Accounting Controller

Controller, Real Estate Development Accounting

Location: Miami, FL

Client Type: Confidential large-scale real estate / development-focused organization

Function: Controller / Corporate Accounting / Development Accounting

Work Environment: Corporate office-based role

Position Overview

A confidential large-scale real estate and development-focused organization is seeking a Controller, Real Estate Development Accounting to lead a specialized accounting function tied to development-related activity, financial controls, close processes, reporting, and operational accounting discipline.

This role carries enterprise-level accountability for a complex accounting area involving development-related receivables, budget monitoring, reclassifications, accounting controls, and management reporting. The Controller will ensure accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and compliance with U.S. GAAP, while partnering cross-functionally with finance, operations, treasury, internal audit, procurement, and senior leadership.

The ideal candidate is a forward-looking accounting leader with strong technical accounting knowledge, public company or large-company experience, and the ability to modernize accounting workflows through automation, process improvement, and AI-enabled tools. This person should be comfortable leading teams, challenging legacy processes, and translating financial reporting into actionable business insight.

Key Responsibilities

The Controller will own and oversee a specialized real estate development accounting process within a large, complex enterprise environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Own the accounting process for a specialized development-related portfolio, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and compliance with U.S. GAAP.
• Oversee accounting activities involving development-related receivables, budget monitoring, account reclassifications, and complex program-related accounting treatment.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including review of journal entries, account reconciliations, account analysis, and financial results for management reporting.
• Review financial results, accounting matters, and key reporting insights with executive leadership.
• Oversee the design, maintenance, and improvement of accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls tied to the specialized accounting area.
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors and support annual audits and quarterly reviews.
• Lead end-to-end process optimization and automation initiatives that improve operational efficiency, scalability, compliance, and data visibility.
• Drive automation and agentic AI-enabled solutions to reduce manual workflows, improve reporting quality, and enhance accounting process visibility.
• Direct cross-functional partnerships to enhance systems, automate workflows, and improve data quality.
• Stay current on the evolving impact of AI and automation on accounting processes, controls, workflows, reporting, and team skill requirements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including FP&A, Procurement, Operations, Treasury, Internal Audit, and other business partners.
• Mentor, develop, and guide team members to foster professional growth, accountability, and high performance.
• Translate automated financial reports and accounting outputs into actionable business advice for senior leadership.
• Own additional responsibilities aligned with business growth, accounting transformation, and process innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• CPA required.
• 10 years of accounting experience through the controller level.
• Public accounting and/or public company experience preferred.
• Real estate, development, construction, project accounting, or related industry experience preferred.
• Experience in a large, complex, multi-entity or multi-location organization preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP.
• Experience working in a SOX-compliant environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional partners, executive leadership, and operational stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to motivate, mentor, develop, and manage a team.

Preferred Systems & Technical Experience

Experience with one or more of the following is preferred:

• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
• Essbase
• Hyperion
• BlackLine
• Power BI
• Alteryx
• Agentic AI or LLM tools such as Copilot or Claude
• ERP systems, close/reporting tools, analytical tools, and other digital technologies impacting the record-to-report process

Automation, AI & Process Improvement Experience

The ideal candidate will bring a forward-thinking approach to accounting transformation, including:

• Highly analytical and innovative problem-solving ability.
• Demonstrated track record of process improvement and automation deployment.
• Experience using agentic AI-enabled tools to improve accounting processes and daily operations.
• Ability to design effective prompts and configure AI agents to support accounting efficiency.
• Strong understanding of how automation, data, and AI-enabled solutions can improve accounting workflows, reporting, controls, and scalability.
• Demonstrated use of process improvement frameworks such as Lean or Six Sigma to drive measurable efficiency gains.
• Understanding of digital technologies and their impact on the record-to-report process.

Physical / Office Requirements

This is primarily a sedentary corporate office position. The role requires the ability to operate computer equipment, communicate effectively, bend, stoop, reach, lift, move, and carry up to 25 lbs. Finger dexterity is required.

Additional Notes

This job description outlines the general responsibilities and requirements for the position. It is not intended to be a complete listing of all duties. Responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.