Assistant Controller - Family Office
At a glance
Junior Accounting role at Fairstead ESC LLC. New York · $140,000–$180,000 base.
financeroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Run accounting, tax reporting, budgets and projections across the family office entities
- Maintain entity books and close records, then assemble workpapers for audits and tax filings
- Check expense, payable and intercompany transactions for correct coding and approvals
- Build budgets and forecasts, explain monthly variances, and prepare financial packages for stakeholders
- Oversee cash reporting, reconciliations and payment coordination, while advancing accounting workflows with IT
What you bring
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or a related discipline is required
- You bring five to seven years in accounting, including fund accounting, financial analysis or investment fund management
- At least two years managing accounting or finance work is required
- You have advanced Excel skills and can turn financial results into clear business language
Who this fits
This role suits an experienced accounting professional who can work with limited direction, manage deadlines and handle confidential information. It reports to the CEO and includes coordination with executive leaders, ownership, internal teams and external providers.
From the employer
Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.
At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.
Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.
The Assistant Controller, Family Office reports to the CEO and is responsible for supporting accounting operations for Fairstead’s family office ventures through the maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk. The Assistant Controller will ensure the accuracy of the reported financial results and that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards.
Responsibilities:
- Own financial and tax reporting, accounting, budgeting, and projections for all Fairstead Family office entities.
- Prepare and maintain all financial and tax books and records for all family office entities, including monthly and year end close, audit and tax filing workpapers
- Review accounts payable and expense transactions, as well as intercompany billings, to ensure appropriate coding and approval
- Coordinate financial activity with internal and external service providers and vendors, ensuring financial results, billing and collection information is properly reflected in the financial records
- Manage tax compliance and reporting for Family office entities, including reviewing tax-based financial statements
- Responsible for researching accounting treatment of business activities to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles
- Prepare the annual operating budget, support the maintenance of a rolling five-year business plan, and provide monthly updates, variance commentary and reforecasting to internal stakeholders
- Prepare monthly journal entries and bank reconciliations, provide oversight over cash and variance reconciliations, and review cash balances and prepare capital call support to avoid shortfalls
- Produce monthly and quarterly financial reporting packages and other required financial information and analytics to management, owners, investors, and financial institutions (if applicable)
- Partner with IT to leverage applications and implement workflow and efficiency solutions
- Preparations net worth calculations.
- Assist with team projects to improve overall processes
- Manage weekly FO payments, coordinating with FO team to pay approved expenses online or via check.
- Prepare Semi-Monthly FO cash report for management review.
- Build rapport with ownership of company.
- Assist Executive leadership with preparing ad hoc reporting and with any special projects that arise.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or related field required. CPA, CFO or MBA preferred.
- Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant experience in accounting experience in fund accounting, financial analysis, and/or investment fund management.
- Two (2) years’ experience as an accounting or finance manager.
- Experience with Partnerships, family partnerships preferred.
- Understanding of applicable laws and regulations.
- Understanding of economic principles, financial markets, and banking.
- Strong financial data analysis and reporting.
- Knowledge of payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable functions.
- Ability to deliver quality work on tight deadlines, with strong organization and priority setting skills.
- Proven experience in financial project management.
- Advanced computer skills, specifically in Excel.
- Must be able to communicate financial information into sound business language so people of all levels can understand.
- Knowledge of federal regulation on taxes and reporting.
- Deep understanding of finance.
- Curious and highly driven.
- Values entrepreneurialism and works well with limited direction
- Demonstrates ability in problem solving, priority setting and planning
- Confidentiality.
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Salary Range$140,000—$180,000 USD
Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks.
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