Etan Bluman, tax director at Urban Edge Properties (NYSE: UE), participated in a video interview during REITwise 2022: Nareit's Law, Accounting & Finance Conference held in Orlando, Florida on March 23-25.
Bluman commented on the various applying principles that he believes to be critical to a REIT tax department’s daily operations and overall impact on the company. He noted that the goal of any tax department in a REIT should be to “maximize value in an efficient way,” adding that communication, collaboration, strategic and creative thinking, and assessing and managing risk all guide his work and drive the larger goal of creating value for the company.
Bluman also spoke about how he stays apprised of what is happening at Urban Edge’s properties to ensure compliance within the REIT rules. He stressed that the collaborative process of having open communication is “critical.”
Meanwhile, Bluman also commented on how his department embraces technology as a means to create operational efficiencies.