CHRISTINE A. PETREANU
Lincolnshire,IL
Summary
Lease audit and compliance leader with deep experience identifying occupancy expense savings through lease reviews, reconciliation checks, and negotiation with landlords. Known for recovering millions, supporting retail and office portfolios, and maintaining strong working relationships across legal, accounting, and real estate teams.
Overview
1
1
Certification
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal
JANUS LEASE ADVISORS LLC
Lincolnshire, IL
08.2019 - Current
- Achieved millions in audit recoveries while fostering positive relationships with landlords.
- Administer lease and compliance services for retail and office tenants, focusing on lease audit engagements to ensure accuracy and compliance. Identify occupancy expense savings through co-tenant provisions, hidden overcharges, billing errors and/or overlooked refunds.
- Develop partnerships as an extension of Retailer's Lease Administration Departments, reviewing year-end reconciliations and recouping landlord overcharges before processing.
- Knowledge of retail software systems including IBM Trirega, Lucernex and MRI ProLease utilized in independent retrieval of client's lease, payment and reconciliation documents.
Senior Manager, Lease Audit
GAP, INC.
San Francisco, CA
01.2009 - 08.2019
- Managed lease audit process, including providing direction, legal expertise, and negotiation skills to settle lease audit claims with landlords for 700+ annual lease audits. Directed key external lease consultants (8+ firms) and internal staff in preparation and settlement of lease audits with landlords. Oversaw audit savings budget preparation along with monthly accounting, including accruals, rent credits, and audit fees.
- Exceeded savings budget 20%, achieving annual recoveries in excess of $7M through leveraging lease language and audit expertise in conjunction with legal and commercial real estate team partnership.
- Executed annual audits for 30% of company leases across all NNN retail and corporate locations, ensuring compliance and identifying discrepancies.
- Streamlined lease payment integration and upcoming lease action profiles to enhance the audit candidate selection process, while aligning operational efficiencies with real estate economic strategy goals.
- Received Exceed Awards as SME in development of lease audit tracking software and IBM Tririga Lease Audit module as a result of participating in a project while maintaining normal workload.
- Created audit savings budget and forecasting models to improve visibility for brand partners regarding timing of opportunities and risks related to audit claims.
- Worked remotely to manage lease audits and communications.
Director, Lease Audit
ASSET STRATEGIES GROUP, LLC
Westerville, OH
01.2002 - 01.2008
- Led lease audit claim process, managing lease abstracting, desktop analysis, on-site audits, and report preparation, while coordinating all phases of expense audits for 15+ national retail clients and 8 major developer landlords.
- Prepared settlement valuation analysis for 1.2K+ audits, assisting clients with audit recovery settlements in excess of $25M over 5 years.
- Developed a pre-audit common area maintenance claim estimation model, saving clients time and achieving occupancy expense savings while assisting in negotiations outside of field audits.
- Streamlined claim preparation and identified potential overcharge areas by instituting a tenant portfolio key lease language report prior to on-site audits.
- Worked remotely to manage lease audits and client communications.
Capital Finance Manager
L BRANDS, INC., previously The Limited, Inc.
Columbus, OH
12.1998 - 05.2002
- Managed accounting for store construction assets and liabilities for projects under construction for Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, Limited, and spin-offs of Galyan's and Limited Too businesses. Coordinated capital expenditure forecasting through seasonal re-costing for approved projects. Supported design, construction, and purchasing teams in value engineering efforts that reduced store construction costs for new Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works store designs.
Operational Accounting Manager
ACCESS ENERGY
Dublin, OH
- Managed reporting of $500M in annual natural gas and electric sales and inventory positions, ensuring compliance with GAAP recognition policies. Acquired expertise in third-party deregulated natural gas and electric rates and billings for residential and commercial properties.
- Reconciled general ledger accounts and investigated balance discrepancies.
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Accountancy
University of Illinois
Champaign - Urbana, ILSkills
- Lease auditing
- Lease abstraction
- Financial analysis
- Financial forecasting
- Budget management
- Lease management software
- Negotiation skills
Personal Information
Title: LEASE AUDIT LEADER
Certification
Certified Public Accountant, State of Ohio, inactive status, Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member, National Retail Tenants Association
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Bernie's Book Bank & Feed My Starving Children, Volunteer
Timeline
Principal
JANUS LEASE ADVISORS LLC
08.2019 - Current
Senior Manager, Lease Audit
GAP, INC.
01.2009 - 08.2019
Director, Lease Audit
ASSET STRATEGIES GROUP, LLC
01.2002 - 01.2008
Capital Finance Manager
L BRANDS, INC., previously The Limited, Inc.
12.1998 - 05.2002
Operational Accounting Manager
ACCESS ENERGY
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Accountancy
University of Illinois