Vice President of Accounting

Join to apply for the Vice President of Accounting role at Fairlawn .

Overview

Fairlawn is a vertically integrated real estate investment, management, and development firm. Based in Chicago and Champaign, Illinois, we have more than 10 years of experience in value-add projects, development, student housing, and build-to-rent communities. Our portfolio includes approximately 5,500 units and $700 million in assets under management, with a strong presence across Illinois and Indianapolis. We are actively expanding into additional Midwest markets.

Responsibilities

• Exemplify and promote the firm's core values: Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It, and Always Improve
• Lead and manage the monthly and annual close process across all operating, investment, and development entities, including oversight of monthly workpaper preparation and review
• Drive the firm's transition from cash to accrual-based, GAAP-compliant accounting, improving long-term financial visibility and reporting quality
• Establish and enforce firmwide accounting policies, internal controls, and scalable processes that support growth, consistency, and regulatory compliance
• Oversee all aspects of corporate accounting, including holding company books, management company financials, overhead allocations, and cost-sharing across entities
• Manage multi-entity consolidations and intercompany eliminations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and audit readiness
• Direct the firm's cash management strategy, including reserve policies, intercompany loans, credit lines, and treasury operations
• Produce timely and accurate GAAP-compliant financial statements, internal dashboards, and investor reporting packages
• Own lender financial reporting and compliance, and play an active role in supporting refinancing, covenant tracking, and due diligence
• Oversee tax compliance and coordination with external partners, including preparation and filing of corporate returns, property-level filings, and investor K-1s
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, asset management, and development teams to support budgeting, reforecasting, and financial performance analysis
• Identify, implement, and optimize accounting systems and automation tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and scalability
• Define and monitor department KPIs related to close timelines, reporting accuracy, team productivity, and cash forecasting
• Deliver actionable financial insights to executive leadership, supporting strategic decision-making and risk management
• Lead, mentor, and develop a growing accounting team, including staff and senior accountants, ensuring clarity of expectations, continuous learning, and individual accountability
• Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement within the accounting function
• Pivot, roll up your sleeves and jump in where needed!

Why join Fairlawn

• Competitive Pay. We are ready to invest in you!
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance to access care for positive health outcomes and your overall wellbeing
• Employee sponsored benefits including Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, Flexible Spending, and H.S.A. Accounts to avoid costly medical expenses due to gaps and ensure that all your medical needs are met
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Match to invest in your future wealth and retirement
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holiday Pay to help you reset and come back rejuvenated and refreshed
• Monthly company events to promote team cohesion
• Wellness Days to focus on being your best self. We want you to have time to disconnect and recharge in a way that works for you
• The opportunity to work for a growing organization where you are valued and can have a direct impact
• Quarterly off-site meetings with your manager to celebrate wins, issue solve and ensure you are set up for success. Plus, the process is rewarding, and the results are great for your career

Qualifications

Who you are We'd love to hear from you if you:

• CPA required
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in accounting, including at least 3+ years in a leadership role leading a team of accounting professionals
• Background in public accounting (Big 4 or regional firm experience strongly preferred)
• Real estate industry experience required, with a strong preference for candidates with exposure to investment, development, or property management accounting
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, consolidations, and intercompany accounting
• Experience managing audits, tax prep, and regulatory compliance
• Proficiency in accounting systems and Excel; experience with platforms like AppFolio, Yardi, or MRI is a plus
• Experience with FP&A software, such as Vena, Prophix, or Datarails, highly preferred
• Proven track record of leading, developing, and scaling an accounting team in a growing or evolving business environment
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a solutions-oriented, hands-on approach
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial concepts clearly and confidently to both accounting and non-accounting audiences
• High sense of ownership, urgency, and attention to detail, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and accountable culture

Some additional things you will need:

• Valid driver's license and dependable transportation
• Availability to work longer hours and weekends during department and company peak seasons
• Must be able to complete the physical functions of the position, not limited to the ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer and extensive keyboarding.

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with the requirements listed above. While meeting all qualifications is preferred, we understand that exceptional candidates may bring comparable experience and skills to the table including prior experience at Fairlawn. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are committed to considering all applicants (internal and external) and to identifying and selecting the most qualified applicant for the role.

Our company uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to run and help grow our business the tools from EOS contribute to finding the right people and putting them in the right roles, effectively solving issues as they arise, and building a culture of accountability. In short, it gets everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals. If you have an ownership mindset and take pride in all the details, joining our team may be perfect for you!

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Accounting/Auditing

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