Financial Controller

We are looking for an experienced Financial Controller to join our growing firm. We run a real estate lending platform focused on lending to property entrepreneurs in the residential ‘fix & flip’ market, and we run a fund that is marketed directly to accredited investors and RIAs (with both a Cayman feeder and US fund). We also have two institutional investors that provide additional lines of funding for our origination.

Ideally, you will have a strong understanding of real estate lending and funds management and will be capable of taking on a leadership role within our firm. You will have a wide range of responsibilities, from running payroll, budgets and forecasts, preparing monthly management accounts for key stakeholders, through to controlling all aspects of the finances for our group. You will quickly gain a grasp of the business, which will allow for us to optimize our processes and controls, and importantly, our cash and utilization across our various sources of capital.

You will start with one accountant, who is already on your team, but you will need to grow and lead the finance team as the business continues to scale.

We are based in Santa Monica, and this is an office-based role.

Responsibilities include, under your leadership:

• Help evolve our group’s financial reporting, forecasting, and budgets.
• Collaborate with the team to help the business achieve our group’s financial goals and objectives.
• Monitor the group’s financial performance on a proactive basis.
• Guide management through financial decisions and maximize our return on financial assets.
• Manage and monitor all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems to ensure compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the group's balance sheet(s).
• Maintain appropriate internal controls and safeguards around our capital, expenditure, and our group budgets.
• Establish financial and operating benchmarks, KPI’s, budgets, and reporting standards as required by the business’s needs.
• Regular reconciliation and reporting of all loan-related transactions, including preparing reports as required by our institutional investors.
• Accounting for payroll and benefits.
• Oversee implementation of financial systems and process improvements to support business growth.
• Manage relationships with external auditors and ensure audit readiness.
• Help our fund administrator with NAV calculations, investor distributions and reporting.
• Engage with our institutional investors regarding the finances of our group, and our loan portfolios.
• Lead project management for system implementations and process optimization initiatives.
• Effectively managing all aspects of the finances across our group.

Experience required:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or professional accreditation, such as a CPA.
• 7+ years of previous experience in accounting, ideally with experience in both funds management and real estate lending.
• A strong working knowledge of and experience working with QuickBooks.
• Knowledge of accounting rules, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to the financial services industry.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines (month-end, quarter-end, investor reporting cycles).

Benefits:

• Compensation package commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive medical insurance
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• 10 paid leave days a year
• Office lunch twice a week, good coffee, and endless snacks
• Parking in our building