Senior Business Controller Real Estate Development & Investment Funds
Chief Operating Officer | Chief Finance & Investment Officer | CEO
Seniority: 7 to 12 years of experience required in real estate development
Team scope: expected to recruit and manage a junior analyst within 12–18 months
This is a senior, high-impact role at the intersection of real estate development finance, portfolio governance, and investment fund structuring. The Senior Business Controller acts as the primary financial authority across the full investment lifecycle — from deal origination and feasibility underwriting through to portfolio consolidation, lender reporting, and fund modelling.
Joining a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment, the successful candidate will bring deep expertise in real estate development finance and be immediately capable of operating autonomously at a senior level. Over time, he/she will build and lead a small finance team, recruiting and mentoring a junior analyst to support the growing scope of activities.
Real Estate Development Finance
Reporting to the COO & Head of Development
Investment Opportunity Underwriting & Financial Analysis
Lead the financial underwriting of new real estate acquisition and development opportunities, working in close collaboration with the development team and Head of Development
Build, own, and critically challenge Business Plans across acquisition, development, and exit phases
Assess project-level returns through detailed cash flow modelling, IRR, equity multiple (EM), development margin, and risk-adjusted return analysis
Design and run multi-scenario and sensitivity analyses to stress-test underwriting assumptions across market, cost, and timing variables
Provide clear financial perspective and advisory input to illuminate investment decisions — translating analytical outputs into actionable insight for decision-makers rather than imposing conclusions
Deliver board-ready financial recommendations to support go/no-go investment decisions and capital committee presentations
Serve as the financial counterpart to the development team, bringing critical discipline to deal structuring and assumption validation
Development Feasibility Monitoring & Project Financial Oversight
Produce, maintain, and continuously update comprehensive financial feasibility studies across the full development pipeline
Integrate all development parameters into granular financial models: land acquisition cost, hard and soft construction costs, phasing and timeline assumptions, financing structure, pre-sale and commercialisation targets
Act as the primary financial interface between development, technical, legal, and commercial teams throughout the project lifecycle
Proactively identify financial risks — cost overruns, planning delays, financing gaps — and propose structuring, hedging, or value-engineering solutions
Challenge and validate cost estimates provided by external project managers, quantity surveyors, and contractors
Portfolio Consolidation & Financial Control
Own the aggregation and consolidation of financial data across the full real estate development portfolio
Track and critically assess portfolio-level KPIs: feasibility margin evolution, cash flow positions, cost-to-complete, and financing headroom
Carry out accounting reconciliation on a per-project basis in close coordination with the finance and accounting teams
Ensure data integrity, consistency, and auditability across all financial reporting layers
Provide a consolidated, real-time view of project margins, cash flows, and financing requirements to senior management
Financial Reporting & Investor Communications
Produce comprehensive financial reports on both a project-by-project and portfolio-wide basis across all investment perimeters
Synthesise and present key performance indicators — IRR, equity multiple, development margins, cash flow waterfall, risk exposure — in clear, decision-ready formats
Prepare and maintain Board-level reporting packs, investment committee materials, and investor update presentations
Contribute to strategic discussions with senior management, shareholders, and investment partners
Ensure the quality, clarity, and auditability of all financial data presented to internal and external stakeholders
Fund Modelling, Business Development & Financing
Design and build institutional-grade financial models for investment fund vehicles across Built-to-Rent (B2R), Energy, and Utilities sectors
Consolidate asset-level cash flows into fund-level return models, enabling scenario analysis across deployment timelines and exit assumptions
Prepare investor-ready materials: fund presentations, return attribution analyses, and performance narratives for LP roadshows and capital raises
Financing Structuring & Lender Relations
Lead the preparation of comprehensive financial packages supporting debt financing requests across real estate development projects
Structure and present financing requests tailored to lender requirements, including loan-to-cost, loan-to-value, DSCR, and interest coverage analysis
Produce regular lender reporting to keep financing partners informed of project progress, construction milestones, pre-sale performance, and budget compliance
Prepare financing packages for Built-to-Rent, Energy, and Utilities fund vehicles based on identified capital needs from fund model outputs
Team Leadership & Development
Operate as a senior individual contributor from day one, fully autonomous across all areas of the role
Within 12 to 18 months, lead the recruitment of a junior financial analyst to support and scale the activities of the finance function
Mentor and develop the junior profile, progressively delegating operational tasks — feasibility updates, reporting preparation, data consolidation — while retaining senior oversight and quality control
Contribute to the structuring and continuous improvement of internal financial processes, tools, and reporting frameworks as the team scales
Act as a senior financial ambassador within the organisation, fostering financial rigour and discipline across development and operational teams
Master's degree in Finance, Real Estate, Management Control, or equivalent (Grande École, university, or professional qualification)
~5 to 10 years of confirmed, hands-on experience in real estate development finance, investment feasibility underwriting, and financial control
~ Proven track record of operating autonomously in a senior financial role within a real estate developer, investment manager, or fund management platform
~ Strong command of real estate investment governance, capital structuring, and multi-stakeholder reporting
~ Deep, practical knowledge of real estate debt financing mechanisms: construction loans, senior debt, mezzanine, bridge facilities, covenants, and drawdown structures
~ Experience recruiting, managing, or mentoring junior finance professionals is a plus
Expert-level financial modelling skills across real estate development, portfolio consolidation, and investment fund structures
Advanced Excel proficiency; strong command of financial modelling best practices, dynamic assumptions, and audit-ready model architecture
Solid understanding of real estate accounting principles, project finance mechanics, and IFRS/local GAAP as applied to real estate entities
Proactive and solution-oriented approach to continuous improvement of financial tools, processes, and reporting infrastructure
Exposure to BI tools, ERP platforms (Yardi, SAP, or equivalent), or data visualisation is an advantage
Rigorous, detail-oriented, and reliable — holding yourself and others to the highest standards of financial accuracy
Strong communicator, able to translate complex financial analysis into clear, executive-ready insights for boards, investors, and senior leadership
Collaborative and credible across teams — comfortable challenging assumptions from developers, contractors, and external advisors
Leadership mindset: able to bring structure, clarity, and mentorship as the finance function grows
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