Job Description

Chief Compliance Officer

At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment.

Role Overview

As the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) at Cortland, you will be the driving force behind our commitment to integrity, regulatory excellence, and risk management. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead our compliance strategy, ensuring our day-to-day compliance operations align with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal standards. This is a high-impact role that requires a visionary leader who can anticipate challenges, mitigate risks, and build proactive compliance programs that seamlessly integrate with our investments, capital markets and investor relations teams to fuel Cortland's growth and success.

• Architect, implement, and continuously refine a best-in-class compliance and ethics program that enhances our business operations.
• Maintain the firm's regulatory risk matrix in collaboration with the CFO, General Counsel, CTO, and external consultants, regularly assessing business and technology risks, documenting controls and reporting program effectiveness.
• Stay ahead of evolving regulatory landscapes (federal, state, and local) and proactively adapt policies to maintain full compliance.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, providing strategic counsel on compliance-related risks and opportunities.
• Leverage broad market knowledge to be an effective and efficient business partner to our capital markets and investor relations team in assisting with capital raising and investor management.
• Lead and execute internal compliance audits, investigations, and responses to external regulatory inquiries.
• Track compliance metrics and ensure adherence to policies for employee trading, gifts, entertainment, business activities, political contributions, and certifications.
• Design and oversee dynamic compliance training programs that empower associates at all levels.
• Establish clear, data-driven reporting mechanisms to track and manage compliance risks across the organization.
• Serve as Cortland's primary liaison with regulatory agencies and key external stakeholders.
• Overtime, build, mentor, and lead a high-performing compliance team, fostering a culture of accountability and ethical excellence.
• Assist with preparation of required state and federal filings (e.g. Form ADV, Form PF) ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
• Partner with the CFO to integrate compliance into risk mitigation strategies, financial audits, and long-term business planning.
• Collaborate cross functionally to ensure compliance in all marketing materials, private placement memoranda, due diligence questionnaires, investor reports, and other external-facing documents.
• Maintain and organize all compliance records, policies, training materials, and disclosures for easy retrieval and regulatory adherence.
• Ensure robust compliance in critical areas including data privacy, anti-money laundering, fair housing, and real estate investment regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; JD, MBA, or relevant master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in compliance, legal, or risk management rolespreferably in real estate, financial services, or highly regulated industries.
• Deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks including SEC, Fair Housing Act, ADA, GDPR, AML, and other relevant federal/state laws.
• Proven ability to lead compliance initiatives in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CCEP, CRCM, CAMS) a plus.

Agency Notice:

Cortland is currently managing recruitment internally and is not engaging external agencies for this position. Unsolicited candidate submissions will not be considered. We kindly ask that agencies refrain from contacting team members directly. Should our needs change, our Talent Acquisition team will reach out through the appropriate channels. We appreciate your understanding.

About Cortland

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-centric approach to living experiences. Recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US, Cortland combines in-house design, construction, and operations to deliver value and innovation across its portfolio.

Join us as we reimagine apartment living and drive outsized returns through purpose, performance, and people.

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer, and we're proud to support and celebrate diversity in the workplace. We are committed to equal consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation or assistance with the application process and/or using our website, please email Careers@cortland.com.

Cortland is a drug-free workplace.

Cortland participates in e-verify to verify the employment status of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs