Controller – Commercial Real Estate Development

Controller – Commercial Real Estate Development

Palm Beach Gardens, FL | ECP Partners

Company Description

ECP Partners is a high-growth, people-oriented merchant developer of commercial real estate headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. We acquire and entitle sites, then develop and sell client-driven projects, including single-tenant retail, retail healthcare, grocery-anchored shopping centers, infill sites, and small commercial subdivisions. We also provide fee-based development services for national retail and grocery clients. We're a hard-working team committed to excellence, but we also prioritize people over profits, value work/life balance, and believe in building a culture that’s both supportive and fun. Learn more at www.ecpdev.com.

Position Overview

ECP Partners is seeking a Controller to lead our accounting and financial operations and to own accounting and finance for both the firm and its portfolio of project entities. This role is ideal for a motivated, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment and is eager to grow alongside the company.

The Controller will lead firm accounting, cash flow reporting, project accounting, balance sheet integrity, AR/AP, and banking relationships. This is a hands-on role in a lean organization, ideal for someone who wants to build the accounting function and grow into increased responsibility as ECP expands.

Key ResponsibilitiesFirm Accounting and Cash Flow Reporting

·       Own the firm-level general ledger, monthly close, and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

·       Account for development, management, and other fee revenue, as well as reimbursable costs billed to clients and project entities.

·       Manage payroll, corporate overhead, and the annual operating budget, and report budget-to-actual performance to ownership.

·       Track and reconcile intercompany activity, cost allocations, and due to/due from balances between the firm and project LLCs.

·       Establish and maintain internal controls, approval authorities, and accounting policies appropriate for a multi-entity development company.

·       Prepare a monthly cash position report across the firm and all project entities.

·       Forecast equity contributions, capital calls, loan fundings, sale proceeds, and partner distributions.

·       Provide ownership with clear, timely visibility into liquidity, upcoming obligations, and cash needs for the development pipeline.

Project Accounting

·       Form and set up new project LLCs, including entity records, EINs, bank accounts, charts of accounts, and job cost structures.

·       Track job costs by budget line item and capitalize hard costs, soft costs, interest, and carry in accordance with GAAP.

·       Review contracts, change orders, and pay applications, and assemble construction draw packages with supporting invoices and lien waivers.

·       Review closing statements for acquisitions, dispositions, and ground leases; record sales and gain on sale; and manage escrow holdbacks and post-closing true-ups.

Balance Sheet

·       Reconcile all balance sheet accounts across the firm and project entities each month.

·       Maintain supporting schedules for land, construction in progress, capitalized costs, deposits and escrows, retainage, accrued interest, and debt.

·       Maintain equity roll-forwards for each entity, tracking contributions, distributions, and partner capital accounts.

·       Prepare consolidated and entity-level balance sheets and eliminate intercompany balances.

AR/AP

·       Manage accounts payable for the firm and all project entities, including invoice coding, approval workflow against contracts and budgets, and payment runs.

·       Confirm lien waivers, insurance certificates, and W-9s are in place before payment; maintain vendor records and issue 1099s.

·       Bill and collect development fees, reimbursable costs, tenant and purchaser reimbursements, and escrow releases.

Banking

·       Serve as the primary liaison with banks and construction lenders.

·       Open and manage operating and project bank accounts, treasury activity, and fraud-prevention controls such as positive pay and dual approval.

·       Prepare and submit construction loan draws and manage interest reserves.

·       Track and report loan covenants, financial reporting requirements, and maturities.

·       Support loan closings, extensions, and payoffs at sale, and coordinate letters of credit and bonds as needed.

Tax, Audit & Systems

·       Coordinate with external CPA firms on entity tax returns, K-1s, and any audits or reviews; maintain schedules and workpapers.

·       Track property tax, sales tax, and annual entity filing obligations for all entities.

·       Implement or upgrade accounting systems and workflows to scale with a growing number of entities and projects.

Qualifications

·       Demonstrates integrity, values teamwork, and is committed to delivering high-quality work.

·       Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (CPA a plus, not required).

·       5 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in real estate. Experience in construction accounting or multi-unit restaurant, retail, or hospitality accounting will be considered.

·       Hands-on experience managing the books for multiple LLCs or project entities at once, including intercompany activity and consolidations.

·       Experience in financial reporting, lender interaction, or project accounting.

·       Proficient in QuickBooks and Excel.

·       Strong communicator, highly organized, and self-starter.

Salary: $100-125k plus bonus

ECP Partners is an equal opportunity employer that values people, integrity, and continuous improvement. If you’re looking for a place where your contributions matter—and where you can grow with a company on the rise—we invite you to apply.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Mike Lucido at mlucido@ecpdev.com