Assistant Controller

Description

The Beach Company is seeking an Assistant Controller – Real Estate Accounting to join our growing accounting team in Charleston, South Carolina. This role is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing real estate accounting activities while actively contributing alongside the team.

For over 75 years, The Beach Company has been a privately owned, full-service real estate investment and development firm. Headquartered in Charleston, we have developed or are actively developing over 30 projects totaling more than $1.7 billion in costs. Our operating portfolio includes 1.3 million square feet of mixed-use, retail, and office space, along with more than 2,500 apartment units. The company has also raised its second $75+ million fund to acquire stabilized multifamily and mixed-use properties. In addition, The Beach Company owns a site improvement general contractor, as well as residential and commercial brokerage businesses, making us one of the largest and most dynamic private companies in South Carolina.

Reporting to the VP, Controller & Treasurer, this position will serve as a senior leader within the accounting function, with primary responsibility for team leadership, execution, and hands-on oversight of real estate accounting activities. The ideal candidate will lead from the front, balancing team management with direct involvement in accounting, problem-solving, and execution.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of accounting professionals across development, property, and fund accounting.
• Establish clear expectations, drive accountability, and ensure consistent execution across the team.
• Actively review team output while stepping in as needed to support deliverables and meet deadlines.
• Provide hands-on coaching, mentorship, and real-time feedback to elevate team performance.
• Maintain direct involvement in accounting activities, including complex areas, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
• Support and, when necessary, execute key components of the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
• Review and prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial schedules as needed.
• Stay closely connected to underlying transactions and activity to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Oversee accounting and financial reporting for development projects and operating real estate assets.
• Direct fund-level accounting and investor reporting.
• Maintain integrity of the general ledger across multiple entities and ownership structures.
• Partner with the treasury function to ensure alignment between accounting records and cash activity.
• Support accurate recording and classification of cash transactions, intercompany activity, and capital movements.
• Oversee preparation and review of financial statements and supporting schedules.
• Lead coordination of external audits, including financial statement and lender/investor reporting.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and reporting requirements.
• Drive improvements across accounting workflows to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Identify gaps in execution and implement practical, hands-on solutions.
• Support system enhancements, integrations, and automation initiatives.
• Coordinate with third-party and outsourced accounting partners to ensure quality and consistency.
• Partner with development, asset management, and property management teams to ensure alignment.

Candidate Qualifications

• Experience: 8–12+ years of progressive accounting experience, within real estate.
• Player-Coach Mentality: Demonstrated ability to both lead a team and roll up sleeves to execute.
• Leadership: Proven track record of leading and developing accounting teams in a multi-entity environment, while maintaining a hands-on approach to execution and problem solving.
• Technical Expertise: Deep of real estate accounting.
• Operational Strength: Proven ability to manage processes while staying close to the details.
• Systems: Experience with MRI, Procore, Nexus, inBill, or similar platforms preferred.
• Audit: Experience leading audits and working with external stakeholders.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; CPA preferred.