Controller - Merit Commercial Real Estate

Position Summary:

The Controller is responsible for maximizing the return on financial assets by establishing financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems. They are also responsible for enhancing the financial viability of the company through the effective management of the Property and Construction Accounting Functions through, job cost audits and reports, profit and loss reports, general and admin monthly reporting/tracking, journal entries, and other key accounting functions.

Key Performance Outcomes:

• Prepare and publish monthly corporate financial statements by the 15th day following month end
• Review and publish operating property financial statements by the 10th day of the following month
• Answer all correspondence in 48 hours
• Financial statements will be 100% balanced with the monthly draws
• Financial Analysis performed as needed by date given on request: Claims, Job Cost Analysis, Monthly G&A Analysis, Monthly Credit Card Analysis
• Ensure 100% of A/R invoices are received and are acceptable

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain financial statements and accounting for all Corporate Entities
• Manage annual Tax Preparation process and work with 3rd party Auditor and Tax Preparer to ensure timely and accurate tax filings for the MERIT corporate entities and all real estate project partnerships
• Manage the accounting team, and ensure all MERIT and 3rd Party projects have accurate and timely financial statements
• Manage and oversee the construction team’s reporting processes with the company and to the various project teams and company stakeholders
• Recommend and develop improved systems, policies and procedures for the construction and accounting teams
• Plan and implement workflow procedures for the construction and accounting teams
• Review and approve all journal entries made by the construction accounting teams
• Review all draws prepared by the accounting team
• Submit all reviewed and approved draws to all third-party clients
• Monitor and maintain the corporate credit card program which entails approving reports
• Monitor overall day to day issues arising in software systems in regard to any accounting function
• All billings are to be produced by the appropriate program and submitted to third party Owners by contractual due date
• Job billings should be reconciled to job cost each month
• All adjustments to the billings should be done properly and not manually adjusted
• Cash flow should be managed very closely (i.e. timely outgoing billings and timely collections)
• Preparation and review of Profit Fluctuation and Excess Cost Schedules
• Prepare and email Financial Packages to CEOs for review and then appropriate parties following month-end reports
• Receive and review all JCRWs and Profit Calculation Worksheets and assist project teams with issues such as change orders, billings, setup, etc
• Prepare and distribute monthly JCRW deep dive Schedules
• Monitor job cost tabs, fee tracker, contingency tracker and GC projections for each project
• Conduct one (1) subcontractor survey per month
• Set up new contracts in appropriate program
• Lead in the management, training, and retention of quality employees within department
  • 3-4 direct reports in Accounting
  • Liaison to 3rd Party Accounting firm for Tax and Audit
• Complete month-end and year-end close processes
• Work with departmental teams to prepare annual budgets and monthly financial reporting
• Provide status of financial condition by collecting, interpreting, and reporting financial data
• Assist in the preparation of the annual corporate budget; report material budget variances to the CEOs on a monthly basis
• Prepare, publish and present monthly corporate financial statements
• Coordinate the preparation of regulatory reporting; manage and comply with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings.
• Consistently comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements
• Develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 10 years of experience in accounting or similar field required (construction and property accounting experience required)
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field required
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, databases and accounting software (Yardi experience desired)

Competencies:

• Analytical Skills & Attention to Detail – ability to structure and process qualitative or quantitative data, draw insightful conclusions from it and does not let important details slip through the cracks or derail a project
• Organization and Planning – ability to plan, organize, schedule and budget in an efficient, productive manner and focus on key priorities
• Efficiency – ability to produce significant output with minimal wasted effort
• Proactivity and Flexibility – ability to act without being told what to do while bringing new ideas to the company and adjusts quickly to changing priority and conditions
• Communication and Teamwork – ability to speak and write clearly and articulately without being overly verbose or talkative. Also, reaches out to peers and cooperates with supervisors to establish an overall collaborative working relationship