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Careers

Controller, UK Portfolio Finance

Location

Head Office

Overview

Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Finance, the Controller will be directly responsible for managing the overall financial operations of various entities and responsible to provide accurate information, including analysis, budgeting, forecasting and preparation of financial reports. They will also be responsible for leading the team on the assigned entities and providing direction to the property managers, as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Accounting Operations

  • Lead and oversee the accounting operations for the portfolio, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements. 
  • Oversee the timely preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual operating results for each portfolio, ensuring property managers deliver complete, accurate, and timely financial reporting. 
  • Review and approve consolidated, pooled, and statutory financial statements, including all supporting schedules and note disclosures, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards and internal reporting requirements. 


External Reporting & Audit

  • Lead the annual audit process by coordinating with external auditors, preparing and reviewing audit working papers, managing information requests, and ensuring the timely completion of audited financial statements. 
  • Oversee the preparation of UK corporate tax returns in collaboration with the Tax Centre of Excellence and external advisors, ensuring compliance with all regulatory filing deadlines. 
  • Prepare and deliver financial information required for quarterly and annual reporting while ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all reporting deliverables. 
  • Collaborate with the Global Markets team to respond to investor inquiries and information requests.


Treasury & Cash Management

  • Review monthly cash calls submitted by property managers to ensure funding requests are accurate, appropriately supported, and compliant with internal policies. 
  • Oversee weekly cash flow forecasting and liquidity reporting prepared by the accounting team, identifying funding requirements and significant cash flow trends. 
  • Support the SVP, Finance in treasury management activities, including cash management, financing initiatives, lender reporting, and liquidity planning. 


Accounting Controls

  • Review and approve balance sheet reconciliations prepared by the accounting team to ensure the completeness and accuracy of financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal controls. 
  • Oversee trust accounting activities and collaborate with Legal to ensure trust ledgers are accurately maintained and all transactions are recorded on a timely basis. 
  • Maintain and enhance a strong internal control environment across all finance processes.


Transactions

  • Lead the accounting for acquisitions, dispositions, refinancings, and other complex transactions, including the preparation or review of journal entries, purchase price allocations, statements of adjustments, and related financial reporting. 
  • Partner with internal stakeholders to support acquisitions, dispositions, financing transactions, and other strategic initiatives through financial analysis, due diligence, and accounting guidance. 


Financial Analysis

  • Review and analyze operating performance against budgets and forecasts, providing meaningful variance analysis and actionable recommendations to senior leadership. 
  • Review and validate underwriting models for prospective projects, confirming completeness, reasonableness, and alignment with company expectations.
  • Lead the annual property budgeting process from coordinating with property managers to final approval from senior leadership.
  • Prepare executive‑level summary reports highlighting key insights and trends to enable strategic decision‑making across the portfolio.


Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Managers and Accounting professionals by providing coaching, performance feedback, technical guidance, and professional development opportunities while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 


Continuous Improvement

  • Champion finance transformation initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve accounting processes, strengthen internal controls, standardize reporting, and implement technology-enabled solutions that enhance operational efficiency.
  • Contribute to the design and implementation of Power BI dashboards to streamline reporting and enhance departmental efficiency.
  • Collaborate cross‑functionally with Development, Asset Management, Investments, and Centres of Excellence to improve processes and data flow.

Requirements

  • University degree in Business/​Accounting
  • Professional accounting designation (CPA, CMA or CGA) is strongly required.
  • Minimum of 5 years progressive real estate experience, including at least 1 – 2 years in a leadership role
  • Proficient communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Experience overseeing audits performed by external audit firms.
  • Knowledge of accounting principles, practices and applications.
  • Advanced knowledge of MS Office and Excel.
  • Management and/​or supervisory experience. Starlight is an approved CPA training office, so need to be willing to work closely with staff to teach and train them, as they work toward obtaining the CPA designation.
  • A strong leader who can guide the team to the end goal and help them solve problems along the way while also ensuring the team meets reporting deadlines.
  • Professional written and verbal communications skills.
  • Good problem-solving skills and the ability to make the necessary decisions to move forward the work at hand.
  • Ability to adapt to and learn new software.
  • Able to work efficiently as a part of a team as well as independently.
  • Able to work well under pressure.
  • Good organizational, time management and prioritizing skills.
  • Ability to interpret and implement company policies and procedures.
  • Strong sense of responsibility and ​“ownership of the role”
  • While the role has a significant element of review and oversight, the environment is dynamic, and the Controller may need to get into the detail themselves.
  • Experience with Yardi is an asset