VP, Credit Funds Controller

Harbor Group Management•Norfolk, VA

About The Position

The Vice President, Investment Accounting, Credit Funds Controller is responsible for the financial integrity, reporting, and fund administration of Harbor Group’s growing credit fund platform. This role oversees accounting and reporting for the firm’s credit funds and their underlying credit investments, including first mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, investment grade bonds, preferred equity, and mezzanine loans. The VP ensures the integrity of financial information and owns the relationship with the platform’s third-party fund administrators. This role also provides organizational leadership by developing and mentoring a small, highly specialized accounting team and partnering closely across investment management, tax, and investor relations. As Harbor Group builds at the forefront of data analytics and AI, this role is expected to lead the credit fund accounting team’s adoption of these capabilities, automating routine close and reporting work so the team can focus on analysis and insight for the business. This is a high-visibility role that partners closely with the CAO, CIO, and Head of Investment Management on the credit fund platform, with regular, direct communication with the firm's institutional investors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
8+ years of significant, progressive accounting experience.
Significant experience in public accounting (Big 4 or national firm strongly preferred).
Demonstrated ability to interface with institutional investors.
Strong technical knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, waterfalls, and investor reporting.
Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with AI tools (e.g., Claude) and modern data platforms such as Databricks, to drive automation and efficiency in accounting and reporting workflows.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing accounting teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex accounting concepts to non-accountants and to communicate effectively with senior management, external sponsors, and investors.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead through change, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, multi-fund environment.

Nice To Haves

CPA.
Fund accounting experience in private equity, real estate, or alternative asset management.
Experience with credit funds, REITs, or credit investments backed by real estate.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to the CAO, CIO, and Head of Investment Management, providing the analysis behind capital, liquidity, and distribution decisions across the credit fund platform, and communicating regularly and directly with the firm’s institutional investors on fund performance, valuation, and reporting matters.
Champion the firm’s data analytics and AI tools across the accounting function, partnering with the Technology team on automation and new tools to streamline the close and scale credit fund reporting, and building a team defined by automation-driven efficiency and analytical depth rather than manual process.
Support the Chief Accounting Officer on strategic initiatives and special projects, including systems integrations, new business ventures, fund launches, and portfolio optimization.
Prepare executive-level presentations, dashboards, and analysis for senior leadership.
Support the front-office investment team and Investor Relations with fund performance and profitability analytics, capital account statements, and AUM analytics.
Oversee the month-end and quarter-end close for the credit fund platform; serve as final reviewer of fund-level financial statements, general ledgers, and investor/partner capital allocations.
Oversee accounting for the credit fund platform’s underlying investments, including interest income recognition, amortization of premiums/discounts and fees, allowance/impairment analysis, securitizations, and other transaction activity, in accordance with GAAP and internal accounting policies.
Own and oversee the relationship with the platform’s third-party fund administrator, including review and validation of administrator-prepared NAVs, capital account activity, and investor allocations, and oversee fund-level capital activity such as capital calls, distributions, subsequent closes, and expense allocations.
Assist with the annual budget process and monthly budget-to-actual analysis, and drive efforts to monitor, manage, and reduce fund expenses across the platform.
Review management fee calculations for accuracy and consistency with fund governing documents.
Review valuations for consistency with firm policy and fund/LP agreements, including ASC 820 fair value measurement for credit instruments, and perform technical accounting research on complex credit matters such as fair value, impairment, and restructurings.
Manage lender and covenant reporting and ensure adherence to LPAs and side letters.
Serve as the senior liaison with external auditors for fund audits.
Understand and interpret fund-level models prepared by the Investment Management team, evaluating how they align with the financial statements and investor NAVs.
Partner with the Treasury and Fund Operations teams to manage fund liquidity in coordination with the investment and transaction pipeline, making recommendations to the CAO and CIO on capital calls, return-of-capital (ROC) distributions, and subscription line draws.
Partner across the Tax, Legal, Asset Management, Investor Relations, and Transactions teams to support investment decisions and operational execution.
Lead, manage, and mentor the credit fund accounting team, setting structure, priorities, and performance standards, and developing talent for the long term.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls that ensure accurate financial reporting and effective, scalable processes.