Manager, Development Finance

Starlight Investments, in conjunction with WP Osborne Executive Search, is seeking a Manager, Development Finance to join their Development Finance team.

Manager, Development Finance

Reporting to the Controller, the Manager, Development Finance is responsible for overseeing the finance function for the company's Canadian and UK development & construction portfolios. Located in Toronto, this role will be responsible for budget management, construction draws and payments, reviewing purchase orders, invoicing, forecasting and project reporting. The Manager will play an integral role in providing insights to business partners to assist in decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review and validate UK purchase orders and vendor invoices to ensure compliance with approved budgets and proper expense categorization.
• Oversee monthly development and construction cash flow reporting, collaborating with the Treasury Team to communicate funding requirements.
• Ensure quarterly accruals align with company policies and financial reporting standards.
• Lead the monthly construction draw process for active projects, ensuring requests are accurate, compliant, and aligned with construction management agreements and lender obligations.
• Support the preparation and accuracy of financial data for quarterly investor reporting.
• Prepare and analyze cost-to-complete reports across all active projects, collaborating with Development and Construction teams to confirm budget sufficiency and financial accuracy.
• Review and validate underwriting models for prospective projects, ensuring completeness, reasonableness, and alignment with company standards.
• Lead the coordination and compilation of the annual development and construction budgets.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of Power BI dashboards to streamline reporting and enhance departmental efficiency.
• Develop and maintain executive-level summary templates to present key financial and operational data effectively.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Construction, Investments, and Development Finance to identify and implement process and data flow improvements.

Qualifications

The Manager, Development Finance will possess a Bachelor's Degree in Finance or Business Administration; a CPA/CFA designation (preferred) and a minimum of 5 years of experience in Finance or related consulting roles with similar skill sets; a track record of working with ERP systems (preferably Yardi); superior Excel financial modeling skills with proven experience in creating detailed, auditable models; demonstrated experience delivering insights to diverse stakeholders via PowerPoint and other formats. Soft skills include:

• Drives Performance Through Analytical and Process Excellence
  –
  Skilled in developing scalable policies and procedures, with strong analytical abilities, commitment to detail, and meeting deadlines—demonstrating a structured, detail-oriented approach that drives process improvement and operational excellence.
• Achieves Results Through Collaboration
  –
  Encourages a variety of perspectives, collaborates inclusively, shares responsibility, and actively involves others to reach objectives.
• Champions Change and Innovation
  –
  Passionate about process improvement. Questions norms, adopts technology, offers creative solutions, drives process improvements, encourages input, and evaluates ideas effectively.
• Demonstrates Excellence in Execution
  –
  Maintains a proactive approach, prioritizes delivering results, establishes clear objectives and milestones, monitors progress regularly, makes timely decisions, addresses challenges effectively, and consistently fulfils or surpasses established goals.
• Provides Clear and Strategic Direction
  – Demonstrates effective planning and organization, establishes straightforward and actionable objectives, maintains focus on key priorities, possesses foresight for future developments, and has a thorough understanding of industry trends and market dynamics.

Application

Qualified candidates can submit their resume via LinkedIn. We thank you for your interest in this role, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Starlight Investments

Starlight Investments is a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm. Established in 2011 and privately owned, Starlight has grown to a dynamic team of 360+ professionals who manage over $25 billion of direct real estate and real estate investment securities. Offering a range of investment vehicles across various real estate strategies, we are a developer and asset manager of over 70,000 multi-residential suites and over 7 million square feet of commercial property space. Holding Canada's largest portfolio of multi-family assets, we have a strong focus and commitment to creating a positive impact for our communities. To learn more about Starlight, please visit or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Starlight's People Value Proposition

• Diverse multi-generational workforce
• Competitive and equitable compensation
• Employer matching Group Retirement Savings Plan
• Comprehensive benefits packages including Health and lifestyle spending accounts
• Maternity leave top-up
• Leadership and mentorship programs
• Investment opportunities in Starlight funds
• Seasonal office hours
• Annual company-wide volunteer day (Impact Day)
• Award-winning Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Strategy
• Personal and Cultural days
• Designated CPA Training Facility

Starlight's total compensation framework is comprised of annual base salary, discretionary bonus and company benefits such as medical and wellness, Group RSP and other incentives.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Starlight is dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse communities that the company operates in. We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Black, Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation.

Environmental Social Governance (ESG)

As one of the largest rental housing providers in Canada, Starlight's focus on ESG is aligned with the company's broader purpose to invest with impact and drive social and economic growth through real estate. This focus shapes business operations and influences interactions with employees, investors, partners and communities.

WP Osborne Executive Search

WP Osborne is a privately-owned search firm delivering full-service recruitment expertise for over 20 years to a broad range of clients in the real estate industry. Our expertise extends across every major asset class including multi-residential, office, industrial, retail, mixed-use, condo, hotels, and senior living across the functions of asset management, investments, development, construction, leasing, property management, portfolio management, finance, marketing, IT, HR and strategy.

Reference: 1416 Manager Development Finance