Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller — South Bay, Los Angeles, California | Pacific Executive Search

Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller

(Job ID: 2089)

South Bay, Los Angeles, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Real Estate

$150,000 – $175,000 base

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Overview

A seasoned accounting professional will oversee comprehensive financial operations for a family office managing a diverse portfolio of real estate and private investments. This on-site role in Southern California demands expertise in multi-entity accounting, property-level reporting, and month-end close processes, with direct collaboration alongside senior leadership. The position offers deep exposure to real estate accounting complexities within a selective investment platform emphasizing quality stewardship.

Title: Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller
Industry: Family Office
Location: South Bay, Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end accounting cycle across multiple legal entities, including maintaining the general ledger, preparing journal entries, and performing account reconciliations.
Compile and deliver accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements aligned with GAAP standards.
Manage accounting activities related to real estate holdings, covering acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, capital expenditures, and detailed property-level financial reporting.
Collaborate with external auditors and tax professionals to facilitate annual audits and tax filings.
Monitor cash flow and support treasury functions to optimize liquidity management.
Evaluate and enhance accounting procedures and internal controls to improve operational efficiency.
Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and conducting specialized financial analyses to support strategic decision-making.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
- 5 to 10 years of progressive accounting experience with a strong focus on real estate accounting and multi-entity financial reporting.
- Proficient understanding of GAAP and month-end close processes.
- Hands-on experience managing complex ownership structures and property accounting.
- Advanced skills in Excel and familiarity with accounting software platforms.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work directly with senior executives in a hands-on capacity.
Nice-to-Have:
- Combination of public accounting and private industry experience.
- Previous exposure to family office or private investment environments.
- CPA designation or eligibility.
- Experience with partnership accounting and investment entity structures.
- Knowledge of real estate investment capital transactions and related accounting nuances.

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 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.

Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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