Senior Controller - CRE & Investor Reporting

The Equus Group; Deerfield (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Equus Group seeks a Controller to own a broad range of accounting, finance, reporting, and operational responsibilities across property-level activity, investor reporting, banking, debt, payroll, and entity management.

Ideal candidate brings 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in commercial real estate or complex environments, with familiarity in real estate accounting platforms like Yardi Voyager, payroll funding, and multi-entity leadership. CPA is not required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, ideally within commercial real estate or a similarly complex environment.
• Experience working in a multi-entity organization, preferably with dozens of legal entities.
• Background in commercial real estate accounting, including familiarity with property-level financials, CAM reconciliations, construction/development draws, and related concepts.
• Experience with Yardi Voyager or another comparable real estate accounting platform.
• Hands-on experience managing payroll, including payroll funding.
• Exposure to institutional investors, lenders, asset managers, or third-party ownership reporting.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with formulas and financial models.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a demonstrated ability to review financial work critically and identify errors.
• Ability to operate independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and take full ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with senior leadership and external partners.
• CPA is not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare recurring financial and performance reporting for ownership, investors, and external partners.
• Manage monthly and quarterly reporting deliverables, ensuring information is accurate, complete, and delivered on schedule.
• Partner closely with Asset Management to review property budgets, operating results, variances, capital activity, and development funding.
• Prepare and distribute investor NAV, returns, and capital activity information.
• Support funding requests and financial reporting associated with development projects.
• Oversee day-to-day corporate accounting activities, including monthly close, cash flow, budgets, intercompany activity, and management/asset management fees.
• Manage weekly accounts payable and check-run processes.
• Oversee corporate credit card activity, 1099s, K-1 distributions, and other recurring accounting requirements.
• Manage banking activity, including wires, ACH, positive pay, reconciliations, and cash movements.
• Coordinate financial information required for refinancing, lender reporting, and loan compliance.
• Maintain accounting and administrative requirements across a substantial portfolio of legal entities.
• Coordinate annual state filings, registered agents, entity formations and dissolutions, and beneficial ownership reporting.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure recurring regulatory and compliance obligations are completed on time.
• Manage the semi-monthly payroll process from preparation through funding.
• Coordinate retirement plan contributions, annual filings, compliance testing, workers' compensation, and benefits-related requirements.
• Support employee onboarding, offboarding, and ongoing benefits administration.
• Maintain and improve financial processes, controls, and written procedures.
• Help build scalable documentation and operating procedures across accounting and finance systems.
• Utilize technology and AI-enabled tools to streamline recurring work, while applying sound judgment to review outputs and identify discrepancies.
• Serve as a thoughtful second set of eyes on financial information before it reaches investors, lenders, ownership, or other external stakeholders.

Skills

Excel

Attention to detail

Independent work

Communication

Multi-entity experience

Real estate accounting

Tools

Yardi Voyager

Job description

The Equus Group seeks a Controller to own a broad range of accounting, finance, reporting, and operational responsibilities across property-level activity, investor reporting, banking, debt, payroll, and entity management.

Ideal candidate brings 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in commercial real estate or complex environments, with familiarity in real estate accounting platforms like Yardi Voyager, payroll funding, and multi-entity leadership. CPA is not required.