Fund Controller

Overview

Overseeing a diverse portfolio of private real estate and credit investment funds, this position offers direct collaboration with senior finance leadership within a $2 billion alternative investment manager headquartered in Southern California. The Fund Controller will lead the enhancement of fund accounting controls and governance, ensuring precision in NAV calculations, audit readiness, and third-party administrator oversight. This hybrid role blends technical accounting expertise with strategic process development in a complex, SEC-registered environment.

Title: Fund Controller Industry: Real Estate Finance Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

• Manage the relationship with the external fund administrator, rigorously reviewing NAV reports, financial statements, and investor capital activity to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly fund closes, validating capital transactions, fee calculations, and valuation adjustments in line with fund agreements and accounting standards.
• Lead the coordination and execution of annual fund audits, including preparation of audit deliverables, liaising with auditors, and resolving technical accounting inquiries.
• Develop and maintain scalable controls and review procedures that support fund accounting operations as assets under management and product offerings expand.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Portfolio Management, Compliance, Tax, and Investor Relations to align financial reporting and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and oversight to internal accounting staff and offshore resources, ensuring clarity in roles and adherence to established fund accounting protocols.
• Drive initiatives to automate reconciliations, reporting workflows, and data integration between internal systems and third-party providers to enhance operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Must-Have:
• 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience focused on private funds, private credit, or real estate investment management.
• Proven expertise in fund NAV preparation and review, capital activity, investor allocations, management and incentive fee calculations, and fund financial statements.
• Experience managing annual fund audits and working closely with external auditors.
• Background in public accounting or alternatives audit, preferably with Big 4 experience.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee third-party fund administrators and enforce rigorous review controls.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline; CPA certification strongly preferred.
• Strong technical accounting skills and familiarity with SEC-registered investment adviser financial controls and compliance.
• Nice-to-Have:
• Experience with private credit, real estate debt, loan investments, or warehouse financing strategies.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and familiarity with fund accounting platforms, ERP systems, or investor reporting tools.
• Prior roles as Fund Controller or Assistant Fund Controller within alternative asset management firms.