Senior Controller - Mortgage Servicing - Chicago

Senior Controller - Mortgage Servicing

Tampa, FL / Dallas, TX / Rosemont, Chicago Area, IL | Hybrid | Direct Hire

This is a senior leadership opportunity for a finance professional with deep expertise in mortgage servicing accounting, Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR) valuation, U.S. GAAP, investor reporting, financial controls, audits, and enterprise accounting operations.

The selected professional will lead key accounting functions across the organization while partnering with executive leadership, auditors, regulators, lenders, valuation specialists, and cross-functional teams.

About the Role

The Senior Controller will oversee enterprise accounting operations, including financial reporting, month-end close, payroll, accounts payable, reconciliations, cash-flow management, controls, audits, and regulatory requirements.

The role requires strong experience within a large or complex mortgage servicing environment, along with the ability to lead accounting teams, improve processes, manage risk, and communicate sophisticated financial topics to senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise accounting, payroll, and accounts payable functions.
• Ensure timely and accurate month-end close and financial reporting.
• Oversee balance-sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, bank reconciliations, and cash-flow management.
• Serve as a primary liaison with external auditors and support regulatory and financial audits.
• Coordinate with third-party valuation firms regarding Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR) valuation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable U.S. GAAP accounting standards.
• Oversee investor reporting requirements related to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, debt reporting, and lender covenant compliance.
• Review accounting treatments for current and emerging transactions and document management positions under U.S. GAAP.
• Strengthen accounting processes, internal controls, policies, and procedures.
• Review contracts to determine appropriate asset ownership and financial recognition.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process optimization, efficiency, and improved financial controls.
• Lead, coach, develop, and manage accounting professionals.
• Present complex financial information and recommendations to executive stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA or equivalent professional certification.
• 15+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• At least 10 years of senior-level accounting experience within mortgage servicing or closely related financial services environments.
• Previous Controller-level experience.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of mortgage servicing accounting and MSR accounting and valuation.
• Deep understanding of U.S. GAAP.
• Experience with investor reporting requirements involving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and/or Ginnie Mae.
• Experience leading financial audits, internal controls, and regulatory-compliance activities.
• Proven experience managing and developing accounting teams.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise accounting systems, cash-flow operations, cost structures, and financial resource planning.
• Experience with mortgage servicing platforms and enterprise ERP environments such as SAP, Oracle, or similar systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong overall proficiency with financial and accounting technology.
• Excellent executive-level communication, presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Relevant Background

Strong candidates will have experience within large-scale or institutional mortgage servicing organizations with complex accounting operations, multiple entities, formal audit and regulatory processes, and significant investor-reporting responsibilities.

Experience primarily limited to small banks or small mortgage operations may not provide the scale required for this position.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate should be able to:

• Build credibility quickly across Finance and executive leadership.
• Lead teams through change and process improvement.
• Coach, mentor, and develop accounting professionals.
• Combine strong technical accounting expertise with sound business judgment.
• Manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintain high standards of confidentiality, integrity, accuracy, and compliance.

Work Arrangement

This is a hybrid direct-hire opportunity.

Candidates must be based in, or prepared to work from, one of the following markets:

• Tampa, Florida
• Dallas, Texas
• Rosemont / Chicago, Illinois

The position requires approximately 3 days per week onsite.

Relocation assistance is not available.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this opportunity now or in the future.

How to Apply

Please submit your application through this platform with an updated resume outlining your relevant mortgage servicing, Controller-level, MSR, U.S. GAAP, investor reporting, audit, and leadership experience.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss:

• Mortgage servicing accounting experience.
• Controller-level responsibilities.
• MSR accounting and valuation experience.
• U.S. GAAP expertise.
• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae investor reporting experience.
• Leadership and team-management experience.
• Current location.
• Work authorization status.
• Desired total compensation.