Fund Controller

Korn Ferry; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is exclusively retained to help appoint a Controller for a growth-oriented private equity platform. The role oversees fund controllership, financial reporting, and fiscal operations across multiple vehicles while partnering with senior leadership and external providers.

The ideal candidate brings deep private markets experience, a demonstrated ability to scale finance teams, and a track record of enhancing reporting processes and technology in a high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience in private markets.
• Deep understanding of private fund accounting, US GAAP, ASC 946 and investor reporting.
• Strong hands-on fund administration and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial reporting and controllership across PE, infra and co-invest vehicles.
• Oversee fund accounting, valuations, capital calls, distributions, audits and LP reporting.
• Strengthen LP reporting capabilities and investor communications.
• Collaborate with Investor Relations and fundraising teams.
• Develop and lead the internal fund accounting team.

Skills

Private equity accounting

Fund reporting

Team leadership

GAAP knowledge

Technology adoption

Investor relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Fund administration software

Investor portals

Workflow tools

Job description

Korn Ferry has been exclusively retained to lead the search for a Controller on behalf of a highly successful, growth-oriented private equity firm focused on investing across the infrastructure and essential services sectors.

Now in its second decade as an institutional private equity platform, the firm builds on more than 35 years of operating and investing experience across complex infrastructure-related industries.

The organization has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding from approximately $4 billion to $7 billion in AUM, with a longer-term objective of reaching approximately $10 billion of AUM by 2029. Today, the platform includes multiple flagship private equity and infrastructure funds alongside a significant number of co-investment vehicles, creating a sophisticated and increasingly complex fund environment.

As the firm enters its next stage of growth, leadership is continuing to invest in the infrastructure supporting the platform. The Controller will play a central role in that evolution.

The Controller will oversee the firm's fund controllership and financial reporting activities while serving as a key partner to senior leadership, Investor Relations, investment professionals, and external service providers.

The role is particularly important given the increasing scale and transaction volume across the platform. The firm's finance organization has successfully managed substantial growth, but its next Controller will be expected to further institutionalize the function by strengthening fund-level reporting, improving LP reporting processes, leveraging technology, and helping evolve the firm's external fund administration model.

The opportunity is well suited for a technically strong private markets finance leader who enjoys operating at scale, remains close to the details, and can balance traditional fund accounting expertise with process improvement, technology, and team leadership.

Key Areas of Impact

• Lead the financial reporting and controllership activities across the firm's private equity, infrastructure, and co-investment vehicles.
• Oversee fund accounting, tax coordination, valuations, expense allocations, carried interest and waterfall calculations, GP/LP allocations, quarterly financial statements, capital calls, distributions, audits, and related fund reporting.
• Strengthen the firm's LP reporting capabilities, ensuring accurate and timely quarterly reporting, capital activity, and investor communications.
• Partner closely with Investor Relations and fundraising teams to respond to investor requests and provide accurate financial information throughout fundraising and ongoing investor engagement.
• Serve as a senior relationship owner with the firm's external fund administrator
• Continue advancing the firm's use of technology and automation across fund finance, building on recent investments in investor-facing portals and workflow tools.
• Ensure compliance with partnership agreements, subscription agreements, side letters, credit agreements, and other governing documents.
• Partner with leadership on fund liquidity and financing matters, including capital calls, credit facilities, NAV financing, margin facilities, derivatives, hedging, and other fund-level financing activity.
• Coordinate closely with external auditors and tax advisors, including the firm's outsourced tax compliance and provision work.
• Provide reporting, analysis, and insight to senior investment and operating leadership regarding fund performance and financial activity.
• Lead and develop the internal fund accounting team while ensuring strong execution across a high-volume and increasingly complex fund environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, ideally combining a strong technical foundation with experience in private equity, infrastructure investing, or another private markets environment.
• Deep understanding of private fund accounting, U.S. GAAP, ASC 946, fund economics, waterfalls, GP/LP allocations, financial reporting, audit, tax, and investor reporting.
• Strong hands-on understanding of fund administration processes and the ability to operate effectively at a detailed fund controllership level.
• Experience managing or transitioning third-party fund administrators would be particularly valuable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage significant transaction and reporting volume across multiple funds and investment vehicles.
• Experience implementing technology, reporting tools, automation, or other process improvements within a fund finance organization.
• Proven team leadership capabilities, including reviewing work product, developing talent, delegating effectively, and maintaining accountability for financial deliverables.
• Strong communication skills and the executive presence to interact credibly with senior investment and operating leaders.

The position may be based in New Orleans or Baton Rouge, Louisiana; or Nashville, Tennessee and requires a in-office presence. Relocation support is available for candidates who are not currently located in one of these markets.

The firm offers a highly competitive compensation package, including meaningful long-term participation through carried interest.