Controller

Cobalt Recruitment; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment seeks a seasoned Controller to own accounting and financial reporting for a Midtown Manhattan CRE portfolio and its investment entities. Lead a five-accountant team, ensure clean closes, and validate numbers for ownership, partners, and investors.

The role covers full-cycle accounting, investor distributions, regulatory filings, audits, and lender reporting, with a focus on NOI drivers and internal controls. CPA and 10+ years CRE experience required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance required; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of accounting experience in commercial real estate or investment firms.
• Strong leadership and ability to manage a team of 5+ accountants.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of five property and fund accountants.
• Own full-cycle accounting across portfolio and investment entities.
• Calculate and process monthly investor distributions and preferred return payments.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Oversee year-end audits, tax workpapers, and regulatory filings (RPIE).
• Maintain lender reporting relationships and assist with refinancing activities.
• Drive process improvements and strengthen internal controls.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA

Tools

Yardi

Excel

Job description

A well-established commercial real estate investment firm in Midtown Manhattan is seeking a Controller to own accounting and financial reporting across the portfolio and its investment entities. This is a hands-on leadership seat for someone who can run a team, close the books cleanly, and stand behind the numbers for ownership, partners, and investors. You will manage a team of five accountants and report to ownership.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of five property and fund accountants.
• Own full-cycle accounting across the portfolio and its investment entities, at both the property and fund level.
• Calculate and process monthly investor distributions and preferred return payments across joint venture and equity structures, including waterfall calculations.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for owned and managed properties and investment entities.
• Partner with the investments and asset management teams on performance reporting and NOI drivers.
• Support acquisitions and dispositions accounting, including closings and purchase accounting.
• Oversee financial statement preparation and year-end audit and tax workpapers for outside accountants.
• Own NYC regulatory filings, including RPIE.
• Maintain lender relationships and deliver required reporting, including support for refinancing's.
• Record and reconcile monthly principal, escrow, and interest against loan statements.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management, ensuring all transactions are recorded and adequately funded for upcoming requirements.
• Monitor major recurring expenses, including utilities and real estate taxes.
• Prepare monthly tenant billings and annual CAM and real estate tax true-ups.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations.
• Drive process improvements and strengthen internal controls.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance. CPA required.
• 10+ years of accounting experience in commercial real estate, ideally at an owner or investment firm.
• Previous experience in public accounting preferred.
• Strong command of joint venture and investor structures, distributions, and waterfalls.
• Proven experience managing and developing an accounting team.
• Strong proficiency in Yardi.
• Advanced Excel.
• Sharp, highly organized, and comfortable owning the numbers in a demanding, deadline-driven environment.