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Chief Financial Officer Real Estate Development

The Newport Group - Executive Recruiters • Full-time • Greater Orlando, US • 8h ago

Chief Financial Officer
Regional Private Residential Developer | Florida
The Opportunity
A well-established, privately held regional residential developer and homebuilder is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to help lead its next phase of strategic growth.
This is a broad-based executive leadership role overseeing all aspects of the company's financial and accounting operations while serving as a strategic business partner to ownership and senior leadership. The CFO will be responsible for financial reporting, accounting, internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, banking relationships, capital planning, and financial strategy.
The successful candidate will bring a strong foundation in accounting and financial management, combined with the strategic perspective to support the company's continued growth, geographic expansion, and long-term financial performance.
The company is expanding beyond its current footprint, with additional markets under consideration. Its long-term objective is approximately 2,500 annual home closings by 2035, driven by disciplined, margin-oriented growth.
About the Company
The company is a family-owned, privately held regional residential developer and homebuilder with a long operating history. It has built thousands of homes across multiple markets and is expanding into additional high-growth markets.
The culture is entrepreneurial, collaborative, and relationship-driven, with a strong emphasis on integrity, sound judgment, accountability, and execution.
Key Responsibilities
Accounting, Financial Reporting & Controls

Provide executive leadership and oversight of all accounting and financial reporting functions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial information.
Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, financial statements, consolidations, and management reporting.
Establish and maintain effective internal controls, accounting policies, procedures, and financial governance.
Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax requirements, regulatory obligations, and other financial reporting requirements.
Oversee relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, and other financial service providers.
Drive continuous improvement in accounting processes, financial systems, and operational efficiency.

Financial Planning & Business Performance

Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range financial planning, and financial modeling.
Develop and monitor key financial and operational performance indicators, providing meaningful analysis and recommendations to ownership and executive leadership.
Partner with department leaders to evaluate financial performance, manage expenses, improve margins, and drive accountability.
Provide financial insight into community-level profitability, construction costs, overhead, cash flow, and overall business performance.
Identify financial risks and opportunities and develop strategies to improve profitability and operating performance.

Treasury, Banking & Capital Management

Oversee treasury operations, cash management, liquidity planning, and working capital management.
Manage banking relationships, credit facilities, debt obligations, and lender reporting.
Develop capital and financing strategies that support the company's growth objectives while maintaining appropriate financial flexibility.
Evaluate capital requirements and financing alternatives associated with land acquisitions, development activities, and geographic expansion.

Strategic Finance & Business Partnership

Serve as a trusted financial advisor to ownership and executive leadership on business strategy and major financial decisions.
Partner with ownership and land leadership to evaluate land acquisitions, community investments, and major capital commitments.
Provide financial analysis and recommendations regarding market expansion, investment opportunities, and strategic initiatives.
Support disciplined growth through financial analysis, risk assessment, capital allocation, and performance management.

Leadership & Technology

Lead, develop, and strengthen the existing finance and accounting organization, establishing clear responsibilities, accountability, and professional development opportunities.
Build a strong partnership between accounting, finance, and operating teams across the organization.
Provide executive leadership for finance technology initiatives, including the transition to Microsoft Dynamics and increased use of automation, AI, and emerging financial tools.
Identify opportunities to improve reporting capabilities, financial processes, systems integration, and organizational effectiveness.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a well-rounded financial executive with a strong accounting foundation and the strategic business acumen to help lead a growing, capital-intensive real estate or homebuilding company.
Key qualifications include:

15+ years of progressive experience in accounting and finance, preferably in homebuilding, residential development, real estate, construction, or a similar industry.
Prior CFO experience strongly preferred; exceptional VP of Finance, Controller, or corporate #2 candidates may be considered.
Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience overseeing complex accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls.
Demonstrated success leading budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and financial performance management.
Experience overseeing treasury, cash management, banking relationships, and debt management.
Understanding of real estate development economics, land acquisition, community profitability, and project-level financial performance.
Ability to translate financial results into actionable business insights and recommendations for executive leadership.
Experience supporting multi-market growth, geographic expansion, and organizational scaling.
Proven ability to lead, develop, and build an effective accounting and finance team.
Experience with financial systems implementation, process improvement, and technology modernization.
Technology-forward mindset, including familiarity with AI, automation, and emerging financial tools.
Ability to thrive in a privately held, entrepreneurial, and family-owned environment.

CPA strongly preferred. MBA helpful but not required.
Leadership Profile
The successful executive will combine strong accounting and financial management capabilities with strategic financial acumen and commercial judgment.
This individual should demonstrate:

High standards of financial accuracy, integrity, and accountability.
Strong organizational leadership and team development capabilities.
Ability to balance detail-oriented financial oversight with a broader strategic perspective.
Sound business judgment and disciplined decision-making.
Strong communication skills and executive presence.
Collaborative leadership style and the ability to build relationships across the organization.
A hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to operate effectively in an entrepreneurial environment.

Why This Opportunity

Direct access to ownership and meaningful influence on enterprise strategy.
Broad executive responsibility for the company's accounting, finance, and financial operations.
Opportunity to strengthen and modernize an established finance and accounting organization.
Key role in supporting geographic expansion and entry into new markets.
Opportunity to help guide a long-term growth plan targeting 2,500 annual home closings by 2035.
Ability to influence financial performance, operational discipline, investment decisions, and long-term profitability.
Opportunity to modernize finance through technology, Microsoft Dynamics, automation, and AI.
An experienced finance and accounting team is already in place.
Entrepreneurial environment with the flexibility and direct access of private ownership