Role and industry
Staff Accountant (experienced) Recruiters for Real estate developers, owners, REITs and homebuilders
No postings. No stacks of resumes. No chasing. You interview a short list.
Financial Headhunters: Managing rent rolls and construction draws without reconciliation errors that delay your monthly close process.
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?
This role processes rent rolls and construction draws. They reconcile bank accounts and tenant ledgers. Accuracy in these tasks prevents errors during the monthly close.
They handle data entry, coding invoices, and tracking project costs. They reconcile subledgers to the general ledger daily. We check if they can spot a missing CAM charge or a coding error in a development draw.
Ask how they handle partial rent payments in the system. Ask which specific modules in Yardi or MRI they used for bank reconciliations. Ask them to explain the difference between operating expenses and capitalized interest in a development project.
Test specific accounting workflows during the scope conversation. Ask them to describe their exact steps to reconcile a tenant ledger after receiving a partial payment. If they cannot name the specific screen or report run in Yardi or MRI to find the variance, they have likely outsourced the work. Demand evidence of their construction draw management. Press them to verify how they match vendor invoices against AIA G702 or G703 requirements. If they describe reviewing files rather than explaining line-item validation against a budget, assume it is a red flag. Real estate accounting is precise work. Ask them to explain a time they spotted an overpayment on a construction draw or a missed pass-through charge; how did they document it and fix the ledger. Look for candidates who can state the journal entry debits and credits needed for capitalizing construction interest versus expensing soft costs. Request a redacted month-end reconciliation. Watch for how they cleared old items. If documentation is absent or they claim automation without explaining manual inputs, they lack the required accuracy. Ask for the difference between a cash-basis and accrual-basis report and why both are needed for development assets. Check their understanding of lease expiration triggers. If they cannot describe how a recurring charge moves from the lease abstract to the general ledger, they will create bottlenecks for your team.
02
What do we check before you see anyone?
One. We verify they have direct experience in real estate systems like Yardi or MRI. Two. We check if they understand the distinction between property accounting and development accounting. Three. We confirm their ability to reconcile complex cash accounts against bank statements. Four. We audit their history with lease administration and basic CAM recovery calculations. Five. We test their basic GAAP knowledge concerning fixed assets and interest capitalization. Six. We ask for evidence of managing high-volume invoice processing for multi-site portfolios.
We begin by conducting a deep scope conversation to map the exact transaction volume and entity complexity of your current portfolio. We require candidates to provide specific evidence of handling high-volume bank reconciliation across at least ten unique property entities. During our initial screening, we force a tradeoff discussion: do you prefer a candidate who acts as a fast data entry machine for invoices or a candidate who prioritizes accuracy in construction draw validation? We document their specific history with AIA G702 and G703 document reconciliation to confirm they catch overbillings. We ask them to identify the specific steps taken when a tenant payment does not match the recurring charge in Yardi or MRI. If they cannot explain how to clear a suspense account or rectify an unapplied cash receipt, they do not move to your interview stage. We prioritize those who describe manual validation of budget line items over those who rely solely on system-generated reports. We verify their approach to identifying errors in fixed asset capitalization versus repairs and maintenance coding. This process prevents the common trap of hiring someone who is technically sound in general accounting but incapable of managing the unique month-end pace required by real estate development lifecycles.
03
Where do we find them?
We source from established property management firms and mid-sized construction companies. We look for accountants currently stuck in legacy systems wanting exposure to cloud-based platforms. We also target those at smaller REITs who are ready for more complex portfolio exposure. Candidates often move when their current portfolio is sold off or when they hit a ceiling in manual data processing roles.
04
Which hiring mistakes should you watch for?
- 01Hiring generalist accountants who lack specific exposure to real estate lease terminology.
- 02Overlooking the difference between property-level accounting and corporate entity consolidation work.
- 03Ignoring the need for system-specific proficiency in Yardi or MRI that creates immediate operational friction.
05
The search in three steps
- 01Filter applicants by property management software and specific real estate accounting cycles.
- 02Conduct technical interviews focused on reconciliation steps and lease accounting workflows.
- 03Present selected candidates for final approval after verifying background and system skills.
06
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
How your Staff Accountant (experienced) 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
Do I pay search fees before hiring someone to process rent rolls and construction draws?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
Is money due now for a candidate who reconciles tenant ledgers and bank accounts?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
How does this role differ from an Accounting Manager?
This is an individual contributor role focused on transactional execution. They do not have supervisory authority or final review rights on the general ledger.
Can you provide temporary staffing for busy season?
Yes, we handle contract and temporary staffing on request. Terms are agreed to per specific engagement.
Do you provide a safety net for the hire?
We provide a replacement or credit if the candidate leaves within the period defined in our written agreement.
How soon will I see a Staff Accountant (experienced) 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 Staff Accountant (experienced) hire?
We ask every Staff Accountant (experienced) 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 Staff Accountant (experienced) job and forward whoever applies. We do not send stacks of unscreened resumes, and we do not recruit outside accounting, finance, banking and insurance.
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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.
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