Chief Financial and Operating Officer

The Quest Organization; Washington; On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

The Quest Organization is assisting a privately held real estate development and investment firm in seeking a Chief Operating Officer to oversee finance, property management, development, and construction.

This executive will partner with ownership to drive growth, improve operational performance, and guide the next phase of the company, leading senior leaders and implementing best-in-class processes within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.
• 20+ years in real estate operations & development.
• Senior leadership experience in multifamily-focused firms.
• Deep Class A multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial expertise.
• Strong real estate finance, accounting, and capital structuring.
• Ground-up development and lease-up of large multifamily projects.
• Proven ability to drive growth with vertically integrated platforms.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations across Finance & Accounting, Property Management (res & com), Development, Construction, and Risk Management
• Partner with ownership on strategic planning, growth initiatives, and capital deployment
• Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and profitability across all business lines
• Serve on Investment Committee and Executive Leadership Team
• Lead, mentor, and manage senior leadership, including CFO and division heads
• Implement best-in-class processes, systems, and reporting infrastructure
• Participate in investment, development, and asset management decision-making
• Foster a high-performance, entrepreneurial culture across the organization

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Real estate development

Operations management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

CPA

Job description

Our client is a privately held, fully integrated real estate development and investment firm with a long-standing history and strong growth trajectory. The company specializes in high-quality multifamily and mixed-use developments, with a focus on design excellence, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation. With in-house capabilities across development, construction, and property management, the firm has completed billions in real estate transactions and developed thousands of residential units throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for overseeing and optimizing core business operations across finance, property management, development, and construction. This individual will partner closely with ownership to drive strategic growth initiatives, enhance operational performance, and help guide the next phase of the company’s evolution.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day operations across Finance & Accounting, Property Management (residential and commercial), Development, Construction, and Risk Management
• Partner with ownership on strategic planning, growth initiatives, and capital deployment
• Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and profitability across all business lines
• Serve on the Investment Committee and Executive Leadership Team
• Lead, mentor, and manage senior leadership, including CFO and division heads
• Implement best-in-class processes, systems, and reporting infrastructure
• Participate in investment, development, and asset management decision-making
• Foster a high-performance, entrepreneurial culture across the organization

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred
• 20+ years of experience in real estate operations & development
• Proven experience in a senior leadership role (COO, President, or CFO/COO hybrid) within a multifamily-focused organization
• Deep expertise in Class A multifamily assets; mixed-use and commercial experience preferred
• Strong background in real estate finance, accounting, and capital structuring
• Experience with ground-up development and lease-up of large-scale multifamily projects
• Demonstrated success managing vertically integrated platforms
• Strategic, growth-oriented executive with strong operational instincts
• Hands-on leader with the ability to execute while thinking long-term
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and emotional intelligence
• Effective communicator with strong presentation and stakeholder management skills
• Collaborative, low-ego leadership style with the ability to influence across all levels
• Proven ability to drive results in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment