Remote Lease Operator Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Job Description
At Cresa, we believe our clients deserve better. A better space to work, create, build, grow. A better outcome for their people and organization. A better partner who puts their needs first, helping them navigate the landscape, tilting the playing field in their favor and giving them an insider's edge.
Our mission is to find and foster the best environment for every business. Our purpose is to think beyond space - strengthening those we serve and enhancing quality of life for our clients and employees. We are built to champion our clients' aspirations through real estate. When considering partnership, we strive to connect with those who share our values: Work Together, Create Value, Be Tenacious, Enhance Community, and Embrace Diversity.
We believe in being the change. We work together to find new ways of doing things that create value for our clients - and for each other. Because there is not much that feels better than collaborating to make a positive difference each day.
At Cresa, we offer an opportunity to be part of something bigger. To learn, advance, mentor and be recognized. Your voice will be heard, and you will be valued for both your individual and team contributions.
Summary
The Manager, Lease Administration - Transitions oversees the onboarding, transition, and integration of lease administration portfolios, including acquisitions, dispositions, and client onboarding/offboarding initiatives. This role is accountable for transition strategy, execution, and governance, ensuring operational continuity, data integrity, and compliance across complex client portfolios.
This position combines expertise in project management, lease administration, data migration, process implementation, and client service delivery. The role serves as a subject matter expert in lease abstraction, financial reconciliation, system integration, and transition governance, while partnering with clients, brokers, and cross-functional teams to deliver seamless and high-quality transition outcomes. This position reports to the Director of Transitions.
Essential duties and responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end lease administration transition projects, including onboarding, offboarding, acquisitions, and dispositions.
• Develop and manage transition strategies, project plans, timelines, and governance from initiation through steady-state operations.
• Partner with clients, internal stakeholders, technology teams, and external vendors to ensure successful project execution and service delivery.
• Oversee lease data collection, abstraction, validation, migration, and integration across lease administration and accounting platforms.
• Review and validate lease abstractions, financial reconciliations, and reporting for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with client requirements.
• Support lease accounting compliance initiatives, including ASC 842 and IFRS 16 reporting.
• Support AI and automation initiatives within transition workflows, including lease abstraction, data validation, workflow automation and process improvement to increase operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement operational workflows, transition procedures, governance models, and best practices to improve scalability and efficiency.
• Identify and mitigate risks while assisting in change management efforts throughout the transition lifecycle.
• Support system implementations, upgrades, testing, workflow optimization, and reporting enhancements.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, Accounting, or related field (preferred).
• 4+ years of lease administration, commercial real estate or transition management experience.
• Proven ability to lead large, complex portfolio transitions and multi-workstream projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong knowledge of commercial lease administration, lease terminology, lease accounting principles, and real estate operations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis, including formulas, complex functions, data modeling and automation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and manage large volumes of complex data and translate it into actionable insights.
• Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality service.

Education/Experience

• Experience with ASC 842 and IFRS 16 lease accounting standards and journal entry process.
• Experience supporting system implementations, data migrations, and platform integrations.
• Exposure to AI assisted automation, workflow tools, or data processing technologies is a plus.
• Systems Experience with lease administration and accounting platforms such as MRI ProLease, Yardi, CoStar, Quarem, TRIRIGA, Tango, Lucernex, REAP, Visual Lease, Lease Harbor, LeaseAccelerator, LeaseCalcs and similar systems preferred.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management experience.

Physical Requirements:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
NOTE: The job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; supervisors may assign other duties as deemed necessary.
Cresa is committed to developing and maintaining a diverse workforce. Cresa strongly believes in equal opportunity extended to all individuals in all aspects of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, belief, creed, age, sex, pregnancy or maternity (including childbirth and related conditions), family responsibility (e.g. child care, elder care), nationality, ethnic or national origin or ancestry, citizenship, marital status, civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, veteran's status, genetic information, political view or status as a qualified individual with a disability, protected leave status or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law.