CLIENT

Our client is headquartered in downtown Chicago and is a well-established family office providing an array of professional services to a private trust company.

G-1 wealth is the result of a highly successful investment business, as well as a significant diverse portfolio of global investment and business holdings.

The family office service delivery model is set up such that the management entity, a corporation, is serving a dedicated private trust company by providing an array of financial management and operational support services including asset & property management, financial reporting, and accounting and tax services for partnerships, individuals, trusts, and nonprofit entities.  

The family office also relies on the ongoing business, a highly-regarded investment firm, through a “quasi-embedded model” for some of its support including human resources, technology, and other operational services.

In addition, our client is seeking a family office professional who aligns with their core values including integrity, respect, compassion, honesty, loyalty, hard work, transparency, continuous learning, and inclusiveness.

OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the President, the Controller will work collaboratively with the existing team to continue to solidify the vision for the family office; improve the service delivery level to the clients served, both internal and external; and strive to instill a “best practices” philosophy in all functional areas to improve workflow, simplify reporting procedures, drive efficiencies through technology improvements, and enhance service delivery outcomes.

Additionally, the Controller will work closely with the President to tailor a personal service delivery approach that supports an effective and productive working relationship that best serves the Trust Company information, operational, and decision-making needs, both individually and collectively.

Critical will be the “trusted advisor like” role that this individual will cultivate with the President with a goal of serving as a business confidant; trusted financial and strategic advisor; sounding board; risk manager; and supportive resource to make sure that the professional services corporation runs smoothly and effectively.

This role will also help the President drive a new “skill-based culture” initiative that is underway.

Finally, while today much of this role is a “detailed, hands-on” financial management role, our client is looking for someone who can grow into an executive leadership role; someone with “fire in the belly” who can work thoughtfully, deliberately, and strategically with the team to continue to improve and professionalize the professional service delivery level.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Controller will have direct responsibility for the accounting, reporting and financial management functions, as well as work collaboratively with the President and family office team to support budgeting, cash management, financial analysis, tax planning and special projects as needed.  Specific areas of responsibility will include:

• Responsible for the preparation of financial reports for all related entities.

• Work with the Executive Team in devising strategies and formulating policies to achieve specific goals and objectives with respect to various projects.

• Manage working capital requirements and cash availability projections.

• Responsible for accounting, financial statements, and tax basis calculations for private equity investments; and assist in the preparation of and review of sales and use tax returns as needed.

• Prepare departmental budgets for related entities.

• Responsible for supervision, guidance, and training of staff on preparation of budgets, financial statements, accounting management and other projects as needed.

• Review check disbursements and wires for related entities and provide oversight of bill pay function including review and approval of all payments.

• Responsible for the coordination and execution of external audits for all related entities.

• Prepare reports and documentation for use in Board meetings, financial statement audits, tax return preparation, and loan covenants.

• Works collaboratively with other entity team members; with outside service providers including brokers, bankers, and advisors to verify loan documents and balances, investment valuations, unfunded capital amounts, liquid investments, and other issues as needed.

• Analyze insurance for completeness while providing risk analysis and management for multiple business operations of related clients, as well an manage renewal process.

• Analyze capital expenditures on construction and other projects as needed.

• Perform special projects and other duties as needed by President, Board, and outside advisors.

• Develop internal control policies, guidelines and procedures for activities such as budget administration, cash and credit management, and internal financial reporting objectives.

• Review and streamline all current processes to ensure improved efficiencies; and assist the President with special projects as needed.

DESIRED CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, “hands-on” accounting professional with a strong technical accounting and financial reporting background with real estate investment and/or investment company experience in a multi-entity business model.  The ideal candidate will possess the following skills, experience, and characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and/or Finance required.

• CPA required and MS in Accounting and/or MBA preferred.

• A minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience including Big-4 public accounting and financial accounting and reporting experience with an investment company, multi-entity business model.

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and practices including cash and tax basis accounting and reporting experience.

• Solid technical accounting and financial reporting skills, including the ability to aggregate, translate, and report on financial information, as well as develop meaningful and effective financial reporting and forecasting processes, reports, and systems across all organizations and entities.

• Strong leadership experience in working with high-net-worth individuals and/or family businesses.

• Exceptional familiarity with best practices in a family office environment related to decision making, governance and operational structures.

• Solid experience in strategic planning, budget preparation, and cash flow / liquidity planning.

• Solid experience in recruitment, selection, supervision, and development of professional and support staff is essential.

• Ability to play a key role in the vision and operational and financial direction of the family office as it evolves over time.

• Must be able to have good judgement and practice discretion.

• Ability and willingness to be both “hand-on” and “delegate when appropriate” in the day-to-day family office operations.

• Must have an uncompromising commitment to “service excellence” and be able to deliver this outcome across a variety of family entities and interests on a continuous and consistent basis.

• Must thrive in a “check your ego at the door” culture where everyone’s mission is to collaborate and provide exceptional service to the family.

• Must have strong emotional intelligence and be a highly skilled communicator and facilitator with the ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and strategies in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences.

• Must be self-confident, knowledgeable, and able to exercise sound judgement in conducting research, analysis, and decision making.

• Must be a self-starter, self-regulating, and self-motivated, and must be able to work well with little direction or oversight, and not require feedback to be effective.

• Must be able to assess when responsibilities should be outsourced or done internally.

• Must possess a strong understanding of – and appreciation for – how technology can be used effectively to improve operational efficiency.

• Must be highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Must be a confident, self-directed problem solver.

• Must have integrity and be approachable, respectful, and instill confidence and trust in his/her ability to handle complex and sensitive financial and personal information both internally and externally.

LOCATION

The position will be based in the downtown Chicago office, with only occasional travel anticipated; and this will be an “in-office” work model with 1-day “work from home” flexibility.

REPORTS TO

This position will report directly to the President.

COMPENSATION

An excellent compensation package will be designed to attract an outstanding individual.