Director, Development Finance & Accounting

Cortel Group | Vaughan, Ontario

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Experience: 8–12+ Years

Reports To: Company Leadership & Partners

About Cortel Group

Cortel Group is an established real estate development company specializing in high-rise residential condominiums, commercial developments, and purpose-built rental communities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

We are seeking an experienced, analytical, and proactive Director, Development Finance & Accounting to lead the financial management of our development portfolio, oversee accounting operations, and provide strategic financial guidance directly to company leadership and partners.

This is a hands-on leadership position combining real estate development finance, project feasibility analysis, financial reporting, and team management. The successful candidate will play an important role in evaluating development opportunities, monitoring project performance, identifying financial risks, and improving the effectiveness of the Finance Department.

Key Responsibilities

Development Finance & Feasibility Analysis

• Lead financial feasibility assessments for prospective and existing real estate development projects.
• Develop, maintain, and evaluate detailed development pro formas, financial models, cash flow projections, and investment return analyses.
• Conduct sensitivity and scenario analyses to assess the impact of changes in construction costs, development charges, financing rates, sales prices, rental rates, absorption, and project timelines.
• Evaluate project profitability, financial viability, capital requirements, and investment risks.
• Provide financial analysis, recommendations, and strategic insights directly to company leadership and partners to support acquisition, development, financing, and investment decisions.
• Review and challenge project assumptions, identifying potential risks and opportunities to improve financial outcomes.

Project Financial Management & Oversight

• Oversee financial management and reporting across multiple real estate development projects.
• Manage development budgets, cost tracking, cash flow forecasts, financial commitments, and variance analyses.
• Monitor project financial performance throughout the development lifecycle, from acquisition and construction through occupancy, stabilization, and final closing.
• Oversee construction financing, lender reporting, and construction draw requirements.
• Identify budget discrepancies, financial exposures, and opportunities for cost optimization.
• Prepare and present timely, accurate financial reports and project performance updates to company leadership and partners.

Accounting & Team Leadership

• Lead, supervise, and mentor accounting personnel, ensuring accountability, accuracy, and timely completion of deliverables.
• Oversee financial reporting, reconciliations, intercompany transactions, and accounting across multiple corporate entities.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with internal departments, financial institutions, auditors, legal advisors, and external consultants.
• Establish clear reporting expectations, performance standards, and accountability within the accounting team.

Financial Reporting & Process Improvement

• Evaluate existing financial reporting procedures, accounting systems, and project tracking processes.
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and increase departmental efficiency.
• Develop consistent reporting frameworks that provide leadership with clear visibility into project budgets, cash flow, profitability, and financial risks.
• Strengthen internal controls, reporting timelines, and financial accountability.
• Proactively recommend improvements to financial management practices and operational processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8–12+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, preferably within real estate development or construction.
• Significant experience in high-rise residential development accounting and finance; exposure to commercial and purpose-built rental developments is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience preparing development feasibility studies, financial models, sensitivity analyses, and project cash flow forecasts.
• Strong understanding of real estate development economics, construction financing, development costs, and investment return metrics.
• Proven experience managing multiple project budgets and overseeing financial reporting across multiple corporate entities.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising and developing accounting personnel.
• Strong financial modelling capabilities and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience implementing improvements to financial reporting, accounting systems, and internal processes.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to independently evaluate financial information, challenge assumptions, and present clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA designation is preferred.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a commercially minded, hands-on financial leader who takes ownership, exercises sound judgment, and proactively identifies opportunities to improve financial performance and operational efficiency.

The successful candidate will combine technical accounting expertise with a strong understanding of real estate development economics and investment analysis.

They will be comfortable working directly with company leadership and partners, providing thoughtful financial insights, challenging assumptions, and contributing to important business and investment decisions.

Equally important, this individual will demonstrate strong leadership, accountability, attention to detail, and the ability to develop a high-performing accounting team.

Why Join Cortel Group?

This is an opportunity to assume a key leadership position within an established real estate development company, with direct exposure to company leadership and meaningful involvement in development and investment decisions.

The successful candidate will contribute to the financial oversight of a diverse development portfolio while helping shape and improve the systems, processes, and financial reporting practices that support the company's continued growth.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume outlining their relevant experience and qualifications.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.