Financial Controller

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in South Africa.

📋 Description

• Assume complete responsibility for financial data across various funds, holding companies, and management entities.

• Convert strategic assumptions into financial metrics to aid executive decision-making, manage risks, and optimize cash flow.

• Revamp and oversee interconnected property operating models, fund-level rollups, and annual budgets.

• Revise operating models with monthly actuals while maintaining linked, formula-driven calculations.

• Develop annual budgets for each property and entity; monitor budget versus actuals and clarify variances.

• Manage portfolio cash-flow forecasts that encompass operating cash, capex/construction draws, debt service, intercompany funding, and distributions.

• Compute quarterly investor distributions using fund waterfalls and facilitate payouts through InvestNext.

• Supervise the bookkeeper and ensure accurate monthly closes for funds, the management company, and holding entities.

• Conduct reconciliations, accruals, intercompany accounting, and ensure clean consolidations.

• Review monthly financial reports from property managers and address any discrepancies.

• Handle the complete accounts payable process, including coding, approvals, payment runs, vendor follow-ups, and fraud prevention controls.

• Streamline data pulls, reconciliations, variance analysis, and reporting through AI automation.

• Assemble lender and investor P&L and balance-sheet reporting packages.

• Within the first 90 days, enhance existing property and fund models, establish timely closes, create live cash forecasts and annual budgets, consolidate accounts payable, document distribution calculations, and automate at least two recurring workflows.

⛳️ Requirements

• C1 English proficiency is mandatory; all communication during work hours must be in English.

• A minimum of 5 years experience in real estate accounting/finance.

• Ideal candidates will have experience as a Controller or Senior Accountant at a real estate sponsor, syndicator, or private equity firm.

• Strong background in multi-entity operations, including consolidations, intercompany balances, accrual accounting, and consistent monthly closes.

• Preferred experience in fund accounting, particularly with investor distribution waterfalls, preferred returns, and profit splits.

• Proficient in advanced Excel or Google Sheets modeling.

• Demonstrated strong AI skills, involving hands-on use of Claude or ChatGPT for model building, auditing, reporting automation, or expediting closes.

• Experience managing a bookkeeper or a small accounting team is required.

• CPA certification or active progress towards it is preferred.

• Hospitality accounting experience is advantageous; familiarity with USALI is a plus.

• Preferred expertise in construction accounting, including draws, capex tracking, and construction loans.

• Experience in creating lender packages and managing bank refinances is preferred.

• Strong proficiency in modern AI automation tools, especially Claude.

• Familiarity with real estate and corporate accounting platforms, payroll systems, expense management, and investor portals such as InvestNext, QuickBooks, and Ramp.

• Submission of an English resume and an English audio recording is required.

• A publicly accessible 30–90 second Loom introduction video recorded in English must be submitted.

• An internet speed test screenshot must also be provided.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible remote work options.

• AI-driven, technologically advanced workflows.

• Opportunity to engage with commercial real estate investment and outdoor wellness resort assets.

• Role autonomy and an ownership mindset.

• Continuous opportunities for process improvement and automation.