Real Estate Portfolio Controller

We are seeking a highly experienced Private Equity Real Estate finance professional to serve as the primary finance leader for a complex multi-entity MA portfolio. This role goes beyond traditional accounting oversight and requires a trusted business consultant who can function independently as a Controller and an outsourced CFO, with full ownership of financial reporting, audit readiness, forecasting, liquidity management, and value-add advisory.

The ideal candidate demonstrates sound judgment, hands-on execution capability, and credibility with auditors, investors, and senior client stakeholders, ensuring financial statements are GAAP-compliant, audit-ready, and defensible, with minimal client rework or escalation.

1.Controller-Level Ownership & Financial Reporting

Independently function as Controller for a multi-entity PE real estate portfolio

Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes end-to-end

Prepare, review, and approve GAAP-compliant financial statements, including:

- Consolidations

- Statements of cash flows

- Footnote disclosures

Identify and resolve accounting and reporting issues before client or auditor review Act as final quality control for all finance deliverables

2. Audit Leadership & Financial Statement Review

Own audit readiness for the portfolio, ensuring clean, well-supported financials

Review and approve financial statements for audit, including:

-Technical accounting positions

-Disclosure completeness and consistency

-Supporting schedules and workpapers

Serve as the primary point of contact for auditors

Anticipate audit issues and proactively address potential adjustments Lead responses to auditor inquiries and manage the audit timeline

Ensure audit feedback is incorporated into improved processes and controls

3. Outsourced CFO & Strategic Finance Leadership

Serve as the primary finance thought partner to client leadership Lead and own:

• Forecasting and budgeting
• Liquidity and cash management
• Capital activity, sources & uses, and inter-entity cash flows

Provide proactive insights on:

• Financial performance optimization
• Interdependencies across portfolio entities
• Timing and structuring of capital movements

Confidently guide finance-related decisions without requiring escalation

4. Private Equity Real Estate Expertise

Apply deep working knowledge of:

• PE real estate fund and deal structures
• Development accounting and cost tracking
• Equity activity, waterfalls, and capital accounts

Assess issues through a judgment-first lens (vs. purely technical execution) Translate complex accounting and finance topics into clear, decision-useful insights

5. Leadership, Judgment & Accountability

• Lead the engagement with authority, confidence, and accountability
• Set clear standards for quality, timelines, and ownership
• Drive decision-making processes by presenting finalized recommendations and execution plans
• Coach and develop team members to raise overall capability
• Act as the internal escalation point before issues reach the client

6. Client & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as a trusted advisor to client leadership
• Lead high-quality discussions with clients, auditors, and internal stakeholders
• Communicate risks, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly and proactively Build long-term trust through consistency, transparency, and judgment

Qualifications:

• At least 12 years of experience in Private Equity Real Estate finance Prior experience as a Controller, Finance Director, VP Finance, or CFO Demonstrated experience:
• Reviewing financial statements for audit
• Managing audits for complex, multi-entity portfolios

Technical Expertise

• Strong US GAAP knowledge, including PE real estate accounting Advanced consolidation and cash flow expertise
• Forecasting, liquidity, and capital activity management
• Experience preparing and reviewing investor- and audit-facing financials

Leadership & Professional Attributes

• Excellent judgment and decision-making ability
• Comfortable owning outcomes and making calls
• Clear, confident communicator with senior stakeholders
• Detail-oriented while maintaining a strategic, portfolio-level view