Matthew Epstein
Chief Financial Officer | Real Estate Investment | Property Management | AI-Driven Financial Strategy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pioneerplaza | Pioneer Plaza Website: https://pioneer-plaza.com/ | (203) xxx-xxxx | Weston, CT
Professional Summary
Accomplished CFO with 20+ years leading financial strategy, investment optimization, and operational transformation across commercial real estate and property management. Expert in investor relations, capital raising, lease structuring, and deploying AI-driven analytics for market forecasting and asset valuation. Proven success driving financial performance, enhancing asset value, optimizing property operations, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver strategic growth. Demonstrated success partnering with global firms (e.g., Google, Schlumberger, Halliburton) and applying AI-driven insights derived from geospatial and satellite analytics. A strategic operator with a sharp analytical edge and an entrepreneurial lens.
Professional Experience
Managing Member
Pioneer Plaza LLC | Weston, CT | January 2018 – Present
Own and operate a commercial shopping plaza; lead real estate investment strategy, tenant relations, leasing structures, and operational oversight.
Revenue Growth: Increased occupancy from 67% to 95%, driving significant NOI growth.
Lease Optimization: Extended average lease terms by 80%; instituted CPI-linked escalators for 50% of leases.
Asset Enhancement: Upgraded property infrastructure and management systems, reducing overhead and improving tenant retention.
Strategic Leasing: Attracted essential service tenants, increasing foot traffic and asset valuation.
Managing Director – Head of Geospatial Analysis
Cowen Inc. | New York, NY | Jan 2018 – Dec 2019
Founded Cowen’s geospatial analytics division to integrate advanced machine learning with satellite-based intelligence for institutional clients.
Business Development: Transformed radar satellite analytics concept into a commercial geospatial intelligence platform.
Innovation Leadership: Delivered predictive geospatial insights for commodity markets and corporate clients.
Client Engagement: Advised hedge funds and corporates on satellite-derived data products to inform investment theses.
Chief Investment Officer & Energy Strategist
Aremet Group LLC | Greenwich, CT | 2005 – 2017
Led boutique advisory and investment firm focused on energy-technology, commodity markets, and private capital deployment.
Capital Deployment: Raised and managed over $250M across thematic energy investments and structured vehicles.
Strategic Advisory: Advised Google’s Terra Bella on oil & gas market entry; supported SLB and Halliburton in energy-tech pivots.
Deal Structuring: Originated acquisition targets and capital strategies for oilfield services and upstream clients.
Risk Mitigation: Created project-level hedging programs and navigated cyber-risk in energy asset due diligence.
Energy Sector Head | Long-Short Equities
Citadel Investment Group | Greenwich, CT | 2001 – 2004
Directed a highly-leveraged, market-neutral energy portfolio within Citadel’s multi-strategy hedge fund platform.
Alpha Generation: Delivered consistent, non-directional returns through stock-specific positioning.
Event Analysis: Capitalized on post-Enron structural dislocations; advised on physical commodities desk creation.
Team Leadership: Managed analyst team and collaborated with arbitrage and credit divisions.
Senior Energy Analyst (Buy Side)
Morgan Stanley Asset Management | New York, NY | 1999 – 2001
Led oil and gas research for the $18B American Opportunities Fund.
Integrated macro analysis with fundamental modeling to shape energy positioning and derivative overlays.
Mentored junior analysts and coordinated multi-sector investment frameworks.
Equity Research Analyst
Lehman Brothers | New York, NY | 1998 – 1999
Published equity research on oilfield services and tech; ranked team member by Institutional Investor.
Conducted extensive due diligence with C-level executives and institutional clients.
Supported investment banking with sector insights and client sentiment.
Equity Research Associate
Salomon Brothers | New York, NY | 1995 – 1998
Co-authored sell-side coverage of drilling, seismic, and OFS companies.
Maintained dynamic valuation models and proprietary databases.
Trained junior staff and contributed to top-ranked research output.
Education & Certifications
MBA, Finance, Summa Cum Laude
Boston University – Questrom School of Business, 1992
BA, Economics, Summa Cum Laude
Boston University – College of Liberal Arts, 1990
Skills
Financial: CFO Operations | Capital Raising | Investor Relations | Financial Reporting | Risk Management | Budgeting & Forecasting | Executive Collaboration
Real Estate: Property Management | Lease Structuring | Portfolio Strategy | Dispositions & Acquisitions | Valuation
Data: AI-driven Analytics | Geospatial Intelligence | Predictive Modeling | Financial Modeling | Data Analysis | Advanced Excel
Software & Technical Proficiency
QuickBooks | AppFolio | Yardi | CoStar | Placer.ai | Crexi | LoopNet | Advanced Excel | Financial Modeling | Data Analytics Platforms
Keywords
Chief Financial Officer (CFO), AI-Literate Financial Leader, Advanced Financial Modeling, Strategic Investment, Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Asset Optimization Expert, Portfolio Management, Capital Raising & Investor Communication, Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence (AI), Investor Relations, Board Member, Strategic Planning & Asset Management, Cybersecurity & Risk Mitigation, C-Suite Operational Authority, Data-Driven Decision-Maker, Consulting & Strategic Advisory, Equity and Debt Analysis, Equity and Commodity Research Analyst, Legal Documentation & Compliance, Technology & Analytics, Tax Planning, Regulatory & Risk Management