Controller, Vice President of Finance

CBIZ Advisory Services; Alabama; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-location restaurant chain in Alabama is seeking a Controller/VP of Finance to lead finance functions, report directly to the President, and ensure compliance with GAAP. The ideal candidate will have extensive finance experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to oversee budgeting and financial analysis. The role offers the chance to be a strategic partner while managing financial reporting and cash flow in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of accounting and finance experience.
• Proven track record of managing banking relationships and cash flow.
• Experience in leading finance/accounting functions.

Responsibilities

• Prepare GAAP financials including Income Statement and Cash Flow.
• Oversee financial analysis and budgeting of business operations.
• Prepare financial reporting packages for stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Budget management

GAAP knowledge

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or Finance

CPA or MBA

Tools

QuickBooks

Job description

The Company

This role is for a private equity-backed multi location restaurant chain. A proven industry veteran leads the growth of the enterprise, the company is backed by long-term focused and patient owners, and the firm is seeking a financial professional with the drive and determination to execute relentlessly on its long-term business plan.

The Position

This opportunity is perfect for a hands-on, entrepreneurial, and dynamic finance professional seeking a chance to continue to evolve a company's finance function. This role will function as the head of the accounting/finance function and report directly to the President, with a dotted line to ownership. This is a unique opportunity to lead the accounting/finance function for a profitable, growing, and beloved brand with stable ownership that is in it for the long run.

The ideal candidate will inherit and improve the existing foundational finance functions such as annual budgeting, monthly budget variances, forecasting, and periodic reporting packages for the various stakeholders (Area Directors, General Managers, President, ownership, and commercial banks and lenders). The role will have financial oversight of the different value creation initiatives, including but not limited to new store openings, remodel programs, updating branding, refocusing on menu profit drivers, improving labor scheduling, and investments in technology (AI, digital/social media, website, apps, tablets, software) designed to create a seamless customer experience. Financial oversight will include creating thoughtful ROI analysis, creating budgets, and monitoring the economic success of the initiatives.

The role will be responsible for the traditional accounting and controller functions, overseeing financial reporting, treasury, accounts receivable (AR) and payables (AP), payroll, IT, and administration (legal, contracts, insurance, etc.). The position will partner closely with the operations and HR function. Most notably, the candidate will zealously champion cost-containment and cash management. Key initiatives will include maintaining and improving the company’s structured monthly close process and annual GAAP audit process, researching and implementing the latest in AI tools/agents to facilitate seamless, accurate, and real-time reporting to all stakeholders, and serving as a true partner to the President in leading the company daily.

This role is located in Ardmore, AL, and will require significant onsite work and close collaboration with the President who resides in Huntsville. The ideal candidate will reside within close proximity of Huntsville with reasonable remote work to be permitted. The finance team is comprised of a small team (currently 2 subordinates), and the Company will judiciously add resources as it grows.

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with extensive/progressive finance experience and relentless intellectual curiosity. The candidate will also be capable of overseeing the accounting function and be experienced in managing banking relationships, cash flow, and a leveraged balance sheet. The candidate should have national or recognized firm experience (e.g., big-four, large regional) or similar best in class experience (national consulting firm, Fortune recognized [or equivalent] Company), or investment banking, or extensive experience working with institutional investors. A finance professional with public accounting experience, a CPA, and comprehensive finance-related experience is also suitable.

A candidate with restaurant or similar experience managing an active growth pipeline via new unit development is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare GAAP financials (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) on a monthly and annual basis with variance reporting to prior year and budget; manage annual GAAP audit
• Oversee financial analysis and budgeting of business operations; spearhead the interpretation of operating results with a focus on identifying opportunities for improvement
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly financial reporting packages for Area Directors, General Managers, President, and ownership; manage appropriate reporting requirements for commercial banks and lenders; leverage the latest in technology/AI to provide real-time reporting
• Enhance and implement financial and accounting systems, processes, tools, and control systems to better manage the business and to facilitate annual reviews/audits with limited adjustments; ensure that reasonable financial approval processes are in place and followed
• Continually improve the timeliness of financial reporting and the quality of business planning, budgeting, and financial analysis; facilitate the development of robust financial analytics and metrics
• Oversee the Company's capital structure and balance sheet while maintaining a laser focus on cost containment and cash management
• Manage day-to-day finance functions, including responsibility for the management of accounts payable & accounts receivable as well as in-house payroll (and evaluate pros/cons of moving to outsourced payroll with legal-based HR function)
• Collaborate with President and ownership to determine the appropriate level of funding to support growth and changes in Company's business strategy
• Maintain all business licenses, permits, and contracts

Year One Success Factors

The Controller/ VP of Finance will be responsible for and evaluated regarding their success in the following key areas:

• Understand profitability and key operational metrics to develop and establish accurate and timely reporting to the President, operations team, sponsor, and lenders.
• As a trusted advisor across the organization, provide ongoing input and economic analyses to the President and operations team including recommendations on actionable insights while enhancing on P&L and managing cash appropriately.
• Lead budgeting process and manage the plan successfully.
• Take full ownership of the Finance and Accounting function while providing direction and ultimate oversight of the annual audit process with the goal of delivering a clean audit opinion.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a hard-working, take-charge individual with excellent judgment, who thinks like an owner and is focused on successfully growing the business. An experienced leader, our successful candidate will have a track record of optimizing team performance and driving the Company’s overall financial performance while treating employees with respect and professionalism.

Previous experience in a private equity owned company is a plus, along with a proven track record of driving process improvement in a company that is experiencing rapid growth. The Controller / VP of Finance will be a strategic leader capable of leading the accounting and finance function while enhancing existing processes and internal controls within the organization.

The successful candidate will possess the business acumen and executive presence to serve as a key decision maker, and as a trusted advisor and partner to the President and owners.

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record as a successful finance leader in roles of progressively increased responsibility who values the opportunity to take on the top finance role in a fast-growing private equity backed situation. Required experience includes:

• Recognized firm experience (big 4, large regional, national consulting firm) or
• Fortune-recognized or similar caliber company, or
• Investment banking or extensive experience working with institutional investors, or
• Public accounting experience, a CPA, and extensive finance-related experience

• Progressive finance experience (annual budgeting, reporting packages, KPIs)
• Sufficient accounting experience to lead the annual audit and prepare books in accordance with GAAP
• A minimum of seven years of accounting and finance experience
• Advanced Excel Skills (sumifs, pivots, vlookup, index matches) and experience building multifaceted spreadsheets
• Extensive data and analytical expertise; experience with and intellectual curiosity around emerging AI technology and its application to the restaurant industry preferred
• Experience with QuickBooks
• Experience working with institutional ownership and multi-unit businesses; restaurant experience a plus
• Experience in budget management and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Background overseeing Information Technology functions including but not limited to PCI compliance, data security, and data analytics
• Private-Equity Experience
• Experience shouldering the administrative burden for executives
• Experience working with and achieving results with a small team
• Experience working with small-midsize companies, either as a public accountant to or an employee for those organizations
• Ability to identify business improvement opportunities and work as a partner with operations and sales to capitalize on those opportunities
• Experience wearing multiple hats in a growth-orientated company
• Experience interacting effectively across an organization.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or Equivalent
• CPA or MBA a plus

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Accounting/Auditing and Finance

Industries

• Restaurants, Retail, and Accounting