Fund Accounting - Senior Controller (PE)

Petra Funds Group; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (medical, dental, and

HSA employer contributions

401(k) employer match

Flexible paid time off

Generous holiday calendar

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Petra Funds Group is seeking a Senior Controller to lead fund accounting operations for a portfolio of private equity clients. This senior, client-facing role owns the full relationship lifecycle from onboarding through ongoing administration, directing accuracy and timeliness of all deliverables.

The Senior Controller mentors teams, drives process improvements, and partners with Petra’s leadership on strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of progressive work experience in accounting or audit, with a preference for private equity, fund administration, or public accounting.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to complete tasks promptly; strong integrity and ethics.
• Undergraduate degree required; MBA a plus; CPA preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end client relationships from proposal through ongoing administration.
• Direct staffing strategy and oversee training of engagement teams.
• Design, implement, and refine procedures and controls governing deliverables to ensure quality and consistency.
• Lead the design of partnership allocation models across client bases.
• Oversee investor communications, capital calls, distributions, and statements.
• Provide final review of management fees, invoices, and journal entries; oversee cash reconciliations.
• Review fund financial statements and management reporting; supervise audits with external auditors.

Skills

Client relationship management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Project management

Education

Undergraduate degree

MBA

CPA

Tools

Investran Live

DX

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About Us

Petra Funds Group is a single-source provider for fund administration and infrastructure needs for private equity and debt funds. At Petra, we enable fund managers to focus on the tasks that add the most value to their businesses and leave the rest to us.

Petra is made up of highly experienced professionals across the US and Europe. In a business where accuracy and timeliness are paramount, having a deep bench who’ve spent years working with asset managers is what differentiates us.

Our foundation is built on trust, experience, and uncompromising accuracy. Our people are experts. We work collaboratively. We are relentless in our process and put attention to detail first.

Petra is seeking a Senior Controller to lead fund accounting operations for a portfolio of private equity clients. This is a senior, client-facing leadership role responsible for owning the full client relationship lifecycle, from onboarding through ongoing administration, while directing the accuracy, quality, and timeliness of all fund accounting deliverables. The Senior Controller will oversee complex partnership structures, drive process and controls improvement, mentor and develop team members, and serve as a strategic partner to both clients and Petra’s senior leadership. This individual will be a key decision-maker on technical accounting matters, investor reporting, and audit oversight, and will play a central role in shaping how Petra scales its service delivery for PE clients.

Responsibilities:

• Own end-to-end client relationships as the senior point of accountability, from proposal and engagement implementation through ongoing administration, ensuring service delivery aligns with client expectations and Petra’s standards
• Direct staffing strategy and oversee the training and development of engagement teams, ensuring the right talent and skill sets are in place to meet client needs
• Design, implement, and continuously refine procedures and controls that govern internal and external deliverables, driving consistency and client satisfaction across engagements
• Lead the design and implementation of partnership allocation models based on complex partnership agreements across a diverse client base
• Serve as a subject matter expert on key systems, including Investran Live and DX, guiding best practices in their application
• Direct the preparation and review of investor communications, including capital call and distribution notices and capital balance statements, ensuring accuracy and clarity across all client relationships
• Oversee the review and approval of investment transactions recorded in the Investran Live general ledger system
• Provide final review and sign-off on management fee calculations, invoices, and journal entries
• Oversee daily and monthly cash reconciliation processes across partnerships and related portfolio companies, ensuring integrity of cash positions
• Provide senior-level review and final approval of fund financial statements (Statements of Assets and Liabilities/Partners’ Capital, Operations, Partners’ Capital, and Cash Flow) and management reporting, including IRR performance summaries and investment transaction reports
• Partner directly with the Director/Senior Director to set direction on strategic projects and client inquiries, providing senior oversight and final review of staff-prepared materials, including general ledger entries, quarterly work papers, audit confirmations, and LP requests
• Provide final review and validation of private equity benchmark returns, including gross/net MOIC and IRR, TVPI, RVPI, and DPI
• Lead audit readiness and oversight for interim and annual audits across client fund partnerships, serving as the primary relationship owner with external auditors

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of progressive work experience in accounting or audit, with a preference for private equity, fund administration, or public accounting experience.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to complete tasks promptly.
• Willingness to take on additional ad-hoc tasks and projects.
• Ability to build and maintain advanced spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of Investran Live.
• Excellent analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills with a team approach.
• Unquestionable integrity and ethics.
• Undergraduate degree required, MBA a plus.
• CPA preferred but not required.

Salary Range

At Petra Funds Group, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring practices. The compensation range for this position is $122,000 - $183,000 per year. This range represents the base salary only. Actual pay will depend on factors such as qualifications, experience, and skills.

How We Care

We believe people do their best work when they feel supported - personally and professionally. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to your well-being. Our perks include:

• 90% covered medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums to help you stay healthy without financial strain.
• Fully funded Health Savings Account (HSA) employer contributions up to the IRS maximum - available to employees enrolled in our high-deductible health plan. *
• 401(k) employer match at 100% of your contributions up to 5% of compensation, with immediate vesting, so you start building long-term savings right away.
• Flexible paid time off to recharge, travel, or take care of what matters most.
• Generous holiday calendar to ensure you have time to rest, reflect, and celebrate throughout the year.
• Hybrid work environment that offers flexibility and supports work-life balance.

*Funded amount is prorated for new hires.

What We're Proud Of

We're proud of many milestones, but we're especially honored by the recognition we've received for our workplace experience:

• Certified Great Place to Work, based on direct feedback from our employees about trust and overall culture.
• Fortune Best Medium Workplaces and Best Financial Services & Insurance Workplaces, highlighting our commitment to building an environment where people thrive.