Stockyards Controller

ABOUT THE FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS
The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic and vibrant commercial district where Texas heritage meets modern opportunity. From retail and dining to office and entertainment spaces, the Stockyards support a thriving mix of businesses while welcoming millions of visitors each year. This is a place where tradition and growth come together, offering an environment rich in history, culture, and potential.

WHO WE’RE SEEKING
We’re looking for a strategic, hands-on leader who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments and can inspire teams to achieve excellence. The ideal candidate is a creative problem solver with strong commercial real estate accounting experience, exceptional analytical skills, and a talent for building structure, processes, and high-performing teams. You’ll be a collaborative partner, capable of challenging the status quo, developing innovative solutions, and contributing to the continued growth and success of the Stockyards commercial portfolio.

Job Purpose:
The Controller is responsible for building, leading, and overseeing the accounting function for the Stockyards Heritage commercial real estate portfolio, consisting of approximately 280,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use space and more than 50 tenants. This role provides strategic financial leadership during a period of growth and operational transformation, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all portfolio financial reporting. The Controller will establish departmental structure, elevate processes, implement controls, and lead a high-performing accounting team. The ideal candidate brings deep commercial real estate accounting experience, a strong command of GAAP, exceptional analytical capability, and the ability to develop creative solutions in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting Accounting Operations
•    Develop and maintain accounting principles, practices, policies, and procedures to ensure timely and accurate internal and external financial reporting.
•    Lead and review all aspects of general ledger management, account reconciliations, month-end close, and monthly/quarterly/annual financial statements.
•    Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and payroll processes.
•    Manage accounting functions and system integrity within Yardi; identify and resolve system issues to support accurate reporting.
•    Record and maintain fixed asset activity—including acquisitions, capitalization, dispositions, transfers, and depreciation—while ensuring accurate roll-forward schedules.
•    Reconcile mortgage, loan, and reserve balances.
•    Lead annual NNN reconciliations and define/maintain expense categorization standards.
•    Establish meaningful departmental metrics to monitor transactional accuracy, operational efficiency, and team performance.
•    All other duties as assigned. 
Financial Analysis, Risk, Compliance
•    Analyze financial data to identify trends, performance drivers, and opportunities for operational or financial optimization.
•    Oversee monthly budget monitoring, variance analyses, reforecasts, and financial modeling.
•    Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements; coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues.
•    Partner with Treasury to forecast cash needs at weekly, monthly, and long-range intervals; support bank account administration.
•    Lead and participate in audits, regulatory filings, compliance reviews, and internal control assessments.
•    Review leases, agreements, contracts, and other documents from an accounting compliance perspective.
•    Conduct balance-sheet risk assessments and maintain documentation standards, ensuring all balances are supported by appropriate source documents.
•    Coordinate entity tax returns with third-party CPA partners.
•    Prepare and coordinate annual 1099 filings.
Strategic Planning Implementation
•    Partner with ownership, management, and cross-functional stakeholders to include the General Manager and VP of Finance to implement strategies that enhance operational efficiency and financial performance.
•    Evaluate, streamline, and improve accounting processes, procedures, systems, and controls.
•    Support strategic decision-making through scenario planning, feasibility analyses, and financial modeling.
•    Champion continuous improvement and help drive a culture of operational excellence

Physical Requirements:

•    Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use up to 8 hours per day.
•    Ability to lift up to 15 lbs as needed.
•    Occasional standing, walking, and file retrieval.

Supervisory Requirements:

•    Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the accounting department, ensuring effective staffing, workload management, and operational excellence.
•    Supervise the Senior Accountant and future team members responsible for GL management, AP/AR, fixed assets, and reporting functions.
•    Lead hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and ongoing development of accounting personnel.
•    Establish clear expectations, review deliverables for accuracy and compliance, and foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
•    Conduct performance management, including evaluations, feedback, and corrective actions as appropriate.
•    Ensure adherence to accounting policies, internal controls, and regulatory compliance requirements.
•    Manage relationships with external vendors, auditors, consultants, and service providers supporting accounting operations.

Required Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field and active CPA required.
•    7–10 years of experience in a Controller or Controller-equivalent role.
•    Extensive experience in commercial real estate accounting (retail, office, industrial, or mixed-use).
•    Advanced proficiency in Yardi.
•    Demonstrated leadership experience, including building and developing accounting teams.
•    Strong understanding of GAAP, financial reporting standards, and compliance requirements.
•    Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
•    Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving, multi-entity environment.
•    Alignment with Stockyards Heritage Core Values.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Experience in a startup, growth-stage, or transformational business environment.
•    Experience with hospitality-adjacent or mixed-use commercial real estate portfolios.
•    Familiarity with process improvement methodologies and change management.

Stockyards Heritage Development Co. complies with all laws prohibiting discrimination against employees and applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, or veterans' status.