Portfolio Accountant

Portfolio Accountant – LaSalle Investment Management Location: Chicago, 4 days a week in-office What this job involves: Join LaSalle Investment Management, one of the world's leading real estate investment managers and the dedicated investment management platform of JLL, as a Portfolio Accountant supporting our Canadian real estate portfolios. In this dynamic role, you'll work closely with the Portfolio Controller to manage critical accounting and reporting processes using IFRS standards. This position offers a unique opportunity to blend traditional accounting excellence with cutting-edge AI-driven innovation, contributing directly to portfolio performance analysis and investor reporting for institutional clients. You'll play a key role in ensuring financial accuracy while helping transform our accounting operations through process automation and efficiency initiatives. If you're a detail-oriented accounting professional eager to grow your CPA credentials while working at the intersection of real estate investment management and emerging technology, this role provides an excellent foundation for career advancement within our global investment platform. What your day-to-day will look like: • Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close activities for Canadian real estate portfolios utilizing IFRS, including reviewing financial statements from property managers and joint venture partners. • Prepare and post journal entries, conduct financial analysis, and review NAV packs to ensure accuracy and completeness of portfolio accounting records. • Coordinate with the cash management team to execute critical transactions including investor subscriptions and distributions, invoice payments, and quarterly fee processing. • Calculate, analyze, and report investment performance returns and prepare quarterly financial analysis packages for internal and external stakeholders. • Identify and lead AI-driven process improvement initiatives to automate recurring tasks, streamline financial statement preparation, and enhance efficiency across the accounting cycle. • Support year-end audit and tax requirements by preparing schedules, responding to auditor requests, and ensuring compliance with reporting standards. • Collaborate with off-site managers, clients, and cross-functional teams to proactively identify issues, develop creative solutions, and deliver exceptional client service. Required Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited institution with 1-3 years of professional accounting experience, preferably in real estate or investment management. • CPA designation strongly preferred; candidates must be committed to achieving CPA certification as a requirement for future career progression within the organization. • Strong technical knowledge of accounting principles (IFRS experience preferred) with demonstrated ability to prepare and analyze complex financial statements and investment reporting. • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of AI tools (professional or personal use), with demonstrated interest in applying technology to solve accounting challenges. • Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with real estate accounting, investment fund accounting, or familiarity with Net Asset Value (NAV) calculations and performance return methodologies. • Prior exposure to financial reporting systems, property management software, or accounting platforms used in institutional real estate investment management. • Demonstrated track record of identifying process inefficiencies and implementing solutions to improve accuracy, speed, or service quality. • Experience collaborating with joint venture partners, external auditors, or other third-party stakeholders in a financial reporting capacity. • Natural curiosity about emerging technologies with willingness to pilot and champion new AI tools as part of continuous improvement initiatives. • Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and meeting tight deadlines. • Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex accounting concepts to non-financial stakeholders. What LaSalle Investment Management Offers: A comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' well-being and work-life balance, including health benefits (medical, dental, vision, mental health support and additional ancillary insurance plans), generous paid time-off including paid company holidays, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability, and additional care/wellness programs. Financial wellness is supported through a 401(k) plan with a company match, flexible spending accounts, and health savings account options. All benefits subject to hired employees meeting requirements for eligibility. US Jobs Only: This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Estimated compensation for this position: 90,000.00 – 100,000.00 USD per year This range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations. Location: On-site –Chicago, IL Opening Type: New Role At LaSalle, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing. JLL Privacy Notice Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely. For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement . For additional details please see our career site pages for each country. Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com . This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL. For candidates in the United States, please see a fully copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here . Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment. Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest. Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate. California Residents only If you are a California resident as defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) please view our Supplemental Privacy Statement which describes your rights and disclosures about your personal information. 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