Chief Financial Officer

Wow Bao; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Voluntary Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Domestic Partner Benefits

Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays

Restaurant Discounts

Employee Discount Programs

CARE culture

Job summary

Wow Bao is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to partner with the CEO and leadership team, overseeing all financial aspects and driving performance. The role emphasizes growth, cash flow optimization, and strategic planning for a fast-growing, omni-channel Asian snack brand.

The CFO will lead FP&A, accounting, treasury, risk, budgeting, and investor communications, while collaborating across departments to scale operations and profitability. On-site five days a week in Chicago is required.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive financial leadership (CFO/VP Finance/Corporate Controller)
• Experience in food manufacturing/CPG is required
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA preferred; CPA required
• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, inventory management, and supply chain finance
• Experience with ERP implementations or systems optimization
• Experience with multi-channel distribution including retail, grocery, club channels

Responsibilities

• Partner with CEO/President and executive team to develop and execute strategic growth plans and budgets
• Provide financial insights to drive profitability, cash flow and value creation
• Support expansion initiatives, new product launches and channel growth strategies
• Oversee accounting, treasury, risk management, forecasting and financial reporting
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and liquidity; maintain banking relationships
• Lead manufacturing and supply chain finance analysis and cost controls
• Build and mentor a high-performing accounting team and ensure governance

Skills

Strategic financial leadership

Financial planning & analysis

Budgeting

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

MBA preferred

CPA required

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Ready to make a big impact? Wow Bao is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to serve as a strategic business partner to the CEO/President and executive leadership team, responsible for all financial aspects of Wow Bao. Additionally, the CFO will provide financial leadership, drive business performance, support growth initiatives, and ensure the financial health of the organization. This role requires extensive experience within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry including food manufacturing, supply chain, inventory management and scaling high-growth brands.

The CFO will lead financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, risk management, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, banking relationships, and investor communications, while supporting operational excellence across the organization.

This position will report directly to the CEO/President and requires 5 days a week on-site in the office.

Why Join Wow Bao?

• Join the adventure! Be part of a fast-growing, innovative brand that’s shaping the future of food
• Make an impact. Opportunity to shape financial strategy during a pivotal expansion phase.
• Collaborative and creative. Thrive in an entrepreneurial culture that values bold ideas and big growth.
• Bao-tastic perks! Enjoy all the delicious, flavorful bao you can handle!

Innovative. Fast Pace. Growth.

At Wow Bao, we believe food should be bold, exciting, and anything but ordinary. We're on a mission to reinvent the Asian Street Food experience—bringing inventive flavors and high-quality ingredients to every bite.

As the fastest-growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the U.S., Wow Bao achieved over 370% retail sales growth in 2024, and our products are now available in 16,000+ grocery stores nationwide thanks to strong partnerships with leading retailers.

Our journey began in 2003 with the opening of our first restaurant, and today Wow Bao is a thriving omni-channel brand with a presence in Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities. We continue to expand across all verticals—including foodservice, retail, and corporate operations.

Wow Bao is proud to be the only brand recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shakers—earning the #1 spot in both 2019 and 2022, and #4 in 2023. This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence in what we do.

Join us and be part of a team that’s transforming the way the world experiences Asian cuisine—one bao at a time.

We foster a culture of caring.

Whether it’s our guests or our employees, we put people first. We strive to inspire, to motivate, and to appreciate one another every day. We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor. We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (Other duties will be assigned as needed)

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the CEO/President and executive team to develop and execute the company’s strategic growth plans, annual capital/operational plans, and budgets.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to drive profitability, cash flow, and long-term value creation.
• Support expansion initiatives, new product launches, and channel growth strategies.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Build, maintain, and update financial analyses and tools to continuously monitor performance and health of all business channels.
• Manage cash and working capital through proper planning and forecasting.
• Build financial forecasting models to evaluate impacts of strategic and operational initiatives including new product launches, supply chain improvements, etc.
• Analyze business performance and recommend actions to improve profitability and efficiencies.
• Prepare financial reporting to investors and Board of Directors.
• Participate in pivotal decisions as they relate to strategic initiatives, operational models, and manufacturing capacity expansion.
• Work with all company departments, to help manage and monitor spend, return on invested capital (ROIC), and other key operational metrics.
• Perform ad-hoc analysis to help drive decision-making on strategic and/or tactical initiatives.
• Monitor and help manage pricing of Wow Bao’s products through its various revenue channels.
• Find, recommend, and collaborate with other team members to execute margin improvement initiatives.

Accounting & Compliance

• Work with the accounting team to oversee all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and tax compliance.
• Coordinate external audits and tax filings.
• Work as a liaison between Wow Bao and the company’s product manufacturers and distributors.
• Lead cross-functional strategic plan and annual budget process.
• Develop and maintain internal controls and financial policies.
• Oversee insurance programs, risk mitigation strategies, and corporate governance practices

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Manage cash flow, working capital, and liquidity strategies.
• Maintain outstanding banking relationships and other strategic relationships with vendors and business partners.
• Optimize inventory investment, vendor payment strategies, and capital expenditures.

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Finance

• Monitor manufacturing performance, product costing, gross margin optimization, cash and inventory controls.
• Lead financial analysis of inventory management, procurement, warehousing, and logistics operations.
• Partner with our manufacturing operations, procurement, and supply chain team to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.

Leadership

• Build, develop, and mentor high-performing accounting team.
• Foster a culture of care, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist with responsibilities and duties in other departments and as assigned by leadership.
• Perform calmly and effectively in an extremely busy and fast-paced work environment.
• Travel to our manufacturing facility in Forest City, North Carolina as needed.
• Other tasks and projects assigned on an as needed basis.

REQUIREMENTS:

• 12+ years of progressive financial leadership role (CFO, VP Finance, Corporate Controller or equivalent)
• Experience within the food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or related industry required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree is preferred; CPA is required.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, inventory management, and supply chain finance.
• Experience leading ERP implementations or systems optimization projects.
• Familiarity with multi-channel distribution including retail, grocery, club channels.
• Experience with private equity-backed organizations.
• Sense of urgency and focus on results.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel
• Maintain complete knowledge of and comply with all policies, procedures and standards as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Handbook Supplements.
• Partake in a professional and positive work environment.

PREFERRED:

• Experience with large retail partners such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, or regional grocery chains
• Advance proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel
• Experience with managing retail deductions, trade spend, rebates, chargebacks, and gross-to-net revenue accounting

Compensation for this position is between $220,000 to $250,000 per year.

Wow Bao is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Competitive salary
• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
• Domestic Partner Benefits
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Discount Programs
• We foster a culture of CARE