Real Estate Financial Analyst

Metropolitan Holdings Limited is a fully integrated Developer, Builder, Owner, and Operator of Multi-Family and Mixed-use communities and offers commercial real estate brokerage services for the benefit of our employees, clients, vendors, partners, and investors. We are headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and have properties throughout the Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Akron/Canton markets. We are seeking a Development Financial Analyst to join our growing team. 

The Development Financial Analyst (“Analyst”) will be involved in all financial areas of the development-related analytical areas of the company.  This would consist of, but not be limited to, all phases of the life cycles of the real estate development process, including new projects and site acquisition analysis and study, development projections and construction proformas, lease-up and property management analysis, and certain limited aspects of “corporate level” finance as it relates to each development.  This role provides support, critical analysis, modeling, input and influence on the development finance process, from inception to beyond completion. While the Analyst may from time to time be tasked with being involved throughout the business, our intention is to have them focus on due diligence activities, financial underwriting of new deals, and financial analysis and review of our existing portfolio. 

Once opportunities are identified by the New Business team the Analysts leads the data-driven efforts to determine and factually support the financial viability and feasibility of each perspective project. Once the perspective projects are under contract, this person will work with the assigned Development Project Manager, and the company construction department, to navigate through the development project process by providing frequent refreshed underwriting and financial performance analysis during Pre-Development, Development, Pre-Construction, Construction, and Lease-up and Stabilization Phases. The Analyst will assist in the coordination of updating rents, tax and incentives analysis and the handoff comprehensive proformas and modeling to the CFO and team for final review. The Analyst will also assist with loan closings for land acquisition, construction, mezzanine or other debt financing, and act as a conduit for the accounting and finance departments for achieving the approved project projections or financial commitments and representations desired.

This person must be a self-starter, creative, proficient in underwriting and proforma analysis, and highly communicative.  This person should have some knowledge, experience and comprehension of projects in terms of multifamily real estate, familiarity with reading preliminary site, survey and subdivision plans, able to navigate county auditor files, maps and databases, basic comprehension of zoning requirements, and ability to understand market study dynamics and competitive set requirements. Knowledge of securing entitlements and incentives is highly desirable.

Their responsibilities would focus on:

New Project Business & Land Acquisitions

• Lead the weekly team meeting. Track and update the master development pipeline sheet, including updating the high-level project schedule for company sheet.
• Perform initial (and ongoing) underwriting and financial analysis of potential acquisition and development projects. This would include preparation of financial proformas (and related assumptions), coordination with construction, development, and property management teams on costs/expenses, and evaluating return metrics.
• Research and analyze significant assumptions around rents, capitalization rates, interest rates, discount rates, growth rates, operating expenses, utility consumption modeling, ancillary income sources, etc.
• Determine initial availability and help support the Development team’s pursuit to secure incentives at appropriate jurisdiction(s). This includes review of existing CRA legislation or other tools available for development, and ability to determine level and combination of abatement, TIF, PILOT, or other financial incentive needed to make each perspective project feasible.
• Review, assemble, and research the following due diligence items for new projects, including:
  • Obtain and download to file the tax parcel map, tax bill, aerial, screen saves or PDFs of the GIS, zoning, contour, and floodplain maps for subject properties.
  • Complete the New Business checklist
  • Provide a cursory review of zoning. Work alongside Development to resolve any need for zoning changes or variances. Draft and maintain a directory and contact information for the record of owner / seller names, as well as all key team members (i.e. Seller counsel, brokers, etc..) required to place the property into contract. Conduct research on owners when necessary to identify the appropriate point of contact or decision maker for a seller entity.
  • Identify and assemble a list of utilities servicing the site. Obtain a current schedule of values for any special connection fees, tap fees, and/or impact fees. Work with Development to confirm assumptions for any fees that tie to sized connections.
  • Identify multifamily properties within the market. Identify which properties are considered part of the competitive market set and periodically record and track rents.
  • Assemble property ID cards and tax bills for subject properties. Track parcels including but not limited to land values, improved values, offers made, etc.
  • Analyze real estate tax rates and valuations of relevant competing properties
  • Research on existing TIF and CRA agreements; subsequently model incentives available or to be sought.
  • Investigate, analyze and report on any special assessments, tap and impact fees
  • Review and understand appraisals, assessments, and other third-party studies or reports.
• For asset acquisitions, assist with reviewing and analyzing due diligence materials such as property financials, real estate taxes, capital expenditures, and third-party reports.
• Coordination and participation in meetings with local government officials and joint venture partners. Assist with preparing data and presentations as may be required.
• Draft and develop working knowledge of letters of intents, purchase/sale agreements, joint venture agreements, and operating agreements.

Asset Management & Finance

• For purposes of forecasting and budgeting within new proformas for future perspective projects, provide financial analysis for our existing portfolio of projects, including review of monthly actual-to-budget reports and utility reports.

• Coordination and assisting with review of potential dispositions of existing assets.

• Assist with being “Lead” on loan closings and other lender related activity. Manage and coordinate flow of due diligence materials to the lender or institution.

• Assist with coordination and preparation of third-party equity presentations.

Requirements of the job

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or business, with a proven focus and ability to excel in underwriting, modeling and financial analysis. Must have a solid understanding of financial principles and risk assessment.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience with underwriting and development of projections and proforma assembly for the development, planning, construction, or design of commercial real estate or multi-family projects

• Background in any single field or combination of finance, development, construction lending, and land or property acquisition.

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization.

• Strong analytical skills, including problem solving, ability to exercise sound judgment, and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.

• High level of dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.

• Extremely organized and must be able to keep impeccable records of transactions digitally.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and supporting software necessary for the job

Metropolitan Holdings Core Values

This person must share our company core values where they…

• Live with Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles is paramount to the success of our organization
• Are Accountable - We are accountable to ourselves. Our success is a result of what we do.
• Are Humble - We are humbled by the opportunity to serve each other in our organization with a low self-preoccupation. No egos and no jerks
• Bring Tremendous Effort Every Day - To be the best we can be we have to enthusiastically bring passion, tenacity, and energy every day to what we do
• Look at things Creatively - We challenge ourselves to break out of established patterns to look at things a different way