Title:  Racetrack Settlements Accounting Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Racetrack Settlements Accounting Manager provides leadership to a team of two analysts who are responsible for settling the pari-mutuel wagering activities for Churchill Downs Inc., its subsidiaries and third-party racetrack customers.  The Settlements Manager will lead a team of analysts in conducting account research and analysis, as it pertains to pari-mutuel settlements, perform month end close duties, oversee invoicing, processing of cash receipts and payments, prepare journal entries, and converse frequently with third party pari-mutuel settlement agents for other racetracks to reconcile balances due / owed.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Manage two direct reports responsible for settling the pari-mutuel settlement activities for Churchill Downs Inc., its subsidiaries and third party racetrack customers in a timely and accurate manner. 
•    Develop more efficient procedures / use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
•    Communicate on an ongoing basis with third party racetracks, customers, and internal management and investigate and resolve discrepancies between balances due / owed to ensure timely resolution of issues.
•    Manage customer accounts and follow up on sensitive issues in a timely manner.
•    Demonstrate a clear understanding of contractual rules and a comprehensive working knowledge of billing requirements and transactional processes.
•    Manage the process of regulatory payments and reporting on a weekly basis as contractually and/or legally obligated.
•    Thorough documentation including, but not limited to, communication with vendors, internal communications, daily working lists, process improvements.
•    Execute month end close procedures, accounting journal entries, reconciliation of general ledger accounts, and perform SOX key controls.
•    Periodically provide reports to executive leadership on the current settlement balances and associated aging / status. 
•    Identify process improvement opportunities, including those related to automation through the use of available technologies.
•    Work with each direct report to establish goals and objectives and monitor and advise to enhance professional development.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

•    Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
•    Master’s and / or CPA preferred.
•    A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in accounting and / or financial reporting and analysis.
•    Prior supervisory experience preferred.
•    Excellent financial acumen and thorough knowledge of U.S. GAAP. 
•    Proficient with Microsoft suite products (Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.). 
•    Prior experience with SAP (or similar ERP system) and related business intelligence (BI) reporting tools preferred.
•    Excellent analytical, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills.
•    Detail oriented, professional demeanor, strong organization and project management skills.
•    Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively with senior / executive management.
•    Excellent verbal and written communication / presentation skills.
•    Strong work ethic and ability to cultivate working relationships throughout the organization.
•    Ability to understand the financial impact of decisions made and balance these decisions with customer satisfaction.
•    Ability to prioritize workload, multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

The following physical and mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
a) While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, sometimes for prolonged periods while working at a desk, on the phone, and/or on the computer; type on a computer keyboard; use hands to finger, handle or feel; talk or hear; reach with hands or arms; walk or stand; and perform some repetitive motion activities.
b) Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, color differentiation, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
c) This position requires the ability to work effectively as part of a team; and concentrate on a variety of details when faced with interruptions and changing work priorities.
d) The mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions, as described above, including but not limited to: demonstrated ability to anticipate and solve practical problems or resolve issues; reason, calculate figures and amounts; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information, and draw valid conclusions; interpret procedures and policies; and meet schedules in a dynamic and sometimes demanding work environment.
e) The noise level in this work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job in a typical office environment.
f) The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.