VP of Finance

Company

Our client is a privately held, entrepreneurial high-end residential real estate developer based in Chicago, focused on luxury single-family homes and condominiums across the city’s northern neighborhoods and the North Shore. Over the past 12 years, the company has completed more than 250 residential development projects, including extensive renovations and ground-up new construction.

The company currently manages approximately 30 projects annually, with plans for continued growth, supported by a highly structured operating platform focused on quality, cost, schedule, and design.

The firm has developed a highly customized project management and CRM platform with extensive automation, providing visibility and control across the entire development lifecycle.

Position

Reporting directly to the firm’s CEO, the VP of Finance (VP) will lead the financial affairs of the company including cash flow management, capital management, financing, investor capital support, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, accounting, audit and tax compliance. The VP will be a strategic thought partner and trusted advisor to the CEO playing a key role in the future growth and development of the business.

The firm employs a remote working environment but eventually plans to establish an office presence in Chicago.

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Cash Flow, Liquidity & Capital Management – Provide hands-on day-to-day cash management of the company. Allocate capital across multiple projects, anticipate funding gaps, ensure sufficient capital is available to support ongoing operations and future commitments, and maintain forward-looking liquidity forecasts.
• Banking Relationships & Project Financing – Manage lender relationships, oversee existing construction loans, maturities and extensions, negotiate financing terms, and identify new financing opportunities.
• Investor Capital Raising Support – Actively support raising capital from private investors, particularly in the U.S., including participating in investor meetings, presenting financial information and investment structures, and developing potential investor relationships.
• Company & Project Profitability – Closely monitor financial performance and profitability across the company and individual projects, identify budget variances and financial risks, and recommend opportunities to improve margins and reduce costs.
• Financial Reporting & Oversight – Ensure accurate and timely management reporting at both the company and project levels, providing clear financial visibility and actionable insights.
• Strategic Financial Partnership with the CEO – We are seeking a strong financial leader who will manage the company’s financial operations alongside the CEO, take ownership of key financial decisions and drive execution independently.
• Finance & Accounting Team Leadership – Lead and oversee the accounting team, coordinate with external accountants and tax advisors, and ensure effective day-to-day financial operations.
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) – Develop annual budgets, financial forecasts, performance metrics, and budget-to-actual analyses to support financial planning and decision-making.
• Internal Controls, Tax Oversight & Financial Systems – Maintain effective financial controls, oversee tax-related coordination with external advisors, and support improvements to financial processes, systems, and data accuracy.
• Other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the CEO.

Qualifications

• 10+ years as a Head of Finance or Accounting, leading the financial and capital management functions for a real estate company. Strong understanding of U.S. tax, legal, and lending frameworks.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; master’s degree strongly preferred. CPA is a plus, but not required.
• Based in Chicagoland.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience managing cash flow, allocating capital across multiple projects, handling banking relationships, investor relations and reporting.
• Experience overseeing and leading bookkeeping, accounting and financial roles within real estate development and/or construction.
• Familiarity with raising capital (debt/mezzanine) and structuring investor deals.
• Skilled in using and communicating financial metrics and benchmarks to guide the organization.
• Hands-on, analytical, and able to implement systems from the ground up.
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills with deep experience presenting to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organized with strong project management skills, strong attention to detail, and able to operate under pressure and meet tight deadlines.