Position Title: Chief Accounting Officer / Controller
Location: Nassau County, NY (On-Site)
Compensation: $200,000+ Base Salary + Bonus + Strong Benefits
Company Type: Real Estate Investment - Publicly Reporting
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Chief Accounting Officer / Controller to join a lean but experienced team at a real estate investment firm headquartered in Nassau County. This is a roll-up-your-sleeves leadership role responsible for managing the entire accounting cycle - from journal entries and consolidations to SEC filings and audit coordination. The ideal candidate comes from public accounting and has worked with public real estate clients, bringing both technical acumen and real-world execution experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee all day-to-day accounting functions, including GL management, journal entries, account reconciliations, and monthly/quarterly close.
- Prepare consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules for internal and external reporting.
- Lead the preparation and filing of 10-Q and 10-K reports, including financials, footnotes, and required disclosures.
- Maintain ownership of all accounting processes, from AP review to investor reporting, within a fast-paced, multi-entity real estate portfolio.
- Partner with senior leadership on cash flow forecasting, budgeting, and financial modeling.
- Manage and respond to audit requirements from both internal and external auditors.
- Perform technical accounting research and prepare memos on complex real estate transactions including acquisitions, leases, and valuations.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls and continuously evaluate process improvements.
- Support tax compliance and work closely with external tax advisors on REIT-related filings.
- Prepare lender reporting packages including debt covenant calculations, property-level statements, and rent rolls.
- Review and approve vendor payments and capital expenditures.
- Participate in strategic planning and assist with investor materials and board-level presentations.
Ideal Candidate Profile
- CPA required; Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
- 8-12 years of relevant experience, including public accounting (Big 4 or national firm) with real estate clients that were public companies
- Deep knowledge of GAAP, SEC reporting, and real estate accounting practices
- Comfortable working in a small team environment and wearing multiple hats
- Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly organized
- Strong Excel skills; Yardi or similar real estate software experience a plus
- Proven ability to manage reporting deadlines and interact with C-suite executives and external auditors