Director of Finance, Development and Construction Accounting
Description
ROLE: Director of Finance, Development and Construction Accounting
REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Finance
LOCATION: Hybrid / Corporate Office in Huston, Texas
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Venterra Realty is a growing developer, owner, and operator of multifamily apartments with approximately 90 mixed-use and multifamily communities across 21 major US cities. Over 42,000 people and more than 18,000 pets call Venterra "home"! We are committed to improving the lives of our residents by delivering an industry-leading customer experience. Through the exceptional commitment and dedication of our approximately 900 team members, we’ve enjoyed tremendous growth and financial success over our 23-year history.
We’re thrilled to be recognized as a leading workplace with numerous prestigious awards year after year! In 2024 alone, Great Place to Work’s annual employee survey led to various workplace recognitions including being named one of the 2024 FORTUNE© Best Medium Workplaces, ranking #1 in our size category on the 2024 Best Workplaces in Real Estate list, and being celebrated as one of People Magazine's 2024 PEOPLE® Companies that Care. Anonymous Venterra Glassdoor reviews have also resulted in our becoming a five-time Glassdoor Best Places to Work winner.
Explore our communities at VenterraLiving.com, and visit Venterra.com to learn more about how we’re out-caring the competition by staying true to our value proposition: “We care more about renter experiences, which drives superior results.”
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director of Finance, Development and Construction Accounting to lead and oversee all finance and accounting functions for our rapidly growing real estate development business, based in the Houston office. Reporting to the Senior Director of Property Finance, this individual will leverage strong hands-on Financial Planning and Analysis skills to play a critical role in expanding and leading the Development Accounting function.
The Director is responsible for the financial oversight and controls of development projects, ensuring accurate management of project budgets, contingency, financing, and cash flow. This role acts as the key financial liaison between the Owner’s project team, internal finance, and the General Contractor’s controller.
The ideal candidate will bring extensive finance experience specifically related to real estate development, with deep technical expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and KPI reporting, along with excellent business communication skills. The Director will establish and maintain robust reporting, oversee subcontractor audits, manage loan drawdowns, and ensure compliance with financial governance requirements throughout the project lifecycle. This is an outstanding opportunity for a professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, collaborates effectively as part of a team, and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with the company’s rapid growth objectives, supporting the expansion of the development group and ensuring accurate monitoring & forecasting of cash requirements for all projects.
- Oversee the preparation of clear and timely financial statements, develop and maintain project KPIs and financial dashboards, and provide meaningful analysis and insights to senior leadership to support sound decision-making.
- Manage the budgeting and forecasting processes for the development business, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, accurate tracking of budgets, commitments, and actuals, and proactive monitoring of performance against targets.
- Identify and mitigate financial risks across development projects by establishing strong internal controls, policies, and procedures specific to development accounting.
- Perform ad-hoc financial analysis to address strategic issues and opportunities related to development projects.
- Lead, mentor, and grow the accounting and finance team supporting the development function, fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment.
- Lead and manage all finance and accounting activities for the development line of business.
- Collaborate & communicate effectively with our Development, Procurement & Technical Services departments, building strong relationships across Venterra to support project success and drive value creation.
- Develop, maintain, and monitor project budgets (hard costs, soft costs, contingency, and financing), track variances, and manage contingency funds in line with governance
- Review and audit subcontractor pay applications, change orders, and cost documentation; ensure compliance with budget allowances and financial requirements.
- Partner with the General Contractor’s project controller to validate reporting, invoicing, and payment schedules, ensuring transparency and accurate financial documentation (including insurance, lien releases, and certifications).
CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or relevant field; CPA or MBA strongly preferred
- 7+ years of progressive experience in real estate development finance and accounting
- Demonstrated experience with construction financing, loan draws, and compliance reporting for internal stakeholders, lenders and investors.
- Strong proficiency in financial modeling and KPI reporting for development multifamily projects.
- Solid understanding of real estate development lifecycles, from land acquisition through stabilization.
- Astute analytical abilities and critical thinking, with a solid foundation in development finance, financial and investment terminology, and expertise in building and supporting financial models.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and adjust to changing priorities.
- Mastery of Microsoft Excel.
- Knowledge in VBA, SQL, Python, or Power BI an asset.
BENEFITS
- Competitive Base Salary and performance bonus.
- A robust package of Health (Medical (PPO), Dental, Vision), 401k matching, paid vacation suite benefits and employer-paid Short & Long-Term Disability, among other things.
- Educational Assistance / Reimbursement to support your drive to learn.
- 8 paid hours per year of Volunteer Time Off to serve the organization(s) of your choice.
- Access to thousands of employee discounts with BenefitHub.
Venterra Realty is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all stages of the selection process.