Financial Controller

The Nautical Group; Pinehurst (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nautical Group is seeking a Director of Finance to lead the finance and accounting function for its real estate development portfolio. You will ensure accurate reporting, cash management, and compliance across entities while partnering with executive leadership on strategic initiatives and investor reporting.

You will oversee a high-performing team, drive budgeting and forecasting, and deliver insightful financial analysis to guide decisions and optimize profitability across development and

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and operational accounting principles.
• Experience leading and developing a finance team.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and cash flow.
• Experience in commercial real estate is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing others and strategic financial leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize department workflows, ensuring timely, accurate deliverables.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance Department to foster accountability and growth.
• Serve as senior escalation point for complex accounting issues.
• Lead regular finance meetings to align priorities and communicate effectively.
• Provide financial analyses and recommendations for strategic decisions and investor reporting.
• Present financial findings, trends, and cash flow insights to executives.
• Monitor performance against budgets and forecasts and explain variances.
• Partner with leaders to develop accurate budgets and manage expenditures.
• Oversee billing operations and ensure timely collections and issue resolution.
• Contribute to financial trackers, pro formas, reconciliations and analyses.
• Collaborate with the COO on annual operating budget and profitability improvements.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Leadership

Budgeting

Cash flow management

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Job description

The Director of Finance provides leadership and oversight for the finance and accounting department, ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective cash management, and compliance across all entities. This role partners with executive leadership on strategic initiatives, investor reporting, and departmental development.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize department-wide workflows, ensuring timely, accurate, and high-quality completion of key deliverables.
• Lead, mentor, and develop all members of the Finance Department, fostering a high-performing team culture centered on accountability, professional growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as senior escalation point for complex accounting and operational issues.
• Lead weekly 1:1 meetings and department-wide meetings to promote effective communication, collaboration, team engagement, and alignment on priorities.
• Provide financial analysis, insights, and recommendations to support strategic and operational decision-making (investor financial reports, executive leadership reports, etc.).
• Lead finance-focused meetings presenting financial findings, trends, and insights (cash flow, development and construction budgets and billings, etc.).
• Monitor actual financial performance against budgets and forecasts and explain significant variances (development and construction revenue reports, annual operating, etc.).
• Partner with department leaders to develop accurate, realistic budgets and manage expenditures.
• Oversee billing operations, ensuring accuracy, timely collections, and appropriate resolution of escalated customer billing matters.
• Oversee and contribute to recurring financial trackers, budgets, pro formas, reconciliations, and financial analysis projects.
• Work with the COO to develop the annual operating budget and identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability.

Cash, Tax & Compliance

• Oversee the organization's accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, investments, general ledger, and cash management.
• Manage cash positions across all entities, monitoring liquidity requirements and funding needs to ensure sufficient resources are available for operational and capital expenditures.
• Ensure daily account reconciliations are completed accurately and timely.
• Compile and present recurring cash flow and liquidity reports to the Leadership team.
• Review tax returns and coordinate with external tax advisors to support timely, accurate, and compliant tax filings and reporting.
• Monitor TICAM projections and billings and ensure alignment with financial expectations.
• Manage and track cost segregation activities in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in the annual insurance renewal process, providing financial analysis, documentation, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee bank account management, transactions, documentation, and other banking-related activities.
• Partner with CFO and Executive Leadership Team with special projects and financial research.
• Monitor accounts receivables associated with bank loans and identify trends, outstanding balances, and potential risks.
• Establish, approve, and implement departmental procedures and controls to strengthen operational efficiency, accountability, and financial integrity.
• Foster cross-departmental communication and collaboration regarding procedural development, troubleshooting, and training.
• Provide executive-level support to the CFO and assume key financial leadership responsibilities in the CFO's absence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance (master's preferred).
• 10+ years of accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and operational accounting principles.
• Experience in commercial real estate is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing others.
• CPA strongly preferred.

Our client is one of the area's premier corporate real estate developers, led by an experienced executive team with deep expertise across development, construction, and business development.