Senior Portfolio Accountant - Real Estate Private Equity

Senior Portfolio Accountant

• Real Estate Private Equity
• International remit
• Permanent
• London (hybrid)

Cobalt are proud to be supporting a global real estate investment platform to secure a Senior Portfolio Accountant. The team is responsible for maintaining robust financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and high-quality information to support asset management decision-making. The position also plays a key role in meeting investor and lender reporting requirements and managing cash distributions.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting:

• Review property-level reporting packages prepared by local service providers, ensuring completeness and accuracy
• Coordinate with external service providers and review bookkeeping outputs
• Review local and group GAAP adjustments, ensuring adherence to internal accounting policies and controls
• Analyse monthly and quarterly financial metrics, including net operating income, capital expenditures, intercompany balances, and debt covenants
• Review intercompany reconciliations and ensure timely settlement where applicable

Reporting:

• Facilitate monthly, quarterly, and annual group reporting cycles
• Coordinate with external service providers and review annual statutory accounts
• Prepare and review consolidations under IFRS and/or local GAAP
• Act as a key point of contact for group and local auditors
• Support US tax reporting (prior experience not required)
• Prepare and review ad hoc reports and reconciliations as required

Cash Management:

• Approve invoice payments
• Prepare periodic cash distribution analyses and ensure timely repatriation of funds to investors, considering cash flow, tax, and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate with local service providers and review compliance with external debt covenants
• Communicate with banks and facility agents

Portfolio & Asset Support:

• Provide ad hoc financial information and analysis to the asset management team
• Assist with onboarding, acquisitions, and disposals of assets
• Build and maintain effective third-party relationships

Tax Structuring:

• Liaise with external tax advisors to ensure ongoing compliance with investment structures
• Ensure all tax filings for SPVs are completed and up to date
• Review periodic VAT and CIS returns

Compliance & Risk:

• Work with legal and risk teams on internal risk management related to investment and financing activities
• Review, enhance, and maintain internal risk management processes within the finance function
• Ensure legal and statutory compliance through coordination with external advisors
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across financial reporting and control processes

Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in a similar finance or accounting role, ideally within real estate
• Strong team player with a proactive, hands-on approach
• Results-driven with excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Degree in Accounting or a professional qualification (e.g. ACCA or ACA preferred)
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and/or UK GAAP
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel (intermediate level preferred)
• Experience with accounting systems; Yardi experience advantageous