Staff Accountant - Real Estate in BIRMINGHAM, Michigan at THE ELIA GROUP LLC

ELIA Group is a multi-faceted, fully integrated real estate and hospitality company that acquires, develops, and manages commercial properties in landmark locations throughout the United States. In Real Estate & Development and Hospitality, we don't sit back and let things happen, we make things happen! Whether we're crafting deals or cocktails, our unparalleled attention to detail leads to award-winning real estate development and hospitality projects.

ELIA Group is seeking a highly organized, detail-driven Staff Accountant with commercial real estate and hospitality experience to join our corporate accounting team. This is an office-based role supporting a multi-entity portfolio of commercial real estate properties (office and retail), as well as fine dining and high-volume entertainment concepts. This position plays a critical role in ensuring financial accuracy, GAAP compliance, and timely reporting across the organization. This role reports to senior accounting leadership and working cross-functionally with asset management, property management, and hospitality operations teams.

Commercial Real Estate Accounting (Primary Function)

• Maintain and reconcile general ledgers for a portfolio of office and retail properties

• Prepare and review monthly property financial statements, including variance analysis

• Manage and reconcile tenant ledgers, including billing, collections, and adjustments

• Prepare and analyze Common Area Maintenance (CAM) reconciliations, operating expense recoveries, and lease-based billings

• Review and interpret lease agreements to ensure proper revenue recognition, escalations, and expense allocations

• Track and report capital expenditures (CapEx) and property-level budgets versus actuals

• Maintain security deposit accounting and compliance with lease provisions

• Partner with property management and asset management teams to ensure accurate coding, budgeting, and financial performance tracking

• Assist with acquisition and disposition accounting, including setup of new properties and financial integration

Corporate & Financial Reporting

• Prepare journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations across multiple entities

• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes

• Support preparation of consolidated financial statements and ownership reporting packages

• Perform variance analysis and provide insights into portfolio performance

• Assist in budgeting and forecasting processes at both property and portfolio levels

• Support audit requests and maintain organized financial documentation

Hospitality Accounting Support (Secondary Function)

• Assist with accounts payable, cash reconciliations, and sales reporting for hospitality venues as needed

• Support reconciliation of daily revenue reporting

• Provide ad hoc financial support to restaurant and venue leadership

• Help ensure consistency between hospitality reporting and corporate accounting standards

Systems, Controls & Process Improvement

• Utilize Yardi (or similar property accounting software) for financial reporting, tenant accounting, and reconciliations

• Maintain and improve internal controls and accounting SOPs, particularly around property accounting and lease administration

• Identify opportunities to improve reporting accuracy, efficiency, and scalability across the portfolio

• Support implementation and optimization of accounting systems and workflows

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required

• 3+ years of commercial real estate accounting experience required (office/retail strongly preferred)

• Demonstrated experience with CAM reconciliations, lease accounting, and property financial reporting

• Experience with Yardi or similar real estate accounting systems required

• Familiarity with multi-entity structures and consolidated reporting

• Hospitality accounting experience is a plus, but not required

• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling)

• Strong understanding of GAAP and accrual-based accounting

• Ability to manage multiple properties and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• High level of integrity and attention to detail

At ELIA, we use our unique experience and contributions to deliver more than value – we set new standards! We seek someone that is looking for more than a job – we want to work with someone who is as passionate as us about what we do and how we go about doing it. We are seeking someone who:

• Understands the financial dynamics of fine dining and entertainment concepts.

• Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial hospitality environment.

• Is analytical, proactive, and solutions-oriented.

• Communicates effectively with both accounting professionals and operational leaders.

• Takes ownership of their work and demonstrates accountability.

• Competitive salary (commensurate with experience)

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• 401(k)

• Opportunity for long-term growth within a multi-venue hospitality group

We're a bold and imaginative team with a proven record. Our robust team has extensive subject matter expertise and cohesive team chemistry in every facet of our business. We're strategic-planners and boundary-pushers in the best possible way. It's important to our culture to have fun while also exceeding everyone's expectations.

This is a full-time, office-based position at ELIA Group's corporate office. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility required during month-end close and peak reporting periods. While primarily office-based, the role requires regular interaction with restaurant and entertainment venue leadership teams.

This position primarily involves sedentary office work including extended periods of sitting and computer use. Occasional visits to venue locations may require standing and walking through active restaurant environments.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Duties may evolve as the company grows and business needs change.

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