Controller

Controller / Head of Finance (Real Estate Investment Platform)

Overview

An expanding real estate investment firm is seeking a senior finance professional to oversee the accounting, reporting, treasury, and operational finance infrastructure across its investment vehicles and corporate entities. This individual will serve as the lead finance executive on a lean team, balancing strategic oversight with day-to-day execution. As the organization grows, the role will evolve into building and managing a dedicated finance function.

The position provides significant visibility with firm leadership, broad exposure to investment operations, and the opportunity to shape financial processes, controls, and reporting standards across the platform.

Primary Responsibilities

Financial Close & Reporting

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes across management-company and fund entities.
• Review financial information received from third-party property accounting teams and fund service providers for completeness, accuracy, and consistency.
• Investigate reporting variances, resolve discrepancies, and ensure timely production of financial statements.
• Maintain ownership of reporting deadlines and deliverables.

Portfolio & Corporate Reporting

• Prepare consolidated reporting across multiple entities, investments, and ownership structures.
• Develop management reporting packages highlighting portfolio performance, cash flows, operating trends, and key financial metrics.
• Deliver reporting required by lenders, investors, external advisors, and senior leadership.

Fund Accounting Oversight

• Review fund-level financial reporting provided by administrators.
• Validate investor allocations, capital activity, management fees, incentive allocations, and fund performance calculations.
• Ensure compliance with governing partnership agreements and investor-specific provisions.

Property Accounting Review

• Perform analytical reviews of property operating results.
• Collaborate with asset management and property management teams to investigate unusual variances and accounting issues.
• Evaluate operating performance metrics and support portfolio-level reporting initiatives.

Accounting Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain oversight of accounting platforms, financial reporting tools, integrations, and data flows.
• Manage chart of accounts, entity structures, user permissions, and accounting workflows.
• Identify opportunities for automation, workflow enhancements, and technology-driven efficiencies.

Accounts Payable & Vendor Administration

• Oversee payment processing, vendor relationships, invoice approvals, and expense management.
• Monitor operating expenses across corporate and investment entities.
• Ensure proper coding, allocation, and authorization of expenditures.

Intercompany Accounting

• Manage allocations among funds, joint ventures, and management entities.
• Oversee expense sharing arrangements, reimbursements, and settlement processes.
• Ensure transactions are accurately recorded and reconciled.

Treasury & Liquidity Management

• Monitor cash positions across the organization.
• Oversee banking relationships, cash forecasting, and short-term liquidity planning.
• Support investment of excess operating cash and capital management activities.
• Strengthen internal controls surrounding cash movement and payment approvals.

Financial Planning & Cash Forecasting

• Develop and maintain cash flow projections at both entity and portfolio levels.
• Monitor liquidity requirements related to acquisitions, capital projects, debt obligations, and operations.
• Identify future funding needs and recommend solutions.

Investor & Distribution Support

• Coordinate investor distributions, capital activity, and related reporting.
• Reconcile distribution calculations and support investor communications.
• Serve as the primary financial contact for fund service providers and reporting partners.

Reconciliations & Financial Integrity

• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, bank account reconciliations, and general ledger maintenance.
• Ensure accounting records remain accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
• Establish processes that support strong financial governance.

Technical Accounting & Compliance

• Manage accruals, amortization schedules, reserves, recoveries, and complex accounting entries.
• Maintain supporting documentation for significant accounting conclusions and adjustments.
• Ensure adherence to applicable accounting policies and standards.

Debt Compliance & Lender Reporting

• Prepare financial schedules and reporting packages required by lenders.
• Support covenant monitoring and debt compliance activities.
• Coordinate reporting submissions and maintain supporting records.

Tax, Insurance & Regulatory Administration

• Oversee processes related to property taxes, insurance obligations, and escrow accounts.
• Coordinate with external advisors regarding compliance filings and regulatory requirements.
• Track key deadlines and ensure obligations are satisfied on a timely basis.

Acquisitions, Dispositions & New Entity Setup

• Lead the accounting onboarding process for new investments and legal entities.
• Coordinate banking, accounting system setup, opening balances, and transaction accounting.
• Support acquisition and disposition accounting, including purchase accounting and final closeout activities.

Audit & Tax Coordination

• Act as primary liaison with external auditors and tax professionals.
• Coordinate annual audits, tax return preparation, partnership reporting, and investor tax deliverables.
• Prepare year-end financial and tax support schedules.

Desired Background

Required Experience

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline; CPA strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within real estate investment management, private equity real estate, or related sectors.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, fund accounting, consolidations, and close management.
• Experience overseeing multiple funds, entities, joint ventures, and investment structures.
• Deep understanding of private investment fund mechanics, including capital accounts, distributions, investor allocations, and performance calculations.
• Proven ability to manage accounting operations while maintaining a high level of detail and accuracy.
• Strong reconciliation, analytical review, and financial statement preparation skills.
• Experience overseeing third-party service providers including property accountants, fund administrators, and outsourced accounting teams.
• Hands-on experience with ERP, property accounting, and investment reporting systems.
• Demonstrated focus on process controls, governance, and risk mitigation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public accounting experience, ideally with exposure to real estate or alternative investments.
• Familiarity with investor portals and fund reporting platforms.
• Experience supporting debt reporting and lender compliance requirements.
• Track record implementing automation, workflow optimization, or AI-driven finance solutions.
• Prior experience building, mentoring, or scaling accounting and finance teams.