Chief Accounting Officer

The Chief Accounting Officer - Europe serves as the senior leader responsible for accounting and financial reporting across the European investment platform. This role holds full accountability for the integrity of accounting processes, financial reporting accuracy, and the effectiveness of internal controls across all regional fund, property, and management company entities.

The position oversees fund accounting, property accounting, accounting operations, treasury activities, and management company reporting and budgeting within the region. It includes leadership of internal teams and external service providers, acting as the primary accounting advisor to regional finance leadership and a key liaison to global finance counterparts.

Responsibilities

Accounting Leadership & Governance

• Acts as the senior authority for accounting and financial reporting in the region, with overall responsibility for outcomes, controls, and standards.
• Ensures timely, accurate, and consistent financial reporting across all entities.
• Designs and maintains robust internal control frameworks, governance structures, and risk management practices.
• Develops scalable and well-controlled accounting processes that support organizational growth and complexity.
• Interprets complex transactions and structures, translating accounting implications into clear insights for both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of regulatory developments across European jurisdictions, ensuring ongoing compliance.
• Partners closely with internal stakeholders across investment, asset management, capital markets, tax, and debt functions to align accounting solutions with business objectives.

Fund Accounting & Investor Reporting

• Oversees all regional fund accounting and reporting activities.
• Ensures the preparation and accuracy of financial statements and investor-related outputs, including capital activity and performance reporting.
• Serves as the main accounting contact for external parties such as fund administrators, auditors, and depositaries.
• Ensures integrity of financial information supporting regulatory filings and investor disclosures under applicable European frameworks.
• Leads the audit process, coordinating timelines and managing technical accounting matters to ensure successful completion.

Property Accounting & Operations

• Leads accounting operations related to property portfolios, including outsourced activities.
• Oversees accounts payable, lease accounting, and expense management.
• Establishes standardized processes across regions and providers, while accommodating local requirements.
• Ensures clarity of how property-level accounting impacts broader reporting structures.

Treasury & Cash Oversight

• Provides oversight of regional treasury activities, including cash management and banking relationships.
• Works in collaboration with global treasury teams on liquidity planning and foreign exchange exposure.
• Evaluates and communicates accounting implications of treasury decisions, ensuring alignment with reporting standards.

Budgeting, IT Systems and Team Management

• Oversees budgeting, forecasting, and performance monitoring of regional management entities.
• Ensures accurate accounting for intercompany transactions, allocations, and cost recovery.
• Provides analysis of financial performance against budget and supports long-term planning initiatives.
• Acts as the functional lead for accounting systems within the region, ensuring effective configuration and usage.
• Drives consistency and efficiency in system use across internal and external teams.
• Identifies opportunities to enhance systems and incorporate advanced technologies to improve reporting and decision-making.
• Leads and develops accounting teams, focusing on technical expertise, leadership capability, and professional growth.
• Establishes clear expectations, career development paths, and succession planning.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and long-term capability building.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent) required.
• 15+ years of experience in accounting leadership roles within complex, multi-entity environments.
• Strong background in real estate, private funds, or asset management environments.
• Deep knowledge of accounting standards relevant to fund structures.
• Proven experience managing external service providers and accounting operations.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing and advancing senior accounting professionals.
• Experience working across multiple European jurisdictions in complex organizational structures.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise accounting systems strongly preferred.