Description
Multi-entity commercial real estate, title, and cannabis retail. 70% controller, 30% CFO.
Engagement: Fractional
Platforms: AppFolio, AIM, EOSone, Dutchie
Brands: Four
Reports To: CEO
ABOUT NORTHSTAR GROWTH COMPANIES
Northstar Growth Companies operates Commercial Investors Group, AlphaDiv Real Estate Fund, Velora Title, and Chillwater Cannabis Shop. We are hiring a fractional CFO to own financial controls across all four brands. This is a hands-on seat — you will audit the ledger yourself, not review someone else's summary of it.
Scorecard — What This Seat Supports (Brand — North Star Metric — Goal)
Chillwater Cannabis Shop — EBITDA Enterprise value — Goal: $5M EBITDA $25M value
CRE Portfolio — CIG / AlphaDiv — Return on capital — Goal: 10%+ currently $750K/quarter
Velora Title — EBITDA — Goal: $500K
Scope of Work
Ledger Integrity
Oversee day-to-day accounting across all brands to maintain ledger integrity.
Audit the general ledger each month after bank reconciliations are complete.
Flag every ledger entry that is not tied out to a bank statement.
Audit accounts payable for duplicate invoices and duplicate payments
Fund and Owner Capital
Verify AIM matches APM for owner capital by comparing positions to the balance sheet.
Run net equity calculations for AlphaDiv using AIM assets, APM liabilities, and owner capital.
Support quarterly distribution calculations and investor reporting.
Schedules and Reporting
Prepare insurance accrual schedules.
Post scorecard results to EOSone.
Produce the monthly close packet and variance narrative by brand.
Information Requests
Handle all requests for information from lenders, the brokerage team, and brand presidents.
Prepare diligence folders for loan requests, sales, and acquisitions.
Own annual lender compliance reporting.
Cannabis Accounting and 280E
Separate COGS-eligible costs from non-deductible operating costs under Section 280E.
Document inventory costing and absorption methodology to support the COGS position.
Reconcile Dutchie sales and inventory data to the general ledger.
Maintain daily cash controls and reconciliation across all retail locations.
Apply the Minnesota state subtraction for federally disallowed 280E expenses.
Tax Returns and Filings
Coordinate federal and state returns for all entities with the outside CPA firm.
Prepare and review the year-end workpaper package by entity.
Own K-1 preparation, review, and distribution to investors.
Manage the filing calendar, extensions, and Secretary of State entity renewals.
Oversee sales, use, and cannabis gross receipts tax filings.
CFO Scope — 30%
Drive the scorecard targets above through margin, pricing, and cost discipline.
Build and maintain budgets and forecasts across the four brands.
Negotiate insurance pricing and prosecute property tax appeals across all assets.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
CPA strongly preferred; MN-based
Real estate or fund accounting, including net leases and CAM
Controller-level ownership of a multi-entity GL, end to end
Hands-on AppFolio Property Manager required; AIM preferred
Fund work: capital accounts, net equity, distribution waterfalls
Section 280E and cannabis retail accounting experience
Advanced Excel and Google Sheets; high accuracy under deadlines
Works independently and communicates proactively
How to Apply
Send your resume with a short note on your AppFolio and multi-entity close experience, plus one control gap you found and fixed.
Email: mike@cre-fund.com
Attn: Mike Sowers, CEO
Location: Bloomington, MN
