Fund Accountant — Greater Los Angeles, California | Pacific Executive Search

Fund Accountant

(Job ID: 2008)

Greater Los Angeles, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Real Estate

$90,000 – $100,000 base

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Overview

Managing the financial intricacies of a diverse real estate investment portfolio, this position offers direct involvement with a privately held platform specializing in high-quality assets across gateway and emerging markets. The role demands a sharp eye for detail in accounting and financial reporting, supporting a leadership team with deep industry expertise and a long-term investment perspective. Ideal for professionals with a background in public accounting and a focus on real estate or investment management clients, this position provides exposure to complex fund accounting and asset management processes.

Title: Fund Accountant
Industry: Real Estate Investment Management
Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Prepare and review detailed financial statements and reports in accordance with GAAP for multiple real estate investment funds.
Manage month-end close activities, including general ledger reconciliations and journal entries, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Coordinate audit procedures and liaise with external auditors to facilitate smooth and efficient financial audits.
Support budgeting and forecasting efforts by compiling and analyzing financial data relevant to portfolio performance.
Maintain compliance with tax regulations and assist in tax reporting related to real estate investment entities.
Collaborate with asset management teams to track investment performance and capital activity across funds.
Utilize accounting software and tools such as Excel and financial systems to streamline reporting and data management.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
- 1-2 years of experience in Big 4 or national public accounting firms, preferably with exposure to real estate or investment management clients.
- Strong understanding of fund accounting principles and financial statement preparation under GAAP.
- Proficiency in month-end close processes, reconciliations, and audit support.
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail in financial reporting and compliance.
- Effective communication skills to interact with internal teams and external auditors.
Nice-to-Have:
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and tax compliance within real estate investment contexts.
- Familiarity with accounting software such as NetSuite, QuickBooks, or SAP.
- CPA designation or progress toward certification.
- Knowledge of private equity or real estate investment fund structures and terminology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do companies mis-hire at the Senior Accountant level?
Because they hire based on task lists instead of ownership. Two candidates may both mention reconciliations, journal entries, and close support, but only one has truly owned balance sheet areas, resolved issues independently, worked directly with auditors, and operated with minimal supervision. Titles vary widely in the market. Ownership is the more reliable signal.
When is a Senior Accountant actually ready for promotion?
Usually when they stop simply executing assigned work and start identifying issues before they surface. Promotion to Accounting Manager or a broader leadership track is less about how many close tasks someone can perform and more about whether they have become a source of reliability, judgment, and escalation control.
Why are SaaS accounting and finance roles different from general corporate roles?
Because recurring revenue models create different pressure points around revenue recognition, deferred revenue, forecasting, metrics, and scale. Even strong general accounting or finance candidates can struggle if they have not operated in an environment where recurring revenue and growth-stage process discipline matter.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
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.
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.