Controller

Broekema Group; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Broekema Group seeks an experienced Controller to lead its property accounting across a multi-market portfolio. You’ll supervise a team from Assistant Controllers to AR/AP, drive close cycles, budgeting, and reporting, and partner with senior leadership.

This role emphasizes building controls, improving systems, and owning acquisitions-related accounting. Based in Los Angeles, a CRE background is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance required.
• 7+ years progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Leadership experience supervising an accounting team.
• Strong knowledge of property accounting and financial reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with property systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycles with accuracy.
• Manage CAM and tenant recovery reconciliations and disputes.
• Drive annual property budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Direct AP/AR/collections and general ledger activity.
• Develop policies, controls, and reporting for scale.
• Maintain insurance certificates and coordinate renewals.
• Oversee property acquisitions, dispositions, and transitions.
• Prepare accounting support for audits, tax, lenders, and ownership.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

MRI

Avid

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Our client is an established retail real estate owner and operator with a portfolio that spans multiple markets across the country. They're looking for a Controller to lead their property accounting function and keep financial reporting accurate and on time across the portfolio. The role manages a team that includes Assistant Controllers, Property Accountants, and the accounts receivable, accounts payable, and collections groups, and it works closely with senior leadership. This position is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Why This Role Stands Out:

• You'd run the full property accounting function and manage a team that reaches from Assistant Controllers through accounts receivable, accounts payable, and collections.
• It's a boutique firm, so you get the scale of a large portfolio along with fast decisions and direct access to senior leadership.
• There's real room to improve systems and controls here. They want a builder, not just someone to keep the books.

Responsibilities:

• Run the monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycles, reviewing financial statements, general ledger activity, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and supporting schedules so reporting stays accurate and on schedule.
• Manage CAM and tenant recovery reconciliations, including billing adjustments and resolving tenant disputes.
• Drive the annual property budgeting cycle, reviewing finished budgets and delivering forecasting, variance analysis, and the financial context leadership needs to make decisions.
• Direct accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, and general ledger activity.
• Build and refine accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, systems, and reporting to improve accuracy, efficiency, and the ability to scale.
• Keep property insurance certificates current for managed centers and gather the information needed for annual blanket policy renewals and workers' compensation audits.
• Handle property insurance claims and coordinate with brokers, property teams, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Lead and mentor the accounting team by setting clear expectations, giving regular feedback, holding people accountable, and building a collaborative culture.
• Own the accounting side of property acquisitions, dispositions, and management transitions.
• Assemble accounting support and reporting for audits, tax preparation, ownership, lenders, and other outside parties.
• Work alongside Property Management and senior leadership to resolve accounting issues, sharpen processes, and support business decisions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Proven leadership experience supervising, developing, and guiding an accounting team.
• Strong command of property accounting, financial reporting, general ledger work, reconciliations, close cycles, CAM reconciliations, tenant recoveries, and property budgeting.
• Advanced Excel skills plus direct experience with property management or accounting systems.
• Experience applying AI and emerging technologies to improve accounting workflows, reporting, and decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in commercial real estate, retail real estate, or property management accounting.
• Experience with MRI (strongly preferred) and Avid (a plus).
• A track record of strengthening controls, solving problems, and managing multiple priorities and deadlines with strong accuracy and attention to detail.

Compensation:

*The above represents the lowest to highest expected salary range for this job opening upon hire. Our client ultimately may pay more or less than the posted salary range, and the salary range may be modified in the future. Our client will consider job-related factors including, but not limited to, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs when determining pay.