Real Estate Accounting / Control

"Accounting and Control in real estate is bigger than just number crunching…"

Accounting and control personnel are regularly involved in either auditing or tax with regard to the business operations of a real estate company. It is their responsibility to maintain records of current financial operations, maintain compliance, and review the viability of new ventures with regard to accounting and tax implications. Specifically, a controller is a more senior position and involves key oversight and decision making over business decisions on a more strategic level than a staff accountant would be asked to provide. A well functioning accounting and control staff will not only keep the books in order, but will be a strategic resource for maximizing profits through proper financial structure.

Information on this page provided courtesy of Cornell University Program in Real Estate
Information Provided by Cornell University

Real Estate Accounting / Control Professional Reading and Resources

  • "Real Estate Accounting and Auditing"published by the AICPA
  • "Journal of Accountancy"published by the AICPA
  • "Real Estate Accounting and Reporting: A guide for developers, investors, and lenders"by Nicholas Cammarano and James J. Klink
  • "Accounting for Real Estate Transactions: A guide for public accountants and corporate financial professionals"by Maria K. Davis
  • "AICPA National Real Estate Conference Proceedings"
  • "AICPA Federal Real Estate Tax Conference Proceedings"proceedings

Industry Segments

  • College Degree (Minimum)
  • Masters Degree in Accounting, Tax, Law, or MBA preferred
  • CPA � Certified Public Accountant (requirements to sit for the state board exam vary by state)
  • CB � Certified Bookkeeper designation from AIPB

Looking to the Future

Accounting and control is moving from the back office to the front office as the job function evolves into a more strategic position. Financial reporting, auditing, and tax will continue to be the backbone of the industry; however, accountants and controllers will begin to be brought in on more strategic business decisions. Tax shelters through depreciation, the handling of passive and active losses, and other accounting principles can provide a real estate developer or investor with significantly better financial outcomes from a project. Proper financial structure and decision making by a controller can make or break the success of an investment. Politics and tax laws have major implications on real estate and an accountant with strong knowledge in how to leverage these to the benefit of the owner will always have a secure place in the real estate industry.

Top Real Estate Accounting / Control Companies

  • Deloitte
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • KPMG
  • Grant Thornton
  • Ernst & Young


Job Title / Description     Hide Description Company Location Posted
Job Cost Accountant
Firm Description Jonathan Rose Companies is a real estate firm with offices in New York City, Stamford, Westchester, Denver and Albuquerque.  The New York City office is comprised of four practice groups each focused on a specific business pursuit:  investment, planning, devel...


Jonathan Rose Companies NY-New York 9/2/10
Analyst
NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. Employment Opportunity Company description: NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NYSE: NRF) is an internally managed commercial real estate company that makes fixed income, structured finance and net lease investments in real estate assets. Our management t...


NorthStar Realty Finance Corp NY-New York 9/1/10
Staff Accountant
Staff Accountant Chicago, IL Company Overview: A commercial real estate investor with a credit point of view, Wrightwood Capital puts credit discipline at the center of its investment strategy. Whether investing for its own balance sheet, or on behalf of investors through funds, Wrig...


Wrightwood Capital IL-Chicago 8/30/10
Bookkeeper
We are currently looking for a bookkeeper with 5 years experience.  Qualifications Required Payroll clerk with administrative skills Knowledge union and non-union payroll rules and regulations including workers comp and disability benefits Administrative D...


Sitt Asset Management NY-Manhattan 8/26/10
Property Controller
  Mondays Properties Property Controller   Company Description: Monday Properties is a private owner, operator and developer of commercial real estate with seven million square feet of office space under management in New York and Washington, DC.  We are gui...


Monday Properties NY-New York 8/25/10
Corporate Hotel Controller
Overview: A well established real estate and hotel company based in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a Corporate Hotel Controller to oversee all financial and accounting aspects for the company's operations, partnership agreements, and investor financial distributions. The company has b...


Confidential CA 8/23/10
VP, Collections
VP, Collections  A. Main Function:  Reporting to the SVP, Management Accounting, the V.P, Collections, manages and has immediate responsibility for the organization’s Collections’ Department, the direction and implementation of overall collection policies and procedure...


Centro Properties Group NY-New York 8/18/10
Assistant Property Manager
Assistant Property Manager – Downtown Denver Commercial Office Building  Locally-owned, real estate investment firm is seeking a highly qualified Assistant Property Manager to be the onsite manager for a premier Denver high-rise office building. The Assistant Property Manager is...


First Range Management CO-Denver 8/16/10
Chief Accounting Officer
ING Real Estate’s mission is to be the leading provider of innovative real estate based solutions, both locally and globally, that exceed our clients’ performance expectations. The synergies and close collaboration between the business lines of ING Real Estate allow to serve...


ING Clarion NY-New York 8/13/10
Portfolio Accountant
 ING Real Estate’s mission is to be the leading provider of innovative real estate based solutions, both locally and globally, that exceed our clients’ performance expectations. The synergies and close collaboration between the business lines of ING Real Estate allow to s...


ING Clarion NY-New York 8/12/10

Our Job Site Network

All jobs appear on all these sites

BOMA CCIM CRE Finance Council CREW Network CoreNet Global GlobeSt.com NAIOP NAREIM NAREIT NMHC PREA SelectLeaders SIOR ULI

Job Categories

Jobs by Sector

Jobs by Location

More Links