Private Equity / Alternatives Fund Controller
About the Company
Our client is a leading global investment management firm with deep expertise across public and private markets. The firm manages capital across a broad range of fixed income, credit, and alternative investment strategies and is recognized for its disciplined investment approach, institutional client base, and high-performance culture.
Position Description
Our client's Alternatives platform is a key strategic growth area for the firm, managing approximately $150 billion across a diverse range of investment strategies and vehicle structures, including evergreen and closed-end funds. As the platform continues to expand, particularly across complex, open-ended private credit strategies, the need for scalable, well-governed financial infrastructure has become increasingly critical.
The Alternatives Funds Finance team plays a central role in supporting this growth, providing end-to-end financial oversight across the platform, including accounting and control, investor reporting, audit and regulatory coordination, treasury and liquidity management, and oversight of third-party service providers.
We are seeking a Private Equity/Alternatives Fund Controller, to join the team, with a focus on evergreen private credit strategies. This individual will be responsible for supporting and/or overseeing the financial accounting, reporting, and control framework for a complex set of hybrid, open-ended funds investing across public and private credit markets, including real estate and specialty finance.
This role requires a highly proficient accountant with strong alternatives experience and product knowledge, particularly in private credit and complex fund structures. The position offers exposure across the organization and the opportunity to partner closely with Portfolio Management, Legal, Tax, Compliance, and Operations to support ongoing fund oversight and new product development initiatives.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Serve as a Fund Controller, responsible for financial oversight and control for a group of complex evergreen funds.
- Oversee fund administrators on NAV production, including review of accounting, valuation, fee calculations, and investor allocations.
- Analyze and challenge financial outputs, including capital account statements, investor reporting, and audited financial statements.
- Manage the fund close cycle, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of reporting to internal stakeholders and investors.
- Oversee accounting and reporting assigned complex and illiquid investments, which may include private credit instruments, structured products, real estate debt and equity, and hybrid fund structures.
- Assist in the implementation and ongoing management and operationalization of bespoke fee arrangements, including the design of analytical review frameworks to ensure accurate application across investors and distribution partners.
- Oversee fund treasury and liquidity management activities, including subscriptions/redemptions, capital calls, and income distributions.
- Collaborate with Portfolio Management and deal teams on complex transactions to support appropriate financial reporting treatment.
- Manage external audits, regulatory filings, and compliance-related reporting requirements.
- Oversee third-party service providers, including fund administrators, ensuring performance against SLAs, quality of deliverables, and continuous improvement.
- Identify and contribute to process improvement initiatives, including enhancing controls, reducing operational risk, improving efficiency, and supporting automation efforts.
- Serve as a central point of coordination across internal stakeholders, including Finance, Product Strategy, Legal, Tax, Compliance, and Operations.
- Support new product launches and structural changes, contributing to the development and scaling of new fund offerings.
Qualifications
- 5-8 years of experience in fund accounting, audit, or finance within an alternative asset manager or leading public accounting firm.
- Solid experience with alternative investment structures, with preference for exposure to private credit and evergreen/open-ended funds.
- Experience working with or overseeing fund administrators and external service providers.
- Strong understanding of US GAAP and investment company accounting principles.
- Experience with complex financial structures, including private credit, structured products, real estate, and hybrid fund vehicles.
- Experience supporting and/or managing audit processes and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Ability to take ownership and operate independently with a high degree of accountability.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to leverage technology and automation tools (including AI-enabled solutions) to enhance operational efficiency and scalability.
- Bachelor's degree required.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA designation strongly preferred.
- Background in Big 4 or leading public accounting firm preferred.
- Experience working across multiple jurisdictions (e.g., US, Cayman, Luxembourg).
Professional Attributes
- Thrives in a fast paced, deadline driven environment and adapts effectively to shifting priorities and ambiguity.
- Strong analytical and problem solving capabilities with sound professional judgment.
- Highly organized, with strong time and project management skills and the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Comfortable operating in evolving environments, with the ability to bring structure, accountability, and clarity to in-flight environments.
- Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn across asset classes, investment strategies, and industry trends.
- Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to balance attention to detail with an understanding of the broader investment, client, and business context.
- Highly collaborative workstyle, fostering effective partnerships with cross-functional colleagues, service providers, and other stakeholders.
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented, with a strong sense of accountability.
- Exhibits high emotional intelligence, adaptability, resilience, and professionalism.
- Demonstrates credibility, integrity, and strong ethical standards in all interactions.
- Resourceful and thoughtful problem solver who approaches complex issues with a practical and solutions oriented mindset.
Engagement Details
Employment: Contract (Long Term - 3+ years length w/ option to convert to direct-hire/salary at any point)
Location: 4x per week onsite in Newport Beach, CA with one day remote
Commitment: 40 Hour Week, Monday to Friday, Daytime Business Hours
Compensation: $90-$115anHR W2 (+ Access to Medical Benefits, PTO, 401k)
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
