
Portfolio Controller
AJ Capital Partners · Chicago, IL
- On site
- Full-time
- $130,000 / year
- Chicago, IL
Job highlights
- Manage financial reporting for real estate funds/JVs.
- Lead cash management and capital calls.
- Oversee audits and tax reporting.
- Ensure compliance with agreements.
- Support rapid company growth.
About the role
Portfolio Controller
About AJCP
Adventurous Journeys (AJCP) Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager founded in 2008. The firm repositions real estate to build timeless, scalable businesses and brand platforms. We deliver returns on transformative real estate by applying placemaking, inspired design, and hospitality principles to spaces overlooked or undervalued by traditional investment firms. The firm’s current portfolio includes $5.3 billion of assets across 100+ properties and 50+ geographic markets. With a mission to humanize hospitality through handcrafted projects made by people for people, AJCP delivers spaces that evoke emotional connections and become backdrops for enriching life experiences. Our headquarters are in Nashville, with offices in London, and Miami.About the Role
The Portfolio Controller will be responsible for the accurate and timely reporting of financial information for multiple real estate funds and joint ventures. This will include significant interaction with outside auditors, tax advisors, and fund administrators. The role will interface directly with a variety of groups within AJCP including Development, Asset Management, Capital Markets, Portfolio Management and Investor Relations.Fund Level Responsibilities
- Responsible for the monthly closing process, financial statement and quarterly investor statement preparation, and lender reporting packages for assigned real estate funds and/or joint ventures
- Responsible for the calculation of management fees, distribution waterfalls, and carried interest
- Lead cash management activities for your real estate funds and/or joint ventures, including working with the Portfolio Management, Capital Markets, Development, and Asset Management teams, as applicable, to process capital calls and distributions, forecast liquidity and estimated tax payments, manage payments for construction and other owner costs, coordinate loan draws and reserve account fundings, and optimize working capital needs across your assets
- Oversee the preparation of quarterly investor account statements
- Assist the Portfolio Management team in their process over fair market value calculations on the assets within assigned investment vehicles
- Manage the annual audit and tax reporting process with the audit and tax providers
Property Level Responsibilities
- Develop a deep understanding of all significant agreements, including but not limited to entity operational agreements and side letters, debt agreements, development management, asset management, hotel management and restaurant management agreements, and applicable leases and insurance contracts; ensure the compliance with each of these agreements across your assets
- Provide support to our outsourced providers who perform the property level accounting
- Review monthly workbooks of the property level accountants
- Work closely with development managers on status of project, budgets, and accounts payable to fully understand the project
- Monitor development status to ensure proper capitalization of project costs and place in service dates
- Critically analyze invoice coding and payment, new vendor setup and booking of payment within books and records
- Maintain monthly checklists to ensure all invoices are captured timely and accurately each month
- Assist Capital Markets team in lender funding of projects, including review of development and construction contractor pay applications and ensure proper documentation has been obtained (e.g. lien releases), true-up of retainage accounts are made and ensure invoice payments are made timely based on funding received
Other Responsibilities
- Manage/document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls
- Assist in management of Portfolio Accountants
- Perform any additional responsibilities that may be required to support AJCP’s rapid growth
Who You Are
AJCP is seeking a highly-motivated individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, but disciplined, entrepreneurial environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience leading real estate and development accounting teams for a private equity firm or investment advisor and will know how to drive organization-wide decision making by providing teams with clear, useful, and timely financial reporting. This role also requires the following capabilities:- Ability to clearly and effectively communicate with senior executives, investors, lenders, and other external stakeholders
- Critical thinker who loves solving complex problems outside of their comfort zone
- Meticulous attention to detail and the highest standards for accuracy, timeliness, and precision
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others
- Ability to deal effectively with ambiguities and manage multiple projects through completion, often under tight deadlines, with competing priorities
- Strong technical knowledge of partnership and investment company accounting
Your Qualifications
Required:- B.A. or B.S. degree in accounting
- 5+ years of audit/financial reporting experience in real estate
- CPA or CPA candidate
- Big 4 public accounting experience, combined with experience in partnership accounting, investment company accounting, construction accounting, and/or real estate accounting
- Experience in a broad base of asset classes, including hospitality, multi-family, office, and retail
- An advanced degree, such as a Masters of Accountancy / MAC or a Masters of Business Administration / MBA
Key skills/competency
- Portfolio Controller
- Real Estate Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Fund Accounting
- Joint Ventures
- Audit Management
- Tax Reporting
- Cash Management
- Investor Relations
- Private Equity
Skills & topics
- Portfolio Controller
- Real Estate Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Fund Accounting
- Private Equity
- Accounting
- Finance
- CPA
- Audit
- Real Estate
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight real estate accounting, fund reporting, and CPA qualifications.
- Craft a strong cover letter: Emphasize your experience with private equity and JVs.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss partnership accounting and fund structures.
- Showcase soft skills: Demonstrate communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail.
- Research AJCP: Understand their investment strategy and company culture.
Technical preparation
Master real estate fund accounting principles.,Practice financial statement preparation.,Understand partnership accounting concepts.,Review capital call and distribution mechanics.
Behavioral questions
Describe managing multiple priorities.,How do you ensure accuracy under pressure?,Give an example of complex problem-solving.,How do you communicate financial data to non-finance people?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the primary responsibilities of a Portfolio Controller at AJ Capital Partners?
- The Portfolio Controller at AJ Capital Partners is responsible for accurate and timely financial reporting for multiple real estate funds and joint ventures. This includes managing the monthly closing process, preparing financial and investor statements, overseeing cash management, calculating fees and distributions, and managing annual audits and tax reporting with external providers.
- What is the typical career path for a Portfolio Controller at AJ Capital Partners?
- While specific paths can vary, a Portfolio Controller at AJ Capital Partners gains extensive experience in real estate fund accounting, financial reporting, and investor relations. This experience can lead to advancement into senior accounting or finance roles within the firm, or into broader financial management positions in the real estate investment sector.
- What are the key qualifications for the Portfolio Controller role at AJ Capital Partners?
- The key qualifications include a B.A. or B.S. degree in accounting, 5+ years of audit/financial reporting experience in real estate, and a CPA or CPA candidacy. Preferred qualifications include Big 4 public accounting experience and experience in partnership, investment company, construction, or real estate accounting.
- Can I perform the Portfolio Controller role remotely at AJ Capital Partners?
- The Portfolio Controller role at AJ Capital Partners can be performed onsite in either their Chicago or Nashville office. Remote work arrangements are not specified for this position.
- What type of real estate assets does AJ Capital Partners focus on for this Portfolio Controller role?
- AJ Capital Partners focuses on real estate investments and development across hospitality, mixed-use, and single-family rental sectors. Experience with these asset classes, including hospitality, multi-family, office, and retail, is preferred for the Portfolio Controller.
- What is the expected salary range for the Portfolio Controller position at AJ Capital Partners in Illinois?
- For roles performed in Illinois, the disclosed pay range for the Portfolio Controller position is $125,000 - $135,000 annually. This range is one component of the total compensation package, which may also include annual bonuses and other benefits.
Similar roles
Open positions we recommend based on this role.