Senior Controller

Senior Controller

Job Type: Direct hire
Locations: Tampa, FL; Dallas, TX; or Rosemont, IL

About Fay Group

Fay Group is a fully integrated real estate and mortgage services firm, bringing together the strength and expertise of two complementary holding companies. Since its founding in 2008 as a special servicer, Fay Group has grown into a diversified enterprise overseeing more than $46 billion in assets on behalf of over 50 institutional clients.

Powered by data, technology, and a team of over 1,100 professionals across 10 U.S. locations, Fay Group delivers coordinated solutions across the full spectrum of real estate and lending services. This includes loan servicing, property management, mortgage originations, renovations, and insurance. From asset creation and loan management to renovations and real estate brokerage services, Fay Group offers end-to-end capabilities under one platform, providing flexibility, transparency, and performance across multiple asset classes in all market and interest rate environments.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Controller to lead the accounting, payroll, and accounts payable functions across all Fay Group entities. This critical role ensures timely month-end close processes and accurate financial reporting. The Senior Controller will serve as the primary liaison with external financial audit firms and will be accountable for identifying and implementing process optimization opportunities.

This position requires deep expertise in mortgage servicing finance or financial services, strong leadership, advanced management skills, and a proactive approach to process improvement and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead accounting, payroll, and accounts payable functions across all Fay Group entities, ensuring timely month-end close and accurate financial reporting.
• Serve as the primary liaison with external financial audit firms, managing audit processes and relationships.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process optimization within finance operations.
• Collaborate with third-party valuation firms to assess mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) and ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Oversee cash flow management, balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany account balancing, and bank reconciliations.
• Establish and maintain appropriate internal controls to deter fraud.
• Manage internal reporting, disbursement reviews, payroll, debt reporting, and lender covenant compliance.
• Coordinate multiple audits.
• Document management’s position on current and emerging accounting treatments under U.S. GAAP that impact Fay Group entities.
• Lead efforts to enhance key accounting processes and controls, and update procedures.
• Act as the finance executive liaison with auditors and regulators.
• Support the development and growth of the accounting team through guidance, collaboration, and documentation of policies and procedures.
• Review contracts to accurately determine asset ownership and ensure proper financial recognition.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA or equivalent professional certification.
• 15+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• 10+ years in a senior accounting role within mortgage servicing or financial services, including Controller-level experience.
• Proven experience managing and leading teams.

Technical Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of U.S. GAAP, investor reporting requirements (e.g., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae), and MSR valuation.
• Experience in financial audits, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.
• Deep understanding of enterprise accounting systems, cash flow operations, cost structures, and financial resource planning.
• Advanced proficiency in accounting software systems and exceptional organizational and recordkeeping capabilities.
• Experience with mortgage servicing platforms and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar).
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Leadership & Communication Skills

• Strong financial reporting, summarization, and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial data to executive stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop effective relationships and influence results across the organization.
• Effective management skills, including talent selection, training, coaching, mentorship, and performance management.
• Proven leadership ability to foster positive employee engagement and trust.
• Ability to quickly establish credibility and align with the organization’s culture, values, and priorities.
• Collaborative and consultative work style.
• Ability to manage and lead change; agile with high learning agility.

Personal Attributes

• Client-focused with strong execution and results orientation, able to link business needs with tactical execution.
• Strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to identify opportunities and propose solutions.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to effectively lead matrix teams.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong quality and compliance orientation.
• Ability to effectively prioritize under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; effective time management for self and team.
• Self-directed, proactively surfacing questions, opportunities, issues, and concerns.
• Professional maturity, integrity, and the ability to maintain confidential data.
• Strong business acumen and fiscal and technical aptitude.

Why Join Fay Group?

At Fay Group, we believe that the best ideas come from having a team that is diverse in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We strive to ensure each of our employees feels valued, respected, and included, and is presented with equal opportunities to be successful. Fay Group is an equal-opportunity workplace. Our Group and affiliated companies participate in E-Verify.

Our Foundation was established to fulfill the philanthropic mission of Fay Group employees to serve the communities in which they live and work. Our employees make voluntary contributions to the Foundation. Each quarter, their contributions are donated to organizations focused on improving education opportunities, combating poverty, and supporting military service members and first responders.