SVP – Financial Controller (Development Affordable)

The Michaels Organization is a national leader in residential real estate offering full-service capabilities in development, property management, construction, and investment. At Michaels, our teammates strive to fulfill our promise of creating communities that lift lives – ones that jumpstart housing, education, civic engagement, and neighborhood prosperity. With this passion at the forefront of our business, Michaels teammates can be proud to be a part of the extraordinary, every day.

The Michaels Development Company is seeking an exceptionally strong affordable housing development finance and accounting lead to serve as our Sr. Vice President of Finance. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will play a key leadership role in driving financial performance, managing risk, and ensuring the financial health of the development company. This role demands an exceptionally high attention to detail and a commitment to fostering a true business partnering culture across the organization. This includes oversight of development accounting functions, the production of accurate and timely financial reports, and the design of systems and processes that support efficiency, automation, and scalability. The ideal candidate is a CPA-qualified leader who can balance high-level strategic mentoring with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.

Leadership & Management

• Lead and mentor the development accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth
• Act as a strategic business partner to development operational teams, providing proactive financial guidance to optimize deal execution and profitability.
• Design and champion automation initiatives and streamlined workflows to increase scalability and accuracy
• Collaborate with developers to monitor project budgets, costs, and overall profitability.
• Provide visibility and transparency on project risk and opportunity.

Accounting Operations

• Manage development accounting with a deep focus on LIHTC, HUD programs, and affordable housing financing.
• Leverage a strong knowledge of deal structures to support project acquisitions, development, and financial closings.
• Perform detailed reviews of complex operating agreements, partnership agreements, and tax credit financing documents.
• Oversee job costing, project budgeting for affordable development projects.
• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and internal controls.
• Lead the annual audit process and manage external auditor relationships for the development company.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Lead the preparation of timely, accurate, and compliant financial statements and monthly reports for the executive leadership team.
• Apply an exceptionally high attention to detail to ensure accurate financial reporting and risk modeling.
• Drive variance analysis on actuals vs. budgets and communicate key financial issues to management.
• Proactively identify and mitigate accounting and reporting risks.

Asset Management & Investor Relations

• Lead the preparation and coordination of equity funding packages, ensuring all due diligence documentation is obtained from developers, architects, contractors, lenders, and other third-party stakeholders.
• Review financial analyses, including breakeven and debt service coverage ratio assessments, to support equity funding decisions.
• Coordinate investor equity pay-ins and monitor funding milestones to ensure projects remain aligned with underwriting assumptions and budgeted development fees collection.
• Manage the preparation and submission of agency cost certification packages and related compliance documentation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for housing agency review comments, coordinating responses and resolution of outstanding issues to ensure timely issuance of IRS form 8609s.
• Lead recurring cross-functional meetings to review investor equity funding and cost certification status.

Required Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Background in real estate development and affordable housing is required.
• Extensive, direct experience reviewing operating agreements and securing tax credit financing.

Required Education/Training: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of affordable housing deal structures and capital stacks.
• Proficiency with financial systems and ERP platforms (e.g., RealPage).
• Strong leadership, people management and people development skills.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis proficiency.
• Exceptional communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and exceptionally high attention to detail.
• Deep expertise in LIHTC and HUD programs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple high-level priorities.
• Must be extremely well organized to meet specific internal and external deadlines.
• Must be results-oriented.

Salary Range Information

The range displayed on each job posting reflects the targeted base salary for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Rewards & Benefits

We know Michaels’ promise of lifting lives starts with our teammates, so making sure every single teammate is happy, healthy, and set up for a successful future is important to us. As part of our team, you will enjoy a competitive wage, a comprehensive benefit package which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, prescription, etc., generous paid time off, a 401 (k) plan with a company match, and so much more:

• Help make the world a better place in a team-oriented environment.
• Grow with our organization through various professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate and thrive in a company culture where all are welcome

Michaels teammates make a difference in the lives of residents, colleagues, and the communities where we live and work every day.

Come join our team. You’re going to love it here!