Controller, VP Fund Accounting

Ares Operations•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Ares’ success has been driven by its people and culture, guided by core values: Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy, and a purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity. The firm is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where diverse talent can build careers. The Ares Private Equity Finance team is seeking a Vice President to join its Los Angeles-based team. This role reports to a Principal on the Ares Private Equity Finance team and requires flexibility, spanning traditional fund accounting duties (formal financial reporting and GAAP accounting), fund operational responsibilities, quarterly valuation review, and involvement in tax-related workstreams. The ideal candidate should be resourceful, flexible, and balanced, requiring frequent coordination with various groups including the investment team, other finance departments, third-party administrators, and colleagues in different offices. Strong teamwork and communication skills are essential for success.

Requirements

BS/BA with major in Accounting, Economics, or Finance
Approximately 8 or more years of relevant experience
Public accounting experience (Big 4) and/or relevant corporate/in-house experience strongly preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required
Dependable, great attitude, highly motivated and a team player
A zest for challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
A positive culture carrier for our team
A self-directed individual with a can-do attitude, willing to work in an energetic, collaborative and fast-paced environment
Proactive in nature, and a proven ability to learn quickly, display flexibility and adaptability while resolving issues with minimal supervision
Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and competing demands
Strong time management and prioritization skills
An analytical mind and a passion/interest in bringing new ideas to increase efficiency of existing processes
Outstanding communication (written and verbal), presentation, documentation, and interpersonal skills
Strong customer focus
High accuracy and detail orientation
Confident decision-making skills
Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to adapt to different audiences
Attention to detail, balanced with common-sense practicality
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Good judgment in terms of escalating issues vs. solving problems independently
Comfort in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
Strong work ethic and a desire to learn
Ability to be flexible in terms of hours in order to coordinate with team members across various time zones

Nice To Haves

CPA or CPA candidate preferred
General experience with other accounting systems such as Geneva, Investran, etc. is desirable

Responsibilities

Day to day oversight of multiple funds with complex structures
Management of our quarterly reporting and annual GAAP reporting, including hands-on coordination and in-depth review of deliverables with our external administrators and our auditors such as management fees and waterfall calculations
Assist in managing overall fund liquidity, including daily cash management and projections, investor capital calls and distributions, and day-to-day management of credit facilities with banks
Oversight of tax-related workflows in coordination with internal and external tax teams
Ongoing support for investor inquiries and marketing materials for our upcoming fund launches
Responsibility for compliance reporting, including credit facility compliance and regulatory reporting
Operational coordination with our investment operations team and performance team
Management of certain expense processes, including compliance with the fund’s partnership agreements and management reporting
Assisting with implementation of new processes and procedures, including the onboarding of funds to an administrator, improvements in our expense processes, integration of new reporting systems, or expanding our coordination with offshore resources
Coaching and collaborating with colleagues in our Mumbai office; supervising work product of our external administrators