Real Estate Finance Project Manager

Buchalter; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Buchalter seeks a Real Estate Finance Project Manager to support attorneys in managing complex commercial real estate financing transactions. You will coordinate workflows, closing checklists, and due diligence, ensuring deadlines and closing conditions are met while communicating with clients, lenders, title companies, and teams.

The role emphasizes organized, detail-oriented work across multiple transactions, with collaboration between attorneys, paralegals, and staff to maintain accurate

Qualifications

• Experience supporting commercial mortgage, construction loan, or CRE transactions.
• Prior experience in a law firm, title company, lender, or CRE environment is preferred.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of transaction workflow from inception to closing and post-closing.
• Create and update closing checklists for real estate finance transactions.
• Monitor dates, deliverables, and milestones for timely completion.
• Coordinate collection and distribution of documents among parties.
• Provide status updates to attorneys and transaction teams.
• Organize due diligence materials across departments and parties.
• Ensure diligence items are followed up and deficiencies addressed before closing.
• Prepare closing calendars and coordinate loan document delivery.
• Facilitate communication among participants to satisfy closing conditions.
• Maintain complete transaction records and post-closing binders.

Skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Independent work

Education

Experience in law firm/CRE environment

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Document management systems

Job description

The Real Estate Finance Project Manager serves as a key member of the firm’s real estate finance practice, supporting attorneys in the management and execution of commercial real estate financing transactions. This role is responsible for coordinating transaction workflows, managing closing checklists, overseeing due diligence processes, tracking deal progress, and facilitating communication among attorneys, paralegals, staff, clients, title companies, and other transaction parties. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and experienced in managing multiple complex transactions simultaneously while ensuring deadlines are met and closing requirements are satisfied.

Key Responsibilities:

Transaction Management

• Manage all aspects of transaction workflow from deal inception through closing and post-closing.
• Create, maintain, and update comprehensive closing checklists for real estate finance transactions.
• Monitor critical dates, deliverables, and transaction milestones to ensure timely completion.
• Coordinate the collection, review, and distribution of transaction documents among all parties.
• Track deal status and provide regular updates to attorneys and transaction teams.
• Organize and manage legal, financial, title, survey, zoning, and property due diligence materials.
• Coordinate with clients, borrowers, lenders, title companies, consultants, and other transaction parties to obtain required diligence items.
• Maintain diligence trackers and identify outstanding items requiring follow-up.
• Review diligence submissions for completeness and elevate issues to attorneys as appropriate.
• Assist in identifying and resolving diligence deficiencies prior to closing.

Closing Process Support

• Prepare and manage closing checklists and closing calendars.
• Coordinate execution and delivery of loan documents and closing deliverables.
• Facilitate communication among transaction participants to ensure satisfaction of closing conditions.
• Track closing requirements and verify completion of all pre-closing obligations.
• Assist attorneys with preparation for closing calls and closing logistics.
• Coordinate with closing binder specialist for post-closing deliverables and maintenance of complete transaction records.

Client and Team Coordination

• Serve as a central point of contact for transaction-related communications.
• Schedule transaction meetings, diligence calls, and closing discussions.
• Foster effective communication among internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with team members post-closing for timely delivery of closing binders.

Process Improvement

• Develop and maintain standardized transaction management procedures and templates.
• Recommend improvements to diligence tracking, document management, and closing processes.
• Assist with implementation and optimization of legal technology and transaction management platforms.

Qualifications

Education

Experience

• Experience supporting commercial mortgage, construction loan, or other real estate finance transactions preferred.
• Prior experience in a law firm, title company, lender, or commercial real estate environment preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and document management systems.
• High attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and clients.

Core Competencies

• Transaction Management
• Closing Administration
• Project Planning and Organization
• Risk Identification and Escalation
• Process Improvement
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail

Success Metrics

• Timely completion of transaction milestones and closings.
• Accuracy and completeness of closing checklists and diligence tracking.
• Reduction of closing delays and unresolved diligence issues.
• Attorney and client satisfaction.
• Effective management of multiple concurrent transactions.
• Quality and consistency of transaction reporting and documentation.

This position plays a critical role in helping attorneys efficiently manage complex real estate finance transactions while ensuring a smooth and organized path to closing.

A career at Buchalter is an opportunity to do exciting work with a dynamic and rapidly growing law firm. We value an energizing and supportive environment that promotes success for our clients and each other.

Pay Scale: The reasonably expected pay scale for this non-exempt (hourly) position is $72,000-$90,000. This is an employer estimate and the salary offered within that range, and the potential for bonus and bonus amount, will depend on experience.