Chief Accounting Officer

Total compensation is expected to be in the range of $525,000 to $650,000, commensurate with the candidate’s experience, credentials, and anticipated contribution to the firm. Exceptional candidates with broader leadership potential may be considered beyond this range.

Chief Accounting Officer

Position Overview:

Our client operates an established real estate credit and investment platform providing capital solutions across commercial real estate assets throughout the United States. Led by industry veterans with more than 35 years of experience, the firm originates and manages structured lending investments across the real estate capital stack and maintains longstanding relationships with institutional investors.

The firm is seeking a Chief Accounting Officer to lead and further strengthen the accounting function in support of its continued growth. The role will oversee accounting, reporting, and controls across a complex organizational structure that includes corporate entities, institutional investment vehicles, and a real estate investment trust. Working closely with senior leadership and investment teams, the Chief Accounting Officer will help ensure the scalability, effectiveness, and reliability of the firm’s accounting and treasury operations.

The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of relevant accounting leadership experience and a proven ability to build scalable processes, develop strong teams, and enhance financial systems within a growing investment or credit platform. This individual will operate as a hands on leader, instilling confidence in the firm’s accounting, reporting, and control environment among both internal stakeholders and external counterparties.

Responsibilities will include (but not be limited to):

• Lead and actively manage the firm’s accounting function across a multi entity financial platform, including corporate entities, the management company, and affiliated investment structures, ensuring accurate reporting, strong internal controls, and compliance with applicable accounting and regulatory standards.
• Take direct ownership of accounting and reporting for the firm’s institutional investment vehicles, including commingled funds, separate accounts, and a debt real estate investment trust, while overseeing third party fund administrators to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Own and drive the audit process across corporate entities, investment vehicles, and the REIT, serving as the primary point of contact for Big Four and regional accounting firms and participating in the investment valuation review process.
• Lead the firm’s treasury function, overseeing cash management, investment funding activities, investor distribution waterfalls, and corporate liquidity needs. Partner closely with underwriting, asset management, servicing, and investor relations teams to ensure efficient capital flows across the platform.
• Review and oversee externally prepared federal, state, and other tax filings and financial reports, ensuring compliance with GAAP, SEC, IRS, and other regulatory requirements.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across the firm to support budgeting, financial planning, and analytical initiatives that inform strategic and operational decision making.
• Drive continuous improvement of the firm’s finance and accounting infrastructure, optimizing and expanding the use of NetSuite, Kyriba, and Ramp while identifying opportunities to enhance automation and operating efficiency.
• Maintain oversight of the firm’s core accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, vendor management, and the collection and payment of firmwide fees and expenses.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the firm’s accounting organization, managing both New York based personnel, and third party offshore resources while establishing strong processes, accountability, and operational discipline across the team.

Qualifications:

• Proven accounting leadership experience with 10+ years of corporate or public accounting experience, ideally within real estate investment management, private credit, asset management, financial services, or similar institutional investment environments.
• Strong technical accounting expertise with deep knowledge of US GAAP, including experience supporting reporting, audits, and regulatory requirements.
• Background in public accounting, particularly with a Big Four or national accounting firm serving real estate, investment management, or financial services clients, is highly valued.
• Experience operating within multi entity organizations, including corporate entities, investment vehicles, special purpose entities, or REIT structures.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related discipline. CPA designation strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale accounting processes, teams, and financial infrastructure within a growing organization.
• Strong financial systems orientation with experience using NetSuite, Kyriba, Ramp, Microsoft Excel, or comparable accounting and treasury platforms.
• Strategic and operational mindset with the ability to operate as a hands on leader, strengthening the accounting function while serving as a trusted resource to leadership, external auditors, and investors on accounting and reporting matters.