach to art financing.
  • The company's strategic partnerships, such as with Art UK, enhance their cultural influence and market reach.
  • Sotheby's ability to attract high-profile collections and items, like the Tamotsu Yagi Collection, underscores their strong market position and appeal to elite collectors.

What critics are saying

  • Recent layoffs in the UK and potential further cuts could indicate financial instability and affect employee morale.
  • The departure of key figures, such as Brooke Lampley, may lead to a loss of expertise and impact the company's leadership in certain art categories.

What makes Sotheby’s unique

  • Sotheby's dual approach of live and online auctions, along with private sales, allows them to cater to diverse client preferences, unlike competitors who may focus solely on one method.
  • Their global presence in major cities like New York, London, and Hong Kong ensures a competitive market and attracts a worldwide audience, setting them apart from regional auction houses.
  • Sotheby's expertise in valuing and selling rare and valuable items, combined with their online estimate service, provides a unique value proposition for potential sellers.
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