Assistant Controller — South Orange County, California | Pacific Executive Search

Assistant Controller

(Job ID: 1976)

South Orange County, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Services and Legal

$120,000 – $150,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic and collaborative team as an Assistant Controller, where you will play a crucial role in overseeing the financial operations of a respected real estate investment and land development organization. This position offers the opportunity for professional growth and development, particularly as you prepare to step into a leadership role following the retirement of a long-tenured Controller. Embrace a culture that values innovation, teamwork, and stability, while making a meaningful impact in a small, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

Oversee the maintenance of general ledger and accounting records for multiple real estate entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, delivering timely financial statements and supporting schedules for management review.
Process payroll and ensure compliance with payroll-related reporting and regulations.
Coordinate accounts payable, cash management, and bank reconciliations to optimize financial operations.
Collaborate with external tax advisors and auditors to support tax filings and annual reporting requirements.
Track project-related expenditures and maintain accurate records for real estate development activities.
Assist in financial analysis, budgeting, cash flow monitoring, and ad hoc reporting to support ownership decision-making.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive accounting experience, with a background in a senior accounting role such as Assistant Controller or Accounting Manager.
Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, financial reporting, payroll, and month-end close processes.
Ability to operate independently and manage the full accounting cycle in a small-company environment.
Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and effective communication abilities.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience in real estate, land development, or property management.
Familiarity with partnership accounting and real estate tax concepts.
Exposure to cost segregation studies and real estate-focused tax structures.
Experience with Sage Timberline / Sage 300 Construction & Real Estate or similar accounting systems.
CPA designation or public accounting experience is a plus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why do accounting roles in real estate often require a different kind of operator?
Because entity structures, property-level reporting, intercompany activity, partnership considerations, and ownership reporting can create a more structurally complex environment than many standard corporate settings. Real estate accounting roles usually demand a candidate who understands the operating rhythm of the business, not just the debits and credits.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.