Controller

Boutique Recruiting; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus (10%–15%)

Medical plan options (HMO/PPO)

PTO 2 weeks

Complimentary restaurant meals

Free parking

Job summary

Boutique Recruiting is seeking a Controller to own the financial engine of a growing multi-unit restaurant organization. You will oversee accounting across six locations, lead month-end and year-end close, manage AP and reporting, and build scalable P&L reporting.

The ideal candidate is hands-on with multi-unit restaurant experience, excels at problem solving, and communicates clearly with operations and leadership. A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with close, reconciliations, AP, reporting and core accounting functions.
• Strong experience in a multi-unit restaurant or hospitality environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent depth of relevant accounting experience.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks and advanced Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP).

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day accounting operations across six restaurant locations, including daily sales reporting, reconciliations, journal entries, AP and payroll reporting inputs.
• Lead month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial information.
• Build and maintain company and store-level P&L reporting from the ground up.
• Oversee high-volume bill pay and AP/AR with strong controls and accurate records.
• Identify and implement automation to reduce manual work and increase scalability.
• Collaborate with operations to ensure numbers reflect business activity and coordinate with outside CPA for year-end close and tax matters.

Skills

Multi-unit restaurant experience

Advanced Excel

QuickBooks

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

PivotTables

VLOOKUP

Job description

Position Title: Controller

Salary Range: $120,000–$150,000 / Year, DOE

This is an opportunity to take ownership of the financial engine behind a growing, multi-unit restaurant organization and make it smarter, cleaner, and more scalable. The Controller will oversee accounting across six locations, lead month-end and year-end close, manage AP and reporting, build out P&L reporting, and identify opportunities to automate and streamline processes that are still manual today. The ideal candidate is a sharp, hands‑on accounting professional with multi‑unit restaurant or hospitality experience who knows the fundamentals cold but also sees how things can be done better. They want a self‑starter who asks smart questions, communicates directly, brings ideas to the table, and can balance serious financial accountability with a collaborative, down‑to‑earth personality.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day accounting operations across six restaurant locations, including daily sales reporting, reconciliations, journal entries, AP and payroll reporting inputs
• Lead month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring financial information is complete, accurate, and delivered on time
• Build and maintain P&L reporting from the ground up, providing clear visibility into financial performance at both the company and store level
• Oversee high‑volume bill pay and AP/AR activity while maintaining strong controls and accurate records
• Evaluate existing accounting workflows and implement automation that reduces manual work, improves accuracy, and creates more scalable processes
• Manage inventory and store‑level financial reporting while partnering closely with operations to ensure the numbers reflect what is happening in the business
• Coordinate with the company’s outside CPA firm on year‑end close, tax matters, and other financial reporting requirements

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with hands‑on responsibility for close, reconciliations, AP, reporting, and core accounting functions
• Strong accounting experience within a multi‑unit restaurant or hospitality environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent depth of relevant accounting experience
• Strong QuickBooks proficiency and advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables and VLOOKUPs
• Solid command of journal entries, debits and credits, month‑end close, year‑end close and tax‑related accounting processes
• Ability to independently build processes, solve problems and manage a high‑volume workload without sacrificing accuracy
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to ask questions, challenge inefficient processes and collaborate closely with operational leadership

Benefits

• 10%–15% performance‑based bonus incentive
• HMO and PPO medical plan options with 50% of the employee premium covered
• Two weeks of PTO with potential flexibility based on experience
• Complimentary food at the company’s restaurants
• Free parking