Controller — Newport Beach, California | Pacific Executive Search

Controller

(Job ID: 1938)

Newport Beach, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Fin Serv - Investment

$160,000 – $175,000 base

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Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Controller to join a dynamic family office, where you will play a pivotal role in managing complex financial operations and supporting a diverse portfolio of trusts, businesses, and investments. This position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth, allowing you to deepen your expertise in financial management, estate planning, and tax strategies while collaborating with a dedicated team. Our culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, providing a supportive environment that values your contributions and encourages continuous development.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the accounting department, overseeing a team of professionals to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance across various entities.
Streamline financial processes through automation and optimization of the accounting system, enhancing efficiency in reporting and data management.
Coordinate investment accounting activities, including capital calls, distributions, and maintaining KYC documentation for private equity investments.
Prepare and review financial statements, budgets, and forecasts, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timely communication with stakeholders.
Collaborate with external CPA firms on tax planning, compliance, and audits, ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations.
Manage treasury functions, including cash flow management, fund transfers, and investment strategies for optimal returns.
Support the management of family assets, including aircraft and yachts, overseeing financial transactions and operational budgets.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Proven experience in a controller or similar financial management role, preferably within a family office or private equity environment.
Strong understanding of complex financial structures, trusts, and multi-entity accounting.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and Power BI for financial analysis and reporting.
Experience working with top national accounting firms, with a focus on tax matters and compliance.
Exceptional organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Nice-to-Have:
Familiarity with Archway Group or similar accounting systems.
Knowledge of investment accounting practices and financial forecasting.
Experience in managing relationships with external vendors, including CPA firms and financial institutions.
Understanding of carried interest calculations and private equity investment structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why do accounting roles in real estate often require a different kind of operator?
Because entity structures, property-level reporting, intercompany activity, partnership considerations, and ownership reporting can create a more structurally complex environment than many standard corporate settings. Real estate accounting roles usually demand a candidate who understands the operating rhythm of the business, not just the debits and credits.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.