Controller

Controller (Real Estate)

The Controller is responsible for overseeing accounting operations and financial reporting for their assigned geographic markets, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across payroll allocations, commissions, billings, cash activity, and month-end close. This role partners closely with market finance leadership, Corporate FP&A, and brokerage/operations teams, to support operational decision-making.

Essential Duties Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all accounting activities for assigned markets, including billing, cash activity, payroll allocations, commissions, and month-end close.
• Review and approve administrative and operating invoices in accordance with company policy and internal controls.
• Review, update, and maintain payroll allocations for brokers, property management, and support teams, including calculating and posting retroactive payroll allocation adjustments.
• Calculate, review, and record commission payouts in accordance with broker agreements and compensation plans.
• Prepare, coordinate, and record weekly and biweekly payroll billings tied to real estate service agreements.
• Prepare, coordinate, and record pre-development and pursuit activities related to affiliated real estate transactions. Coordinate with Treasury to process earnest money deposits.
• Prepare, coordinate, and record client invoices for all billable services, including brokerage, leasing, and property-related fees.
• Track and maintain billing schedules to ensure all expected billings are completed accurately and on time.
• Validate contract abstraction to ensure service terms, fee structures, and billing triggers are accurately captured.
• Complete revenue recognition and deferral adjustments in accordance with GAAP and client contract terms.
• Prepare, review, and approve balance sheet reconciliations, including commissions payable, contract-related balances, accrued expenses, and prepaid expenses.
• Review bank reconciliations for accounts under the Controller's responsibility.
• Prepare and record monthly accruals, including accrued commissions and incentive compensation.
• Review expenditures for appropriate fixed asset capitalization and prepare and review depreciation entries.
• Reconcile intercompany balances and resolve discrepancies in coordination with corporate accounting teams.
• Review monthly financial statements and analyze significant month-over-month and budget-to-actual variances.

Collaboration & Business Partnership

• Partner with Market Finance Leaders to support forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis for assigned markets.
• Review accounts receivable activity and coordinate with Market Finance Leaders on large outstanding balances, collections risks, or significant receipts.
• Respond to financial and operational data requests from Market Finance Leaders and Corporate FP&A.
• Support operational decision-making by interpreting and explaining financial results to non-financial stakeholders.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of accountants and accounts payable and accounts receivable clerks, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee day-to-day workflow, prioritize activities, and ensure appropriate segregation of duties and internal controls across the team.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities to build a high-performing accounting organization.
• Drive process improvements and standardization across billing, commissions, payroll allocations, and close activities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and internal control standards across all accounting functions

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in real estate services, brokerage, property management, or professional services environments, including 5+ years in leadership positions.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, revenue recognition, commission accounting, and internal controls.
• Proven ability to manage complex billing, commission, and payroll allocation processes.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively with brokers, market leaders, and finance teams.

Key Competencies

• High attention to detail and financial accuracy
• Strong organizational and deadline management skills
• Ability to interpret and explain financial results to operational leaders
• Proactive, solution-oriented approach with strong ownership mentality