Vice President, Finance & Accounting

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

Equity Estates is a real estate investment firm established in 2006 for people who value luxury vacations. Through private funds with defined exits, investors share ownership and use of a diversified portfolio of homes. Each property is selected for lifestyle appeal and long-term value, with every stay supported by professional management and thoughtful service.

Our Culture

We operate in a creative, entrepreneurial, and high-accountability environment. Our team values integrity, sound judgment, independent execution, collaboration, and a willingness to improve how the business works. Success requires both attention to detail and the ability to connect financial information to practical business decisions. We attract people who are caring, detail-oriented, and proactive.

Role Summary

The Vice President, Finance & Accounting will be the company’s senior full-time leader responsible for the integrity, timeliness, scalability, and business value of finance and accounting across Equity Estates’ funds, properties, and corporate entities. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the VP will contribute to the organization by leading and managing the accounting and finance functions in support of the company’s purpose, goals, and priorities. The role will serve as a strategic and operational partner to the CEO, COO, CTO and other senior leaders, understanding needs and challenges, actively providing solutions and ensuring timely and reliable financial reporting, analysis, and recommendations.

This leader will oversee month-end and other period close cycles and reporting, corporate finance and accounting, fund and property accounting, budgeting and capital expenditure planning, investor billing and fee calculations, AP/AR, cash and debt management, audit and tax coordination, expense management, financial controls, performance analytics, and ongoing process improvement. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable reviewing detailed calculations, developing an executive recommendation, coaching a team member, engaging with senior stakeholders, and improving processes and systems. The retained Fractional CFO (of 12 years), will provide transition support, selected advisory support to the CEO/Founder, and limited family-office support. These services are separate from the VP’s operating authority: the VP will own the company’s day-to-day finance and accounting function, direct its employees and service providers, and be accountable to stakeholders across the business.

 

Role Evolution

This is a VP-level finance leadership role today, with the potential to grow into a CFO role as the company scales, and the individual demonstrates readiness.

Initially, the VP will own finance and accounting operations, FP&A, treasury and liquidity, fund and property accounting, investor reporting, controls, team leadership, and finance transformation, while serving as a strategic financial partner to senior leadership.

Over time, the role may expand to include strategy, financing and fundraising, broader investor relationships, and board-level financial leadership, with the timing and scope based on company growth, organizational needs, and demonstrated performance.

Core Responsibilities

1. Finance leadership, Senior Leadership Team contribution, and transition: Lead the finance and accounting function in alignment with the company’s purpose, goals, and priorities; participate actively as a member of the Senior Leadership Team; establish priorities, service standards, KPIs, and accountability; manage and develop employees and external providers; and execute a disciplined transition of knowledge, relationships, calendars, controls, and open matters from the Fractional CFO and CEO.

2. Accounting operations, close, and controls: Own fund, property, and corporate accounting; general ledger integrity; accounts payable and receivable; bank reconciliations; investor billing and collections; and month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close. Establish documented policies, reconciliations, reviews, and internal controls that improve accuracy, timeliness, and audit readiness.

3. Financial planning, analysis, and management reporting: Oversee the accuracy, integrity, and timely administration of all corporate, fund-, property-, and investor-related financial activity, including investor dues and service fees, affiliate transactions, asset management fees and sub-allocations, investor charges, fund distributions and waterfalls, capital-account activity, and property- and fund-level returns. Ensure appropriate review, approval, collection, payment, and reporting processes are consistently followed, and provide timely, accurate financial reporting and support for investor inquiries.

4. Corporate, Fund, property, and investor financial administration: Ensure accurate recording and calculation, review, approval, reporting, and, where applicable, collection or payment of investor dues, service fees, affiliate transactions, asset management fees and sub-allocations, other investor charges, fund distributions, waterfalls, capital-account activity, and property- and fund-level returns. Support timely responses to investor financial questions and accurate investor reporting.

5. Treasury, debt, and liquidity management: Oversee cash positioning, cash forecasting, working capital, banking relationships, debt servicing, lender reporting, and covenant compliance. Recommend financing and liquidity actions that balance risk, cost, flexibility, capital efficiency, and fund performance.

6. Audit, tax, governance, and compliance: Serve as the internal owner for annual financial audits and coordinate external auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, valuation specialists, and other providers. Oversee timely tax compliance and investor tax reporting, including Schedule K-1 coordination, while escalating complex tax and legal matters to the CEO and qualified advisors.

7. Portfolio, fund performance, and investment analysis support: Provide support to asset management, marketing and investor relations by strengthening the financial methodologies, models, and reporting used to evaluate property and fund performance.  This includes the incorporation of the Equity Estates Edge™ into IRR calculations, competitive property valuations, and fund efficiency analysis. Participate in the Investment Committee to support acquisitions, dispositions, refinancings, and major capital projects; final investment authority remains with the Managing Member designated decisionmakers.

8. Systems, automation, and continuous improvement: Develop and execute a practical finance transformation roadmap. Improve processes through accounting system discipline, workflow automation, systems integration, business intelligence, data visualization, and appropriate use of applicable software, including AI. Build scalable operating models across internal employees, external providers, and nearshore or offshore resources where beneficial. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and evolution within the finance and accounting area.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12–18 Months

·    A complete and controlled transition for audit, tax, and periodic financial reporting, with no missed compliance, reporting deadlines, lender testing, investor notices, or cash-management obligations.

·    A reliable close and reporting calendar, with an initial target of no more than ten business days for month-end, 20 days for quarter-end, and 30 days for year-end, subject to a validated implementation plan. (Targets to evolve as technology and process support it)

·    Accurate, well-controlled investor billing, fee allocation, distribution, waterfall, covenant, and performance-calculation processes.

·    A rolling cash fund forecast, debt and covenant calendar, and liquidity reporting that identify risks early and support timely decisions.

·    Executive dashboards and leadership-quality reporting that are consistently used to manage the business.

·    Documented policies, procedures, controls, ownership, and service levels across the finance and accounting functions.

·    A prioritized automation and systems roadmap that produces measurable gains in labor savings, timeliness, accuracy, or cost—not technology for its own sake.

·    A capable, accountable finance and accounting team with clear roles, development priorities, and productive relationships across the company.

·    Recognition as a trusted, engaged member of the Senior Leadership Team who provides candid financial insight and helps advance company-wide priorities.

Requirements

Required Experience and Capabilities

·    Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a closely related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

·    Approximately 10 or more years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including at least four years leading people, functions, or major cross-functional initiatives.

·    Substantial experience with private real estate funds, private equity, real estate investment management, REITs, or similarly complex multi-entity investment structures.

·    Demonstrated command of fund accounting, property accounting, general ledger and close, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, cash and debt management, audit coordination, and internal controls.

·    Working knowledge of fund waterfalls, capital accounts, fee allocations, investor billing, performance measurement, and investor financial reporting.

·    Strong financial modeling, analytical, written communication, and executive-presentation skills.

·    Ability to communicate complex financial matters clearly in professional written and spoken English, as required for investor reporting, lender and investor communications, executive presentations, regulatory filings, and coordination with auditors, tax advisors, and legal counsel.

·    Demonstrated success operating in a remote, fast-moving environment with shifting priorities and cross-functional dependencies.

·        Proficiency in QuickBooks and/or Intuit Enterprise Suite, along with demonstrated spreadsheet-based financial modeling skills.

Preferred Qualifications

·    CPA strongly preferred; MBA, Master’s in Finance, or another relevant advanced degree is beneficial but not required.

·    Experience working with GAAP and Tax Basis Audits and working with auditors and tax advisors.

·    Experience leading finance or accounting teams.  Experience identifying and implementing change, leveraging automation and software, including software with Ai. 

·    Experience with BI tools, data visualization, and responsible AI-enabled workflows.

·    Experience managing virtual human resources including employees, external specialists, and near-shore or offshore independent contract resources.

·    Experience in real estate, short term rental, hospitality, or securities/fund management a plus.

·    Experience with acquisition underwriting, property valuations, NAV and IRR methodologies, debt financing, and investment-committee support and or participation.

 

Leadership and Working Style

·    High integrity, discretion, and ownership of commitments.

·    Hands-on orientation: willing to investigate detail while maintaining a strategic perspective.

·    Constructive mindset with the courage to raise concerns and recommend action.

·    Disciplined follow-through, sound prioritization, and calm execution under pressure.

·    Ability to create clarity and structure; document expectations; and hold others accountable without unnecessary bureaucracy.

·    Continuous improvement orientation grounded in measurable business value.

Benefits

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $190,000 with an OTE $230,000. Actual compensation will depend on qualifications, experience, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, Equity Estates offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, automatic 401k contributions by the Company, vacation and personal days, and travel opportunities to fund residences. This position is exempt under applicable wage and hour laws.