Role and industry
Full-Charge Bookkeeper Recruiters for Real estate developers, owners, REITs and homebuilders
No postings. No stacks of resumes. No chasing. You interview a short list.
Financial Headhunters: Balancing property and development accounting tasks to identify budget variances before they impact project finances.
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
Need someone now? Call 305-306-4829.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
- No upfront fee
- Pay only if you hire
- Accounting, finance, banking and insurance
- We reach people who aren’t on job boards
- Replacement terms on standard searches
01
What does this hire really come down to?
Who approves the adjustment between property and development ledger entries? The hire manages CAM reconciliations and rent roll administration. They manage construction draw schedules and joint venture distributions.
We prioritize candidates who treat the ledger as a source of truth rather than a filing task. You need someone who spots bank variances or budget overruns before they reach your desk. Can they explain the difference between a cash-basis property ledger and an accrual-based development project record?
Ask them to walk through their process for a monthly draw package. Ask how they reconcile a lease security deposit ledger against a bank statement. Ask them to describe a time they had to track down missing lien waivers or subcontractor insurance certificates.
When evaluating the scope of this accounting role, start by asking for a detailed walk-through of their last year-end close process specifically for a mixed-use asset. The conversation should center on how they balanced operational property-level reporting with the capital requirements of an ongoing construction phase. Ask them to describe a moment where a general contractor submission contradicted the actual physical progress on-site. The goal is to see if they possess the financial curiosity to investigate discrepancies or if they merely process paperwork. During the interview, present a sample scenario involving a disputed CAM recovery calculation. Ask them to explain the steps they take to audit the base year data and how they communicate those findings to a tenant. If they cannot describe the specific impact of recovery caps on the bottom line, they lack the necessary depth for this position. Look for clear evidence of their ability to manage complex joint venture distribution schedules, particularly how they treat preferred returns and capital calls within their reconciliations. Ask about the specific G702 and G703 templates they have managed and the most common errors they find in those documents. If a candidate cannot immediately identify how construction draws impact the project ledger versus the operating bank account, they will struggle to provide the visibility you need.
02
What do we check before you see anyone?
First, we confirm Yardi or MRI competency. Proficiency in these specific platforms is non-negotiable for property management workflows. We verify if the candidate has managed commercial or residential portfolios.
Second, we test Excel fluency specifically for real estate. We look for the ability to use XLOOKUP and complex formulas to bridge disparate property data. We verify they can build a waterfall model or a simple construction draw summary from scratch.
Third, we assess their understanding of construction draw processes. They must describe how to track retainage and verify project budget utilization against invoice submissions. We look for direct experience with G702/G703 forms.
Fourth, we verify their familiarity with CAM reconciliations. They must explain how they calculate recoveries and handle tenant audit requests. We check if they understand the impact of recovery caps on net income.
Fifth, we check their process for recording capital expenditures versus repairs and maintenance. This distinction is the basis for tax depreciation and requires a high degree of asset-class knowledge. We look for prior experience with capitalized interest tracking.
Sixth, we verify their tenure patterns in previous property accounting roles. We filter out candidates who jump ship before a full project cycle closes. We look for individuals who demonstrate an ability to see a development through to completion or stabilization.
03
Where do we find them?
We source from property management firms, mid-sized construction accounting teams, and boutique development shops. Candidates look to move when their current project portfolio is stagnant or when their existing internal software lacks the visibility required to grow their skillset. We target those who want to transition from simple property oversight to the complexity of development-heavy financial management.
04
Which hiring mistakes should you watch for?
- 01Hiring a generalist accountant who lacks specific experience with real estate asset lifecycles.
- 02Overlooking the need for software mastery, specifically Yardi or MRI, which leads to slow training cycles.
- 03Failing to vet the candidate's understanding of joint venture reporting requirements versus individual asset property accounting.
05
The search in three steps
- 01We identify candidates with direct experience in Yardi or MRI within the real estate developer or REIT sectors.
- 02We conduct a technical screen to confirm their ability to handle construction draws and CAM reconciliations.
- 03We present verified profiles for your review and manage the interview process to final selection.
06
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
How your Full-Charge Bookkeeper search runs
How does The Six-Step Search work?
One sequence, from a well-defined seat to a shortlist you can judge.
Search Calibration
We start with a call about the seat, the books, the owners and the people the hire will work with. We learn what the role must fix in the first year and what would make a candidate wrong even if the resume looks right.
You get: A written search brief: scope, must-haves, deal-breakers and the pay range, agreed with you.
Market Mapping
We map the companies and institutions where the right people already work: similar size, similar ownership, similar complexity, in your market and in others.
You get: The target list of companies and institutions we will search, reviewed with you before outreach.
Professional Contact Intelligence
We find direct ways to reach the people on the map. Most are employed and not reading job boards, so reaching them takes real research.
You get: Direct routes to people who are not on job boards, researched for your search.
Persistent Personalized Outreach
We call and write to people individually and follow up. Interest varies, so we discuss the actual opportunity rather than promising a particular response.
You get: One-to-one conversations about your actual role, followed up, never a mass email blast.
Live Candidate Qualification
We speak with every candidate before you do. We check scope, systems, reporting lines, compensation expectations, location and why they would move.
You get: Only candidates we have spoken with, checked on scope, systems, pay, location and motive.
Candidate Intelligence and Process Support
You receive a short written brief on each finalist covering what they have done, where they are thin and what they want. Then we help with interviews, references and the offer.
You get: A short written brief on each finalist, plus help with interviews, references, counteroffer risk and the offer.
Questions people ask
When is payment due for finding someone to manage construction draws and joint venture schedules?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
Can you fill a temporary or contract role?
We can fill temporary, project-based, or seasonal needs. We define specific terms for each engagement individually.
How do you handle interim or fractional executive needs?
Any requests for interim or fractional executive support are referred to our Interim Executives division. This division specializes in short-term leadership placements.
Do you employ or insure the contract workers?
We do not supply, pay, or insure contract staff. All employment decisions remain under the control of the hiring client.
What is the fee for a Full-Charge Bookkeeper search?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire. The fee and terms are agreed in writing before we start.
How soon will I see a Full-Charge Bookkeeper shortlist?
It depends on the seat, the location and the pay. We give you an honest read after the calibration call and we do not promise dates we cannot control.
What about counteroffers on a Full-Charge Bookkeeper hire?
We ask every Full-Charge Bookkeeper candidate early why they would move and what their employer might do to keep them. Counteroffer risk goes in the written brief before you make an offer.
What is your guarantee?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
What don't you do?
We do not post your Full-Charge Bookkeeper job and forward whoever applies. We do not send stacks of unscreened resumes, and we do not recruit outside accounting, finance, banking and insurance.
Start a search
Tell us about the seat.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
Not ready to start a search?
Get a practical read on the talent market or the job description. No fee or obligation.