Staff Accountant — West Los Angeles, California | Pacific Executive Search

Staff Accountant

(Job ID: 2048)

West Los Angeles, California

Hybrid

Direct Hire

Real Estate

$70,000 – $80,000 base

Apply Now

Overview

Supporting the accounting operations of a Southern California real estate investment and development firm with a diverse portfolio, this position offers hands-on experience in financial reporting, audit coordination, and month-end close processes. Situated within a hybrid work setting in Los Angeles, the role provides exposure to investment vehicles and collaboration with external partners, ideal for an early-career accountant aiming to deepen expertise in GAAP-based accounting and financial analysis.

Title: Staff Accountant
Industry: Real Estate Development and Investment
Location: West Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Process and verify accounts payable and receivable transactions, ensuring adherence to internal controls and accurate documentation before approval.
Maintain precise records of invoices, payments, and journal entries within the accounting system to uphold data integrity and compliance with accounting standards.
Perform bank reconciliations and monitor account statuses to resolve discrepancies and support effective cash flow management.
Assist with monthly and year-end closing activities, including preparation of consolidated financial statements and analysis of investment partner reports.
Serve as a point of contact for auditors and external tax professionals, facilitating audit procedures and tax filing coordination.
Support the management of fixed assets and inventory records, ensuring accurate tracking and valuation in line with accounting policies.
Contribute to process improvements within accounting workflows and provide administrative support as needed across departments.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited four-year institution.
- At least one year of professional experience in an office environment, preferably in accounting or finance.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis tools such as pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and complex formulas.
- Basic knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting principles.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively and follow established procedures.
- Business-level fluency in English and the ability to work both independently and within a team.
Nice-to-Have:
- Experience with accounting software platforms.
- Familiarity with audit processes and tax compliance coordination.
- Interest in pursuing CPA certification or advancing a career in accounting or finance.

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.
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.
Why is cost accounting experience often treated as a separate requirement?
Because cost accounting is not just a line item on a resume. In the right environments, it shapes how the business understands margins, inventory, production efficiency, and operating performance. Employers usually separate it out because general accounting strength alone does not guarantee sound judgment in a costing environment.

Staff Accountant

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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