Controller - Asset & Investment Management

An established real estate asset and investment management firm is seeking an experienced Controller to strengthen accounting operations and build the financial infrastructure for a new homebuilding platform.

This hands-on role will oversee multi-entity accounting, improve investor and joint venture reporting, and establish scalable processes ahead of increased construction activity. Real estate industry experience and strong proficiency applying AI to accounting workflows are essential. The ideal candidate combines technical accounting expertise with practical experience implementing automation, developing controls, and supporting a small accounting team.

• Lead the adoption of AI tools, particularly Claude, to improve accounting efficiency, financial reporting, and forecasting.
• Develop AI-assisted workflows for invoice processing, reconciliation support, transaction analysis, variance analysis, and reporting preparation.
• Establish thorough review procedures to validate AI outputs against source records before reports are finalized or shared.
• Document repeatable workflows and train accounting personnel on their use.

• Oversee investor capital accounts, contributions, preferred returns, promote waterfalls, distributions, and investor reporting.
• Review calculations and allocations for consistency with partnership and operating agreements.
• Reconcile financial information received from operating partners and maintain corresponding investment records.
• Reconcile joint venture activity, investment draws, operating expenses, and intercompany balances.
• Develop standardized quarterly reporting packages and resolve discrepancies with partners.

• Establish accounting infrastructure for a new homebuilding platform before transaction volume increases.
• Implement project-level job costing, cost coding, construction draw procedures, and lender reporting.
• Build scalable AP workflows, invoice approval procedures, and payment controls.
• Develop reporting to monitor project budgets, costs, commitments, and cash requirements.

• Assess existing systems, entity structures, accounting processes, and financial reporting.
• Provide hands-on oversight and support to the existing bookkeeper.
• Strengthen bank reconciliations, month-end close procedures, intercompany reconciliations, and the chart of accounts.
• Establish close schedules, supporting work papers, internal controls, and reporting templates.
• Oversee records maintained in Quick Books Online and certain investment books maintained in Quick Books Desktop.

• Improve cash management and update corporate financial projections.
• Prepare cash forecasts incorporating investment activity, distributions, construction spending, and funding needs.
• Document accounting policies and procedures for a sustainable internal accounting function.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and training a future full-time accounting professional.
• Transition responsibilities to the permanent hire and identify ongoing advisory needs.

• Controller-level or comparable accounting leadership experience in real estate investment, asset management, development, or a closely related real estate business.
• Strong knowledge of investment and syndication accounting, including capital accounts, preferred returns, promote waterfalls, and distributions.
• Experience with joint ventures, operating agreements, and multi-entity accounting.
• Demonstrated proficiency using AI in accounting and finance, including building workflows and thoroughly reviewing outputs.
• Experience improving accounting operations, close processes, reconciliations, internal controls, and reporting.
• Strong Excel skills and proficiency with Quick Books Online.
• Ability to work independently while providing hands-on support and oversight to a small team.
• Availability to work onsite in Irvine at least one day per week during the Monday-Thursday office schedule.

• Three to five years of public accounting experience, ideally serving real estate or construction clients.
• Direct experience applying Claude to accounting, financial analysis, or reporting.
• Homebuilding or construction accounting experience, including job costing, construction draws, and lender reporting.
• Familiarity with Quick Books Desktop.
• Experience building accounting infrastructure and transitioning…