Director of Real Estate Operations & Finance Washington, D.C. Area | Full-TimeThe Role Arbella Capital, a private investment and family office, is seeking a highly capable Director of Real Estate Operations & Finance to oversee the financial, administrative, compliance, and asset-management functions of a privately held real estate portfolio. The role is a hybrid of in-office and remote. Proximity to Washington, DC strongly preferred. This is a hands-on role for someone comfortable reviewing financial statements, overseeing property and entity matters, coordinating with outside professionals, and producing polished monthly ownership reporting. The existing portfolio is relatively concentrated and operationally straightforward, with significant net-leased exposure and third-party management already in place for residential properties. We are looking for one highly organized individual who can take ownership of the portfolio's operating infrastructure and ensure that financial information, reporting, compliance, and property matters are handled accurately and proactively. The position will work directly with the principal and coordinate with property managers, bookkeepers, accountants, tax professionals, attorneys, lenders, insurance providers, tenants, and other service providers.
Primary Responsibilities
Financial Management & Reporting:
Produce a first-class monthly ownership reporting package covering portfolio and property-level performance.
Track income, expenses, cash balances, distributions, receivables, payables, budgets, forecasts, and material variances.
Maintain property-level and consolidated financial information and identify issues, risks, and opportunities requiring attention.
Coordinate with the bookkeeper, review bookkeeping for accuracy and completeness, and assist with front-end accounting functions where appropriate.
Coordinate annual tax preparation and maintain required schedules and supporting documentation.
Review recurring expenses and vendor costs and identify opportunities for savings and operating efficiencies.
Asset & Property Management:
Serve as the ownership-level point person for the real estate portfolio and oversee third-party property managers.
Monitor asset performance, leases, renewals, rent changes, expirations, tenant obligations, and other important property-level matters.
Coordinate leasing matters with brokers, attorneys, tenants, and property managers as necessary.
Maintain complete property, lease, tenant, vendor, insurance, and financing records.
Coordinate property and entity insurance, contracts, vendor agreements, and related operating matters.
Track property-level issues through completion and ensure outside managers and vendors follow through.
Assist ownership with occasional acquisitions, dispositions, refinancings, and other asset-management matters.
Entity Management & Compliance:
Maintain complete records for portfolio LLCs and other entities, including organizational and ownership documents.
Track annual reports, registrations, registered agents, business licenses, good-standing requirements, and other filing deadlines.
Coordinate entity formations, amendments, dissolutions, and other matters with attorneys and registered agents when required.
Maintain a centralized compliance calendar and ensure deadlines are handled proactively.
Technology, Systems & Administration:- Assess existing property-management, accounting, reporting, document-management, and compliance processes and recommend appropriate improvements.
- Lead the selection and implementation of appropriate property and/or portfolio-management technology.
- Establish professional, scalable systems for lease administration, financial reporting, document management, compliance tracking, and workflow management.
- Utilize automation, AI, and other technologies where appropriate to improve reporting, analysis, accuracy, and efficiency.
- Maintain organized financial and corporate records and coordinate effectively among ownership and outside professionals.
- Monthly Ownership Reporting
- A particularly important responsibility is producing a concise, professional monthly reporting package that allows ownership to quickly understand:
- Portfolio and property-level financial performance
- Cash positions and anticipated requirements
- Budget-to-actual performance and significant variances
- Receivables, payables, and leasing activity
- Upcoming lease, debt, insurance, tax, and compliance events
- Property-management and operational issues
- Significant risks, opportunities, recommended actions, and decisions required from ownership
- The successful candidate should move beyond compiling historical information and provide a management-level view of what has happened, what is coming, and what requires attention.
Ideal Background:
Strong candidates may come from real estate asset management, family office operations, real estate accounting, portfolio management, property-company finance, or a combination of these backgrounds.
Ideally, candidates will have:7+ years of relevant professional experience.
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, real estate, or a related field.
Strong understanding of real estate financial statements, property-level accounting, leases, and commercial real estate operations.
Experience with LLC/entity administration, compliance, bookkeeping oversight, and tax coordination.
Strong Excel and financial-reporting capabilities.
Familiarity with professional property-management, accounting, portfolio-management, or real estate reporting software and the ability to evaluate and implement appropriate systems.
Comfort using modern technology, including automation and AI-enabled tools, to improve financial and operational processes.
Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Ability to operate independently and effectively coordinate accountants, attorneys, property managers, brokers, lenders, insurance professionals, and other outside providers.
Strong written communication and presentation skills.
Good judgment regarding what requires the principal's attention and what should simply be handled.
High level of integrity, discretion, and ability to handle confidential financial and family information.
Experience working for a family office, private real estate owner, investment firm, or entrepreneurial principal is particularly valuable.
What Success Looks Like:
Within the first several months, the successful candidate should have a strong command of every property and entity in the portfolio, organized financial and corporate records, reliable compliance systems, effective relationships with outside professionals, appropriate property-management and reporting technology in place, and a polished monthly ownership reporting process. As the investment platform expands, this position can grow substantially in responsibility and may ultimately work alongside additional finance, accounting, or investment personnel.
Compensation:
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonus.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Arbella Capital is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable law.
