Controller - Real Estate/Construction - Hybrid

Michael Page International (Canada); Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group benefits

Vacation 3+ weeks

Direct reporting to CFO

Hybrid schedule: 2 days in-office, 3 W

Job summary

Michael Page International (Canada) is recruiting an experienced finance professional to lead accounting and financial reporting for a growing real estate and operating businesses group in Ottawa. You will own the full accounting cycle for multiple entities, oversee month-end closes, intercompany transactions, and year-end workpapers, reporting to the CFO.

This role requires a CPA designation with at least five years of progressive accounting experience in construction, real estate development,

Qualifications

• CPA designation or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Experience in construction, real estate development, property management, or related industries.
• Proven expertise in job costing, project budgets, and construction financing draws.
• Experience working in a multi-entity environment and managing intercompany transactions.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using accounting and/or project management ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to operate independently.
• English required; French considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own the full accounting cycle for multiple entities, including journal entries, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll interface.
• Manage the month-end close process according to established timelines and maintain working papers.
• Process and reconcile intercompany transactions.
• Prepare year-end files and supporting documentation for external accountants.
• Supervise and review the work of one bookkeeping resource.
• Maintain project budgets and job costing records.
• Produce cost-to-complete reporting and financial analysis.
• Track project commitments, change orders, and budget variances.
• Support operational reporting and financial decision-making across business units.
• Prepare construction financing draw packages and supporting documentation for lenders and consultants.
• Manage progress billings, holdbacks, and supplier disbursements.
• Provide information required for lender reporting and covenant compliance monitoring.
• Prepare operating cash flow forecasts for assigned entities.
• Act as a day-to-day contact for lenders and financing partners.
• Manage property accounting activities, including rent roll administration, recoveries, property taxes, insurance, and portfolio reporting.
• Oversee cost accounting activities related to inventory, equipment costing, work-in-progress, and divisional cost of sales.
• Track vendor financing agreements and redemption obligations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to internal controls and financial processes.

Skills

CPA designation

5 years experience

Construction & real estate

Job costing

Intercompany accounting

Advanced Excel

Independent work

English proficiency

French asset

Education

CPA designation or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

• Join a growing business and help define its finance operations.
• Gain broad exposure across real estate and operating businesses.

About Our Client

Our client is a privately held organization operating across real estate development, property ownership, construction,and related operating businesses. As part of an ongoing growth strategy, the organization is rebuilding its finance function and investing in stronger processes, reporting, and financial controls.

Job Description

Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Own the full accounting cycle for multiple entities, including journal entries, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll interface.
• Manage the month-end close process according to established timelines and maintain supporting working papers.
• Process and reconcile intercompany transactions.
• Prepare year-end files and supporting documentation for external accountants.
• Supervise and review the work of one bookkeeping resource.

Project Accounting & Costing

• Maintain project budgets and job costing records.
• Produce cost-to-complete reporting and financial analysis.
• Track project commitments, change orders, and budget variances.
• Support operational reporting and financial decision-making across business units.

Financing & Treasury

• Prepare construction financing draw packages and supporting documentation for lenders and consultants.
• Manage progress billings, holdbacks, and supplier disbursements.
• Provide information required for lender reporting and covenant compliance monitoring.
• Prepare operating cash flow forecasts for assigned entities.
• Act as a day-to-day contact for lenders and financing partners.

Property & Operational Accounting

• Manage property accounting activities, including rent roll administration, recoveries, property taxes, insurance, and portfolio reporting.
• Oversee cost accounting activities related to inventory, equipment costing, work-in-progress, and divisional cost of sales.
• Track vendor financing agreements and redemption obligations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to internal controls and financial processes.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class otherwise protected under applicable human rights legislation. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled and all other qualified applicants

The Successful Applicant

• CPA designation, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Strong experience within construction, real estate development, property management, or related industries.
• Proven expertise in job costing, project budgets, and construction financing draws.
• Experience working within a multi-entity environment and managing intercompany transactions.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using accounting and/or project management ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to operate independently.
• Comfortable building structure and processes in an evolving environment.
• English required; French considered an asset.

What's on Offer

• Base salary up to $130,000.
• Comprehensive group benefits program.
• 3+ weeks of vacation.
• Direct reporting relationship with the CFO.
• Hybrid schedule, with 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home
• Opportunity to help build and shape a growing finance function.
• Broad exposure across real estate, construction, property management, and operating businesses.
• High-impact role with significant visibility and influence within the organization.