Real Estate Financial Analyst

CABRERA CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC is seeking a Real Estate Financial Analyst to support underwriting and investment evaluation across the full transaction lifecycle, from initial screening through investment committee approval. The role will partner with senior leadership and contribute to property and JV/portfolio FP&A, reporting, and transaction execution.

Role Overview

The Real Estate Financial Analyst will build and own complex financial models, conduct market research, and help develop investment theses and underwriting memoranda. Responsibilities span underwriting, financial modeling, and ongoing performance analysis, with involvement from LOI and due diligence through closing and committee materials.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and own complex cash flow models across property types, including industrial, multifamily, student housing, and mixed-use.
• Develop, review, and stress-test operating pro formas and investment return models (including IRR, equity multiple, and cash-on-cash) across a range of capital structures.
• Sensitize assumptions across variables such as rent growth, vacancy, cap rates, construction costs, and financing terms, translating results into investment conclusions.
• Support debt and equity structuring analysis, including joint venture and waterfall modeling.
• Conduct primary and secondary market research using institutional data platforms (for example, CoStar, Green Street, MSCI, or equivalent), along with site visits, broker conversations, and local market intelligence.
• Synthesize research into clear written investment theses and underwriting memoranda with a defined point of view.
• Track sector, submarket, and competitive trends while maintaining comparable and benchmarking analyses.
• Support transactions from initial screening through LOI, due diligence, and closing.
• Prepare investment committee materials, including executive summaries, underwriting exhibits, risk assessment, and recommendation frameworks.
• Coordinate with third-party consultants, brokers, lenders, and legal counsel throughout diligence and closing.
• Maintain pipeline tracking, deal logs, and internal investment databases.
• Support property- and JV-level financial performance analysis by connecting underwriting assumptions to actuals and forecasts.
• Analyze and communicate deal cash flows and partner economics, showing sources and uses of capital across CABRERA CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC and its partners.
• Prepare property, JV, and portfolio-level reporting that explains performance, returns, and variance to plan for internal and external stakeholders.
• Build polished, boardroom-ready investment decks and investment committee approval materials.
• Distill complex financial and market analysis into clear, decision-oriented narratives for senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Support preparation of materials for LP reporting, investor communications, and capital-raising initiatives as needed.

Decision-Making and Autonomy

Operate with a high degree of autonomy in financial analysis and deal support, exercising judgment in underwriting assumptions, analytical framing, and investment recommendations provided to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced Excel skills, including dynamic model-building and the ability to build models from scratch.
• PowerPoint fluency to create clear, well-structured presentations that communicate analysis and recommendations.
• Ability to automate repetitive analytical tasks (Python, VBA, or equivalent) is a meaningful differentiator.
• Actively uses AI tools to accelerate research, drafting, and analysis, balancing their use with independent thinking.
• Sound judgment to identify key insights, prioritize relevant information, and filter out noise in data and discussions.
• Strong written communication skills shown through clear analytical memos, emails, and presentation materials.
• Resourceful and self-directed, with demonstrated ability to find answers independently.
• Intellectual curiosity about markets, capital flows, and the drivers of real estate value.
• Comfort working in ambiguous environments and building processes where none exist.
• Persistence and follow-through to bring work to completion without close oversight.
• Bachelor’s degree required in finance, real estate, economics, or a related analytical field.
• 2-4 years of experience at an institutional real estate firm (investor, owner, operator, developer, REPE, REIT, or institutional advisory).
• Demonstrated experience owning financial models, not only populating templates.
• Exposure to multiple property types and full-cycle transaction experience through closing strongly preferred.
• CFA candidacy, MSRE, or MBA is a plus, but not required.

Skills and Tools

• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Python
• VBA
• AI tools
• CoStar
• Green Street
• MSCI

Location and Employment Details

• Location: Chicago, IL (onsite)
• Salary: USD 80,000 - 100,000 per year
• Minimum Experience: 2 years