About Howard Financial
Howard Financial is a full-service back-office solution for companies and entities with bookkeeping, payroll, and bespoke reporting needs that require accuracy, timeliness, and institutional-quality reporting without the burden of full-time staff. We are an experienced team of bookkeepers and administrators with multiple decades of combined experience across industries allowing companies to focus on their core business while we handle the rest. Founded in 2023, our team of 60 professionals supports ~40 clients across a diverse range of industries. We recently reached $5M of contracted ARR and are growing rapidly (over 150% MRR growth YTD).
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Controller to support and manage a portfolio of real estate clients. This role is critical as our real estate practice continues to grow in both size and complexity. The Senior Controller will independently oversee full-cycle accounting, ensure timely and accurate financial reporting, and serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients. This hire will play a key role in stabilizing operations, improving the client experience, and reducing escalations and rework currently handled by leadership. The ideal candidate brings deep real estate accounting expertise, strong judgment, and the confidence to operate autonomously in a highly client-facing environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Take full ownership of assigned real estate client engagements, including:
o Month-end close
o Preparation and review of financial statements
o Ongoing client communication and relationship management
* Serve as the primary accounting leader for assigned clients by:
o Proactively identifying accounting and reporting issues
o Addressing complex accounting and financial reporting questions
o Ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of all deliverables
* Lead, manage, and review the work of accounting staff to ensure completeness, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines
* Improve processes and reporting standards across the client portfolio to reduce rework and escalation
* Onboard new real estate clients, including:
o Establishing accounting processes
o Ensuring all required documentation and information is obtained from clients
o Supporting smooth transitions into ongoing monthly reporting
* Manage complex real estate structures under tight reporting deadlines, applying consistent senior-level judgment
Current Environment & Expectations
* Client portfolios include complex real estate structures with multiple entities
* This role requires the ability to quickly understand and assume ownership of existing processes with minimal training
* Operates independently without day-to-day oversight from leadership
* Communicates clearly, professionally, and confidently with clients as needs arise
Required Experience & Qualifications
* 5+ years of real estate accounting experience
* Prior experience at the Manager, Assistant Controller, or Controller level
* Proven ability to independently manage:
o Month-end close
o Financial reporting
o Multiple entities and client relationships
* Strong real estate accounting background, including experience with:
o Property accounting
o Development and/or construction accounting
o Management companies
o Multi-entity structures
* Required experience with QuickBooks Online
* Strong preference for experience with real estate systems such as:
o Yardi
o MRI
o AppFolio
o or similar platforms
* Experience with Ramp, Bill.com, and advanced Excel skills strongly preferred
What Will Disqualify a Candidate
* No real estate accounting experience
* Inability to independently manage month-end close and financial reporting
* Poor communication skills or lack of client-facing experience
* Requiring significant training or hand-holding for senior-level responsibilities
Professional Attributes
* Highly client-facing; must demonstrate professionalism, confidence, and clear communication
* Strong ownership mentality with a high level of accountability
* Comfortable representing the firm directly with clients
* Cultural fit is critical — we value initiative, reliability, and follow-through
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