Accounting for real estate department?
How are real estate development departments organized, for example, at a major bank or pharmacy?

I've been the controller of a small commercial real estate company for years and, now that I'm a CPA, I'm looking to expand my role. Ideally, I'd like to transfer my knowledge in real estate to one outside property management.

Say I want to be a Director of Accounting or CFO of the real estate department at a large company. Does that exist? Or is there typically just one accounting department for all? TIA. (Also, I'm open to other career ideas, as I'm still early in the transition process.)
[{"id": "ffcnmh2", "text": "Why not just try to be CFO of a CRE real estate group. \n\nMost groups that are mid-sized have a CFO.", "replies": [{"id": "ffcpqlq", "text": "Thanks. I guess I'm looking to get out of the monotony of my current job in property management, but that is a good thought. I suppose any change brings with it new challenges and growth. If not property management, maybe real estate development?", "replies": [{"id": "ffdt2pr", "text": "Commercial RE development, and it\u2019s accounting and finance, is a totally different world than property management accounting. You probably have enough RE understanding to be useful, but would likely find the development side different enough to scratch an itch.\n\nDevelopment and construction are much more finance-focused, which brings a very different flavor and pace to the work. It might be a good transition for you.\n\nOtherwise, you need a large national firm that is constantly expanding for a chance at development-focused accounting. Starbucks has a large store-sourcing and development operation, but I\u2019m not sure how they handle the accounting internally. Some of the large tech firms (Microsoft, FAANG) have consistent expansion teams, but same deal, I\u2019m not sure how they align the development accounting and finance teams.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ffcs7by", "text": "You can prob find this job in any real estate company tbh. You have the hard RE lingo part down", "replies": [{"id": "ffcw6vr", "text": "Thanks. What about industries that aren't directly real estate but the departments that handle development of their next building?\n\nI guess I'm anxious about leaving the only job I've known for 9 years and applying knowledge elsewhere while still wanting to break into something new.", "replies": [{"id": "ffcx92c", "text": "I don\u2019t know what department that would be. I\u2019m confused; Are you asking if you can transfer out of accounting? Or apply your accounting knowledge to a company outside your current industry.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ffdaiay", "text": "It is very, very company-specific. I'm a real estate accountant for a large private company.  I only do the financials on multiple companies that are commercial properties. The other accountants focus on other areas. \n\nIn another company where I worked, I did all the accounting for subsidiaries that had varied purposes including commercial real estate, an employee staffing company, a interior design company, and a financial services company that were for the sole purpose of managing a commercial office building.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]