Senior Accountant / CFO Assistant

About Us:

OPTIMAL is a property management support company that works with real estate investors and property managers across North America, helping them achieve Time, Financial, and Location freedom through the implementation of remote property management techniques with back-office management and fulfilment.

Our Leadership Team is made up of Ex-Big 4 Accounting and Consulting professionals as well as property managers who have experience managing commercial and residential portfolios for the likes of Blackstone and Prologis as well as your local property management firm.

Job Title: Senior Accountant / Assistant to CFO

About the Role: 

As Senior Accountant / Assistant to the CFO, you will play a critical role in leading day-to-day accounting operations and supporting strategic financial planning. This role is both technical and client-facing, requiring excellent accounting acumen and the ability to collaborate with both internal teams and U.S.-based clients.

You will serve as the accounting teams go-to leader, ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of all financial transactions while mentoring junior accountants and streamlining reporting processes.

WHO IS THIS ROLE FIT FOR?
This role is ideal for someone who requires excellent accounting acumen and the ability to collaborate with both internal teams and U.S.-based clients. The right candidate is:

* Proactive and detail-oriented
* Calm under pressure and solution-focused
* Capable of mentoring others and aligning a team behind a common goal
* Comfortable interfacing with executives, clients, and cross-functional stakeholders

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Client Coordination
* Serve as a key point of contact for all accounting-related matters across the organization.
* Collaborate and communicate with investors, external accounting teams, vendors, and other stakeholders as needed.
* Guide junior accountants and provide oversight on both day-to-day and long-term projects.

Operational Excellence
* Supervise full-cycle accounts payable and receivable processes to ensure timely, accurate posting and reconciliation.
* Prepare and review key financial reports, including Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and custom client-facing reports.
* Build and maintain custom spreadsheets and working files to support financial analysis and documentation.

Process & Policy Management
* Develop, document, and implement internal financial controls and accounting procedures.
* Recommend and drive process improvements across the team to reduce inefficiencies and improve reporting accuracy.
* Ensure all operations comply with accounting principles and relevant regulatory standards.

Hands-on Accounting
* Perform or oversee day-to-day bookkeeping and reconciliation tasks.
* Manage General Ledger activity, including journal entries, accruals, and monthly close processes.
* Use QuickBooks Online and other platforms (Appfolio, Yardi, etc.) to execute tasks effectively.

Communication & Reporting
* Maintain a high standard of professionalism in client communication.
* Respond promptly and accurately to financial inquiries and provide regular updates to leadership and stakeholders.


Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Required:
* Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in accounting, preferably in real estate, property management, or construction.
* Advanced knowledge of property accounting, general ledger management, and full-cycle accounting processes.
* Strong experience with QuickBooks Online.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and general cloud-based accounting platforms.
* Ability to work independently while managing and mentoring team members.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred:
* Experience in property accounting is a strong advantage.
* Familiarity with Appfolio (for accounts payable) is a plus; other software experience is also welcome.
* CPA designation (or working toward it) is highly desirable.
* Ability to handle pressure and adapt in a multicultural, fast-paced environment.
* Male candidates are preferred based on team balance needs.
* Someone with a firm but composed personality and a tough-minded leadership style.