Commercial Real Estate Controller

Talent Edge Recruiting; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life insurance

401(k) with 3% company match

Paid time off

10 paid holidays

Job summary

Talent Edge Recruiting seeks a Real Estate Controller to own the accounting and financial operations for a growing commercial real estate portfolio. This newly created leadership role offers the chance to build out the real estate accounting function and establish processes that scale with the business.

You will lead month-end close, CAM reconciliations, tenant billing, and reporting while partnering with executive leadership to drive portfolio performance and financial strategy onsite in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with Yardi.
• Demonstrated experience independently owning and completing CAM reconciliations.
• Controller-level experience or strong Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller ready to step into broader ownership.
• Experience building, improving, or scaling an accounting function.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of accounting and financial operations across the commercial real estate portfolio.
• Lead the buildout and continued development of the real estate accounting function, including processes, SOPs, controls, and reporting.
• Own and oversee CAM reconciliations across the portfolio.
• Lead month-end close and ensure timely, accurate property-level and consolidated financial reporting.
• Oversee property accounting, tenant billing, AP, AR, general ledger, bank reconciliations, and intercompany activity.
• Manage lease accounting, revenue recognition, escalations, and percentage rent.
• Prepare and oversee property-level income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, NOI reporting, occupancy reporting, and rent rolls.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and detailed variance analysis.
• Oversee construction and development accounting, including job costing, WIP reporting, CAPEX tracking, lien releases, and asset component tracking.
• Manage property tax, insurance, fixed assets, depreciation schedules, and accrual accounting.
• Oversee debt schedules, lender reporting, and covenant compliance.
• Manage accounting across multiple entities and ownership structures.
• Evaluate existing processes, identify gaps, and introduce scalable accounting best practices.
• Build, develop, and lead a small real estate accounting team.
• Serve as a trusted financial partner to the executive leadership team and provide insight into portfolio performance, liquidity, cash flow, and financial strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Yardi

Job description

Build the Function. Own the Real Estate Portfolio. Make an Impact.

We are seeking a polished, hands‑on Real Estate Controller to take ownership of the accounting and financial operations for a growing commercial real estate portfolio.

This is not a role where you will simply inherit an established department and maintain existing processes. This is a newly created leadership position with the opportunity to build out the commercial real estate accounting function, establish processes and best practices, develop a team, and work side‑by‑side with executive leadership.

The ideal candidate brings a strong commercial real estate accounting background, understands the complexities of property and development accounting, and is comfortable taking full ownership of CAM reconciliations. We are looking for someone who can operate strategically while remaining close enough to the details to build the function the right way.

What You’ll Do

• Take ownership of accounting and financial operations across the commercial real estate portfolio
• Lead the buildout and continued development of the real estate accounting function, including processes, SOPs, controls, and reporting
• Own and oversee CAM reconciliations across the portfolio
• Lead month‑end close and ensure timely, accurate property‑level and consolidated financial reporting
• Oversee property accounting, tenant billing, AP, AR, general ledger, bank reconciliations, and intercompany activity
• Manage lease accounting, revenue recognition, escalations, and percentage rent
• Prepare and oversee property‑level income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, NOI reporting, occupancy reporting, and rent rolls
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and detailed variance analysis
• Oversee construction and development accounting, including job costing, WIP reporting, CAPEX tracking, lien releases, and asset component tracking
• Manage property tax, insurance, fixed assets, depreciation schedules, and accrual accounting
• Oversee debt schedules, lender reporting, and covenant compliance
• Manage accounting across multiple entities and ownership structures
• Evaluate existing processes, identify gaps, and introduce scalable accounting best practices
• Build, develop, and lead a small real estate accounting team
• Serve as a trusted financial partner to the executive leadership team and provide insight into portfolio performance, liquidity, cash flow, and financial strategy

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required
• Strong hands‑on experience with Yardi required
• Demonstrated experience independently owning and completing CAM reconciliations
• Strong understanding of property accounting, lease structures, and commercial real estate operations
• Experience with construction/development accounting and job costing
• Previous experience within a multi‑entity environment strongly preferred
• Controller‑level experience or a strong Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller ready to step into broader ownership
• Experience building, improving, or scaling an accounting function
• Proven ability to lead and develop a small team
• Strong financial reporting, month‑end close, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls experience
• Polished and professional communication style with the ability to work effectively with executives, operational leaders, and cross‑functional teams

Who Will Thrive Here

You are a builder, not just a maintainer. You enjoy walking into an environment where there is an opportunity to create structure, improve processes, and leave your fingerprints on how a department operates.

You are equally comfortable diving into a CAM reconciliation, reviewing property‑level financials, developing a new SOP, and sitting down with executive leadership to discuss the financial performance of the portfolio.

Most importantly, you are a team player. You are polished, collaborative, approachable, and willing to roll up your sleeves. You bring ideas to the table without ego and understand how to build relationships across an entrepreneurial, fast‑moving organization.

Why This Opportunity?

• Newly created leadership role with the ability to build the real estate accounting function
• Direct partnership with senior and executive leadership
• Opportunity to become the dedicated accounting leader for a significant and growing commercial real estate portfolio
• Ability to build and develop your own team
• High visibility and meaningful influence over processes, reporting, controls, and future growth
• Entrepreneurial environment where new ideas and best practices are encouraged
• Long‑term opportunity to grow alongside an expanding real estate division
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with 3% company match
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays

This is an onsite leadership position for someone who wants to be embedded in the business, build relationships with leadership and their team, and play an active role in developing the commercial real estate finance function.

If you are a commercial real estate accounting professional who wants more than maintaining someone else’s playbook — and you are excited by the opportunity to build the department, own the function, and have a seat at the table — we’d love to connect!