Portfolio Accountant, LaSalle Debt Investors

Financeroles; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

LaSalle Investment Management in Chicago seeks a Portfolio Accountant to support debt fund operations under Fair Value GAAP. You will work with the Portfolio Controller on essential accounting and reporting, including SEC filings and investor communications, while advancing automation through AI tools.

The role emphasizes accurate financial reporting, collaboration across teams, and growth within a fast-paced investment environment in a global platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• 1–3 years of professional accounting experience in public accounting, fund accounting, or financial services.
• CPA designation strongly preferred; commit to CPA certification for career progression.
• Solid GAAP knowledge; ability to prepare complex journal entries and reconciliations.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, complex formulas); familiarity with AI-enabled workflows.
• Eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close for debt fund portfolios under Fair Value GAAP.
• Prepare consolidation files for SEC filings (10-Q, 10-K) with Portfolio Controller oversight.
• Post journal entries, review NAV packs, and coordinate quarterly/annual reporting with tax prep.
• Coordinate cash transactions: investor subscriptions/distributions, invoices, quarterly fees.
• Lead AI-driven process improvements to automate recurring accounting tasks.
• Analyze investment performance returns; perform quarterly financial analysis for accuracy.
• Identify operational challenges and collaborate with off-site managers to improve reporting.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Advanced Excel

Attention to detail

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA aspirant

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Portfolio Accountant – LaSalle Investment Management

Location: Chicago, 4 days a week in-office

What this job involves:

Join LaSalle Debt Investors (LDI), a specialized platform within LaSalle Investment Management, as a Portfolio Accountant supporting our debt fund operations. In this strategic role, you'll work directly with the Portfolio Controller to manage essential accounting and reporting processes for debt portfolios utilizing Fair Value GAAP accounting standards. This position offers an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to debt fund accounting while contributing to critical SEC reporting requirements and investor communications. You'll be at the forefront of innovation, helping to transform traditional accounting workflows through AI-driven automation and process enhancement initiatives. If you're an analytically-minded accounting professional with CPA aspirations who thrives in a fast-paced investment environment and wants to shape the future of financial reporting through technology, this role offers exceptional growth potential within a global investment management platform.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close activities for debt fund portfolios utilizing Fair Value GAAP, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting deliverables.
• Prepare consolidation files for SEC filings including 10-Q and 10-K reports, working closely with the Portfolio Controller to ensure regulatory compliance and reporting accuracy.
• Prepare and post journal entries, review NAV packs from the accounting administrator, and coordinate quarterly and annual reporting alongside tax requirement preparation.
• Coordinate with the cash management team to execute investor subscriptions and distributions, invoice payments, quarterly fee processing, and other critical cash transactions.
• Lead AI-driven process improvement initiatives to automate recurring accounting tasks, enhance efficiency in financial statement preparation, and eliminate manual processes across the reporting cycle.
• Calculate, analyze, and report investment performance returns while conducting quarterly financial analysis and reviewing investment accounting information for accuracy.
• Proactively identify operational challenges, develop creative solutions, and collaborate with off-site managers and clients to continuously improve financial reporting effectiveness and client service delivery.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited institution with 1-3 years of professional accounting experience in public accounting, fund accounting, or financial services.
• CPA designation strongly preferred; candidates must be committed to achieving CPA certification as a requirement for future career progression within LaSalle Investment Management.
• Strong technical knowledge of GAAP accounting principles with ability to prepare complex journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement components.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, complex formulas) and working knowledge of AI tools with demonstrated interest in applying technology to accounting workflows.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Fair Value accounting, debt fund structures, or exposure to SEC reporting requirements (10-Q, 10-K filings) in an investment management or financial services context.
• Familiarity with NAV calculations, performance return methodologies, or investment-level accounting in alternative investment funds.
• Prior experience with financial consolidation processes, fund administration platforms, or accounting systems used in institutional investment management.
• Demonstrated track record of process improvement initiatives, particularly involving automation, workflow optimization, or technology implementation.
• Natural curiosity about emerging AI technologies with willingness to evaluate, pilot, and champion new tools as part of the team's continuous improvement agenda.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines in a dynamic environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to explain technical accounting matters clearly to non-financial stakeholders and collaborate effectively across teams.

What LaSalle Investment Management Offers:

A comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' well-being and work-life balance, including health benefits (medical, dental, vision, mental health support and additional ancillary insurance plans), generous paid time-off including paid company holidays, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability, and additional care/wellness programs. Financial wellness is supported through a 401(k) plan with a company match, flexible spending accounts, and health savings account options. All benefits subject to hired employees meeting requirements for eligibility.

US Jobs Only: This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Expected compensation for this position:

90,000.00 – 100,000.00 USD per year

Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location: On-site –Chicago, IL

Opening Type: New Role

At LaSalle, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment.

Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest.

Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job‑related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.

California Residents only

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, JLL will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.