Property Controller

Leap Brands; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Leap Brands is hiring a Property Controller in Huntington Beach, California, to manage accounting operations for a commercial real estate portfolio. Responsibilities include overseeing financial closes, compliance with GAAP, and leading a team of Accounting Managers. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of real estate accounting experience and strong leadership skills. The role offers an opportunity to improve processes and work closely with executive leadership on strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of real estate accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or Controller-level role.
• Strong understanding of commercial real estate office, retail, industrial, or mixed-use portfolios.
• Expertise with industry-standard accounting systems (Yardi, MRI, RealPage, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes for a multi-property commercial real estate portfolio.
• Review and approve financial statements and compliance documentation.
• Manage all property-level budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Coordinate annual audits and tax filings with external partners.

Skills

Leadership

Real Estate Accounting

GAAP Compliance

Financial Reporting

Budgeting & Forecasting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Yardi

MRI

RealPage

Job description

We are seeking a strategic and detail-driven Property Controller to oversee all accounting operations for a growing commercial real estate portfolio. This leader will manage a team of Accounting Managers and ensure accurate financial reporting, compliance, and operational excellence across multiple properties.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment, understands the nuances of CRE accounting, and can elevate processes, systems, and people.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes for a multi-property commercial real estate portfolio.
• Review and approve financial statements, rent rolls, CAM reconciliations, balance sheets, and income statements.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, investor requirements, loan covenants, and internal controls.
• Manage all property-level budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Lead and mentor a team of Accounting Managers and property accounting staff.
• Establish performance standards, coach team members, and support career development.
• Implement best practices, improve workflows, and enhance overall department efficiency.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, lease administration accounting, and property cash management.
• Partner with Property Management to ensure accurate billing, CAM allocations, tenant ledger accuracy, and maintenance of financial integrity across all properties.
• Support onboarding of new acquisitions, including system setup, chart of accounts creation, and historical data absorption.

Audit & Compliance

• Coordinate annual audits and tax filings with external partners.
• Ensure all accounting processes meet internal audit and regulatory standards.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date internal controls for all accounting functions.
• Optimize use of property management and accounting software such as Yardi, MRI, RealPage, or similar platforms.
• Identify opportunities to automate reporting, streamline workflows, and improve data accuracy.

Strategic Support

• Partner with executive leadership on financial modeling, asset strategy, refinancing events, and investor reporting.
• Contribute insights that help improve property performance and long-term asset value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA strongly preferred).
  7+ years of real estate accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or Controller-level role.
  Strong understanding of commercial real estate office, retail, industrial, or mixed-use portfolios.
  Deep experience with CAM reconciliations, lease structures, property budgeting, and multi-entity reporting.
  Expertise with industry-standard accounting systems (Yardi, MRI, RealPage, etc.).
  Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
  Excellent communication skills with the ability to partner across departments and communicate with ownership groups.

Success Looks Like

• Clean, timely closes every month across all properties.
• A well-developed accounting team operating with clarity, consistency, and ownership.
• Proactive financial insights that help improve asset performance.
• Scalable systems and processes that support portfolio expansion.