Controller

Controller — Real Estate Investment Firm

Greater Washington, DC area · Hybrid, 3–4 days onsite · Full-time

$165,000 – $225,000 base + bonus upside potential

About The Opportunity

Confidential search for a Controller on behalf of a growing, institutionally backed real estate investment firm in the Washington, DC metro area.

This is a newly created role and a genuine build seat. The firm is standing up its accounting and controls function, and whoever takes this job will design it rather than inherit it. You’ll work directly with the founding team with full ownership of accounting across the business.

Why it’s worth a conversation

• You build the function. Processes, controls, reporting architecture — yours to design, not maintain.
• Institutional rigor without institutional bureaucracy. Serious standards, small team, no layers.
• Direct access to the founders and real influence over how finance operates.
• Clear runway. Scope and responsibility grow as AUM does.

What You’ll Own

• Day-to-day accounting across the company, maintaining two parallel sets of books — property-level GAAP and fair value
• Month-end close, quarterly reporting, tax and regulatory filings, and cash planning
• Detailed reconciliations across multiple entities and properties
• The general ledger and chart of accounts across fund entities in a cloud-based ERP
• Capital calls and distributions, waterfall calculations, investor allocations, and investor capital account records
• The annual audit, as primary internal lead
• Internal controls built to institutional standards, developed alongside the firm’s institutional capital partner
• Firm-level HR and benefits administration (health, 401(k))
• Ad hoc analysis, budgeting and special projects for the founders
• You’ll coordinate with a national third-party property manager and an external audit firm, with part-time bookkeeping support reporting to you.

What They’re looking for

• CPA, plus a bachelor’s in accounting, finance or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive real estate accounting experience spanning both property-level and fund / fair value accounting
• Direct experience leading or supporting external audits (Big 4 or national firm background) - preferred but not required
• Hands-on cloud ERP experience; Sage Intacct preferred but not required
• Comfort in a lean, high-ownership environment where you’ll do the work as well as design the process