Portfolio Controller

Overview

Overseeing a portfolio valued in the tens of billions, this leadership role within a specialized real estate investment advisory firm offers direct influence over fund administration and portfolio accounting for institutional separate accounts and joint ventures. Based in either Los Angeles or Denver, the position demands a seasoned accounting professional with deep expertise in real estate investment structures, financial reporting, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders including investment managers and third-party providers. This is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team while shaping accounting standards and reporting methodologies in a complex, multi-vehicle investment environment.

Title: Portfolio Controller
Industry: Unknown
Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

• Guide and expand a skilled team responsible for portfolio accounting, fund administration, and comprehensive financial reporting across institutional real estate investments.
• Manage daily fund administration tasks including capital calls, distributions, cash movements, and coordination of quarterly reporting with internal and external partners.
• Oversee the consolidation and review of property-level and manager-level financial data to produce accurate portfolio-level financial statements and investment committee materials.
• Analyze portfolio valuation metrics such as NAV and GAV, investigate discrepancies, and collaborate with analytics teams to support performance attribution.
• Serve as the primary finance liaison for investment managers and outsourced accounting providers, ensuring compliance with reporting standards and resolving accounting issues.
• Maintain data integrity and consistency across accounting systems, standardize chart of accounts mappings, and lead initiatives to automate and improve reporting processes.
• Partner closely with portfolio management to prepare client presentations, support strategic initiatives, and enhance operational workflows within the investment platform.

Qualifications

• Must-Have:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with CPA designation strongly preferred.
  • 10 to 15+ years of progressive experience in institutional real estate investment accounting, fund administration, or private equity real estate.
  • Proven leadership experience managing teams supporting institutional portfolios or investment management platforms.
  • In-depth knowledge of institutional separate accounts, programmatic joint ventures, NAV calculations, waterfall structures, and valuation methodologies.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial modeling and data analysis; familiarity with real estate accounting platforms such as RealPage, Yardi, MRI, or Pereview.
  • Strong understanding of GAAP and real estate investment accounting principles, including capital account management and financial statement review.
  • Experience collaborating with outsourced accounting providers and third-party property managers.
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to distill complex financial information for senior leadership and clients.
• Nice-to-Have:
  • Experience with process automation and accounting system enhancements.
  • Background in preparing or reviewing audit materials and responding to due diligence inquiries.
  • Familiarity with investment operations platforms and strategic portfolio management support.