Controller

Controller

Chicago, IL | Hybrid

If you are interested in applying for this job, please make sure you meet the following requirements as listed below.

Our client is a privately held real estate investment and development company with a lean, entrepreneurial team and a diverse portfolio of retail and mixed-use properties. They are seeking a Controller to serve as a key member of the organization and take ownership of a broad range of accounting, finance, reporting, and operational responsibilities.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys being the person who knows the numbers, understands the business behind them, and can independently manage a wide range of priorities. Rather than focusing on one area of a larger accounting organization, this individual will have visibility across corporate accounting, property-level activity, investor reporting, banking, debt, payroll, and entity management.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare recurring financial and performance reporting for ownership, investors, and external partners.
• Manage monthly and quarterly reporting deliverables, ensuring information is accurate, complete, and delivered on schedule.
• Partner closely with Asset Management to review property budgets, operating results, variances, capital activity, and development funding.
• Prepare and distribute investor NAV, returns, and capital activity information.
• Support funding requests and financial reporting associated with development projects.

Corporate Accounting & Treasury

• Oversee day-to-day corporate accounting activities, including monthly close, cash flow, budgets, intercompany activity, and management/asset management fees.
• Manage weekly accounts payable and check-run processes.
• Oversee corporate credit card activity, 1099s, K-1 distributions, and other recurring accounting requirements.
• Manage banking activity, including wires, ACH, positive pay, reconciliations, and cash movements.
• Coordinate financial information required for refinancing, lender reporting, and loan compliance.

Entity Management & Compliance

• Maintain accounting and administrative requirements across a substantial portfolio of legal entities.
• Coordinate annual state filings, registered agents, entity formations and dissolutions, and beneficial ownership reporting.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure recurring regulatory and compliance obligations are completed on time.

Payroll & Benefits

• Manage the semi-monthly payroll process from preparation through funding.
• Coordinate retirement plan contributions, annual filings, compliance testing, workers' compensation, and benefits-related requirements.
• Support employee onboarding, offboarding, and ongoing benefits administration.

Process & Systems

• Maintain and improve financial processes, controls, and written procedures.
• Help build scalable documentation and operating procedures across accounting and finance systems.
• Utilize technology and AI-enabled tools to streamline recurring work, while applying sound judgment to review outputs and identify discrepancies.
• Serve as a thoughtful second set of eyes on financial information before it reaches investors, lenders, ownership, or other external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, ideally within commercial real estate or a similarly complex environment.
• Experience working in a multi-entity organization, preferably with dozens of legal entities.
• Background in commercial real estate accounting, including familiarity with property-level financials, CAM reconciliations, construction/development draws, and related concepts.
• Experience with Yardi Voyager or another comparable real estate accounting platform.
• Hands-on experience managing payroll, including payroll funding.
• Exposure to institutional investors, lenders, asset managers, or third-party ownership reporting.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with formulas and financial models.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a demonstrated ability to review financial work critically and identify errors.
• Ability to operate independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and take full ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with senior leadership and external partners.
• CPA is not required.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

This role is designed for someone who wants breadth and ownership. You will have the opportunity to see how accounting connects to real estate operations, asset management, development, financing, and investor relationships. The company has a lean structure, so your work will have direct visibility and impact. You won't simply be responsible for producing financial information - you'll be expected to understand it, challenge it when necessary, and ensure it is ready for an institutional audience. The team also embraces technology and AI as a way to eliminate repetitive work and make the finance function more efficient. The ideal candidate is comfortable leveraging these tools while maintaining a high level of judgment, accuracy, and accountability.

The Equus Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment. xhyhwjd We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.