Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Lease Analyst

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

Real EstateFinanceAccountingLegal

🎯 Role Definition

Welcome to the comprehensive guide for the Lease Analyst position! As a Lease Analyst, you are the meticulous guardian of a real estate portfolio's most critical asset: its lease agreements. You serve as the central hub for all lease-related data, ensuring financial accuracy, legal compliance, and operational efficiency. This role requires a unique blend of financial acumen, legal interpretation, and exceptional organizational skills to manage complex lease lifecycles, from initial abstraction to final expiration. You will be instrumental in maximizing revenue, mitigating risk, and providing the clear, actionable insights that drive strategic portfolio decisions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Real Estate Assistant or Coordinator
  • Junior Accountant / Property Accountant
  • Paralegal (with a real estate focus)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Lease Analyst / Team Lead
  • Lease Administration Manager
  • Real Estate Portfolio Manager / Asset Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Property Accountant
  • Contract Administrator
  • Financial Analyst (Real Estate)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Abstract critical financial and non-financial information from complex commercial real estate lease documents, including amendments, assignments, and legal notices, into lease administration software.
  • Manage and maintain the integrity of the lease database (e.g., Yardi, MRI, CoStar), ensuring all data points, dates, and clauses are accurately recorded and updated.
  • Perform and manage the annual reconciliation process for Common Area Maintenance (CAM), real estate taxes, and property insurance, including calculating estimates and preparing year-end true-ups for tenant billing.
  • Proactively monitor and manage a portfolio of critical lease dates, such as rent commencements, expirations, renewal options, and termination rights, ensuring timely action and communication.
  • Prepare, review, and distribute monthly rent roll reports, vacancy reports, and other portfolio-level summaries for senior management and asset managers.
  • Interpret complex and often ambiguous lease language to provide guidance on landlord and tenant obligations, ensuring operational and financial compliance.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for tenants regarding billing inquiries, lease interpretations, and account disputes, fostering positive and professional tenant relationships.
  • Calculate and process monthly rent charges, including base rent, percentage rent, CPI adjustments, and other rental escalations in accordance with lease terms.
  • Collaborate with legal, leasing, and property management teams to draft and review lease-related legal documents like estoppel certificates, SNDA's, and commencement letters.
  • Conduct regular audits of lease files and system data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency across the portfolio.
  • Assist in the financial due diligence process for property acquisitions and dispositions by abstracting leases, analyzing financial performance, and summarizing potential risks.
  • Manage tenant accounts receivable, prepare aging reports, and support collection efforts by providing accurate billing history and lease documentation.
  • Track and process tenant security deposits, letters of credit, and other forms of security, managing applications, increases, and releases as required.
  • Support the annual property budgeting and forecasting process by providing accurate rental income projections and expense recovery data.
  • Ensure the proper setup of new leases and modifications in accounting and property management systems to guarantee accurate and timely billing cycles.
  • Analyze tenant sales reports to accurately calculate and bill for percentage rent, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements.
  • Manage the tracking of tenant and vendor insurance certificates to ensure all parties are in compliance with lease-mandated coverage requirements.
  • Prepare detailed and accurate estoppel certificates for review and execution by tenants, lenders, and potential purchasers.
  • Coordinate the payment process for tenant improvement allowances, ensuring all required documentation is received and funds are disbursed according to the lease agreement.
  • Research and resolve complex billing discrepancies by reviewing lease terms, payment histories, and correspondence to determine the correct course of action.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the lease administration department to enhance efficiency and consistency.
  • Generate ad-hoc reports and financial analyses related to leasing activity, portfolio occupancy, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) for internal stakeholders.
  • Support property tax appeals by providing necessary lease information and financial data to tax consultants.
  • Participate in the testing and implementation of new lease administration software or system upgrades.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Lease Administration Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience with at least one major platform such as Yardi Voyager, MRI, CoStar Real Estate Manager, or AppFolio.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel: Demonstrated ability to create and manage complex spreadsheets using functions like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, and advanced formulas for financial analysis.
  • Lease Abstraction & Interpretation: Proven skill in reading, understanding, and summarizing complex commercial lease documents and legal clauses.
  • CAM & Operating Expense Reconciliation: Deep knowledge and practical experience in calculating and managing complex CAM, tax, and insurance reconciliations.
  • Real Estate Accounting Principles: Solid understanding of core accounting concepts (accrual vs. cash, GAAP) as they apply to property management and real estate.
  • Financial Analysis: Ability to analyze rent rolls, operating statements, and other financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous and precise approach to data entry, financial calculations, and document review is absolutely critical.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to dissect complex problems, interpret lease language, and formulate logical, well-supported solutions.
  • Superior Organization & Time Management: Adept at prioritizing a high volume of tasks and managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Effective Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to clearly and professionally interact with tenants, brokers, legal counsel, and internal teams.
  • Proactive & Self-Motivated: An independent worker who takes initiative to identify issues, improve processes, and manage their workload without constant supervision.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree with a concentration in a relevant field. A paralegal certificate is also highly valued.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Finance
  • Real Estate
  • Business Administration
  • Accounting

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of direct experience in commercial lease administration, lease analysis, or property accounting.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a high-volume environment managing a diverse portfolio of office, retail, or industrial properties. Direct experience with CAM reconciliations from start to finish is strongly preferred.
Explore More Careers