Sr. AVP, Fund Accounting

Overview

This role involves senior leadership in fund accounting for real estate portfolio activities, combining precision in financial reporting with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear insights for leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of accounting professionals by providing direction, setting priorities and goals, and ensuring adequate resources to meet objectives.
• Implement and document policies, procedures, processes, and controls for areas of departmental responsibility.
• Monitor compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and company procedures.
• Assist with internal and external audits and serve as the primary liaison to auditing firms.
• Oversee the production of standardized financial and management reports across all asset classes.
• Coordinate the collection of required monthly financial information from asset class teams.
• Manage accounting and month-end/quarter-end deliverables to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Support asset acquisition and disposition processes conducted by portfolio companies and Blackstone.
• Coordinate activities with portfolio companies’ external accounting service providers as needed.
• Provide guidance on accounting policies used by Blackstone and portfolio companies.
• Assist accounting teams in meeting different accounting requirements of Blackstone Real Estate Funds (private entities, public entities, joint ventures, REIT).
• Manage the process to prepare lender-required reports subject to financing needs.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Develop and implement a training plan to help team members support multiple asset classes and functions.

Relationship Management

• Accountable to Blackstone and real estate portfolio companies for timely and accurate reporting.
• Lead initiatives to ensure a smooth business partner experience across the team.
• Serve as the primary daily point of contact for business partners and Blackstone.
• Respond to business partner inquiries and commit to deliverables by leveraging team resources.
• Partner with senior managers to identify and drive external relationships with key stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in real estate accounting, including financial reporting.
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading and managing a team.
• CPA certification.
• Knowledge of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge of SEC reporting requirements/public company reporting.
• Knowledge of REIT accounting and reporting.
• Knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent client service skills and ability to partner with multiple, diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to identify, develop, and execute a business strategy, including managing financial reporting.
• Strong change management skills with the ability to drive organizational, process, and technology change.
• Passion for making business processes more efficient and successful.
• Experience developing, implementing, and monitoring internal controls.
• Strong team player who can multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Big 4 Public Accounting experience.
• Commercial real estate fund reporting experience (open-ended fund, closed-end fund, separate account, and/or REIT-related).
• Experience with Workday Financials, Yardi, or MRI, and financial reporting tools.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Compensation Range: $185,000.00 to $200,000.00 annually.
• Total Direct Compensation: Eligible for discretionary bonus and incentive compensation on an annual basis.
• Benefits: Health insurance coverage, retirement savings plan, paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO).

Additional Perks

• Competitive salary, overall compensation, and 401(k).
• Work-life balance offerings including:
  • Hybrid Work Policy
  • Productivity Hours – weekly meeting-free work time
  • Summer Fridays
  • Work From Anywhere Month
• In-house and external learning and development opportunities.
• Generous health insurance and wellness benefits.

Location

Chicago (headquartered). Footprint extends across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.