Following the integration of discretionary funds management business of ARA Europe and London and Scottish Investment Management the business has established a best-in class Fund Client Accounting & Operations function and central finance teams based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The team support both the Credit and Real Estate discretionary funds business, both of which are growing businesses.
The Fund Controller role is to support the management and control of the financial reporting function for the Real Estate funds and within the European business. The main job purpose is to provide the business with relevant, accurate and timely financial information for real estate funds within the Fund Controller’s allocation of Funds. The position has responsibility for overseeing the Real Estate team’s day to day relationship with Third Party Administrators (TPAs) in relation to the provision of fund accounting and administration services for the funds.

REQUIREMENTS

• Qualified accountant with either practice or in-house experience.
• Degree qualified in accounting, finance or a related field.
• Financial accounting and control experience within the Real Estate fund’s industry not essential but would be advantageous.
• Able to demonstrate experience of implementation of efficiencies identified within operational/financial processes.
• Familiarity with International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Strong project and relationship management skills and experience managing a third-party relationship with ability to multi-task and prioritise effectively.
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team and being able to work in a deadline driven environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detail oriented and thorough.
• Commercially aware/professional.
• Familiarity with direct and indirect UK real estate taxation.
• Yardi experience desirable.
• Experience dealing with audit teams and managing an audit process.

Includes but is not limited to:

• Quarterly Fund and SPV Financial reporting, including preparing a detailed timetable and driving those contributing to the timetable to deliver on time.
• Managing external TPAs to deliver high quality reporting to timetable and challenging them on their processes and controls, bank reconciliation processes, and KPIs.
• Managing the external audit relationship proactively and responding to audit queries quickly, ensuring timetables are adhered to.
• Collaborating with the Fund Operating Officers and Asset Managers to draft quarterly property reports, quarterly fund management reports and quarterly investor reports to agreed timetables.
• Assisting the Fund Operating Officers for ad hoc investor financial queries and requests.
• Assisting the Fund Operating Officers with investment and loan valuations, maintenance of track record and KPIs.
• Collaboration with Asset Management and Origination teams from time to time on ad hoc queries/projects and supporting investment acquisition and disposals.
• Delivery of draft financials to agreed timetables for inclusion in quarterly property reports, quarterly fund management reports and quarterly investor reports.
• Briefing Asset Managers on quarterly financial accounts for their Projects.
• Escalation of key issues at an early stage to ensure proactive resolution.
• Monitoring of statutory financial reporting requirements of all entities across funds, ensuring they are filed by relevant deadlines.
• Regularly reviewing and challenging existing processes to identify efficiencies and mitigate risks.
• Treasury management, including monitoring of key dates on hedging contracts, cash management and bank account administration.
• Oversight of the preparation of direct tax returns including VAT, CIT across various European jurisdictions.