Strategic Real Estate Controller – Multi-Entity Finance Lead

Nichols Contracting Inc.; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health Insurance (Medical, Dental and

PTO

Employer Paid Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Holidays and much more

Job summary

Nichols Companies in Columbia, MD seeks a Real Estate Controller to lead accounting, financial reporting, and controllership for its real estate portfolio and holding company. This hands-on role collaborates with ownership and a third-party property manager to ensure audit-ready books, standardized reporting, and strong internal controls.

Reporting to the Founder and President, it offers growth as the business expands and requires building a high-trust finance function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA or MBA is a plus.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including in real estate and multi-entity environments.
• Experience with real estate (directly or overseeing a third-party property manager's accounting function) is required.
• Strong command of consolidations, intercompany accounting, and entity-level reporting.
• Comfortable operating with significant autonomy and very close collaboration / access to ownership.
• Excellent communicator who can translate financial detail into clear, actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to build and mentor a team as the business grows.

Responsibilities

• Direct Controllership for a defined set of real estate entities; standardize COA and reporting cadence.
• Oversee third-party property manager's controller and accounting team; review financials and lender reporting.
• Lead recurring close processes and holding company reporting; manage cash and distributions.
• Manage liquidity; banking relationships and short-term cash forecasting.
• Prepare consolidated and entity-level financial packages with commentary on trends.
• Design internal controls; manage tax advisors and multi-state compliance timelines.
• Oversee personal property tax filings across jurisdictions; track deadlines.
• Coordinate cost segregation studies with outside specialists.
• Maintain corporate records, resolutions, and annual filings; track renewals.
• Deliver lender and investor financials, rent rolls, and covenants on time.

Skills

Accounting

Finance

Real estate accounting

Consolidations

Intercompany accounting

Entity-level reporting

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance

CPA or MBA (bonus)

Job description

Nichols Companies in Columbia, MD seeks a Real Estate Controller to lead accounting, financial reporting, and controllership for its real estate portfolio and holding company. This hands-on role collaborates with ownership and a third-party property manager to ensure audit-ready books, standardized reporting, and strong internal controls.

Reporting to the Founder and President, it offers growth as the business expands and requires building a high-trust finance function.