Finance Manager

El Pollo Loco; Costa Mesa (CA); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance + Hs

401K with company match

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Free El Pollo Loco food + restaurant</

PerkSpot discounts

Job summary

El Pollo Loco in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking a Finance Manager to deliver timely financial analysis and reporting to support strategic decisions. You will partner with Operations to explain variances, build restaurant-level P&Ls, and lead forecasting for sales, labor, and cost of goods.

This role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration and data-driven insights. The ideal candidate has 7+ years FP&A in retail or hospitality, a BS/BA in Finance or related field, and advanced Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field is required.
• Minimum 7 years in FP&A or multi-unit retail/restaurant finance or hospitality analytics.
• Experience with data extraction, organization and reporting.
• Work experience in the QSR industry is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitors, analyzes and interprets key metrics and financial results; highlights trends and drivers.
• Partner with Operations to explain controllable expense variances and labor, food, and other drivers.
• Embed finance partner to Operations for openings and ramp models; track performance post-opening.
• Own and analyze restaurant-level and corporate P&Ls including sales, labor, COGs and OPEX.
• Lead annual/quarterly/monthly/weekly planning processes for key P&L items.
• Prepare and analyze metrics for company and franchise portfolio; performance and variance reporting.
• Assist in period-end close and variance analysis with accounting.

Skills

Financial analysis

Excel advanced

Data interpretation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

7+ years FP&A experience in retail/restaurant

Tools

Excel

BI tools

ERP/Planning software

Job description

At El Pollo Loco, we are on a mission to be the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant. When it comes to our people, we are all about growth. Whether that means specialized training, a clearly laid out career trajectory or collaborating cross-functionally, we are committed to the success of our people the same way we’ve been committed to the success of the El Pollo Loco brand for the last 50 years. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people who set us ablaze.

Our restaurants are only the tip of the flame! If you’re looking for an innovative, winning, and welcoming workplace, then a flamin’ good career in our Restaurant Support Center is right for you.

At our Support Center, we believe our best work is done Together, when departments collaborate and everyone is confident in contributing their ideas. This is why we are in the office 3 days per week.

Let’s Get Loco!

What’s in it for you!

• STRONG office culture recognized as a Great Place to Work and driven by our core values: Simple. Together. Relentless. Ownership. Nimble. Growth
• Career growth opportunities
• Competitive pay and bonus potential
• Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance + HSA Savings Account
• 401(K) Retirement Plan with company match and immediate vesting
• Paid Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free El Pollo Loco food + restaurant discounts
• PerkSpot discounts program

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Finance Manager is responsible for delivering accurate, timely financial analysis and reporting to support business decision-making, regulatory compliance, and executive leadership. This role partners with cross-functional teams to interpret financial results, enhance reporting processes, and provide insights that drive performance and strategic planning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors, analyzes and interprets key metrics and financial results; highlights trends and causal factors; and develops and prepares key financial line item.
• Partner with Operations to explain controllable expense variances each period. Dig into restaurant-level drivers behind labor, food, paper, supplies, and R&M, confirm explanations with field leaders, and make sure period reporting reflects what's actually happening in the restaurants. Track recurring variances across periods and work with Operations leaders to close the gaps.
• Serve as the embedded finance partner to Operations leadership across new restaurant openings and established markets. Build sales and labor ramp models for new restaurants, track post-opening performance against them, and feed what we learn back into future opening models.
• Own and analyze restaurant-level and corporate P&Ls, including sales, labor, food & beverage costs, and operating expenses.
• Enhances and executes annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly planning processes with business partners for forecasting of key P&L line items which may include but not be limited to cost of sales, capital investments, occupancy, sales, labor, etc.
• Prepares, reports, and analyzes key operations and performance metrics for the company and franchise portfolio, including, but not limited to sales, COGs, labor, other controllables.
• Hands-on experience with assisting accounting with period-end close and variance analysis.
• Ability to analyze large datasets, ensure data integrity, and translate financial results into clear insights.
• Assists fully in the development of the annual and strategic plan including the annual planning applications, development of initial target models and preparing the presentation for the Board of Directors approval.
• Engages in special projects and prepares presentations to management as assigned.
• Interacts professionally and ethically, constructively participating as a collaborative team member or leader in pursuit of common goals.
• Assist with ad hoc analyses related to growth initiatives, vendor negotiations, and capital investments.

QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Education/Work Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Systems Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related field is required. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of required education.
• Minimum of 7 years in FP&A or multi-unit retail/restaurant finance, or hospitality analytics in a medium-to-large organization.
• Knowledge of data extraction, organization and reporting with the ability to perform these procedures efficiently and present results of the work.
• Work experience in the QSR industry is highly preferred.

Computer Software Skills:

• High level of proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite applications, Adobe Acrobad, customized data applications and internet research tools.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (financial modeling, pivot tables, complex formulas).
• Ability to navigate and work with hundreds of thousands of rows of data in Excel and strong knowledge of financial modeling, pivot tables, complex formulas.
• Exposure to enterprise planning and/or business intelligence software.

Other Skills:

• Ability to quickly adapt to change and adjust priorities to meet the organization’s needs.
• Strong analytical skills and a problem-solving mindset with meticulous attention to detail to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills needed.
• Must possess professional interpersonal skills, maintain a positive attitude, be flexible and self-directed, and work well with team members.
• Ability to effectively speak with internal customers, external customers, vendors and franchisees.
• Must be decisive and make fact-based decisions.
• Ability to work weekends and extended work schedules as needed.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Our Company

In 1980 the first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, quickly becoming a destination for the best citrus-marinated, fire-grilled pollo in town. Over the past four decades, El Pollo Loco has grown into more than 500 restaurants across 9 states, becoming an L.A. mainstay and cultural benchmark along the way. Today, we continue to work just as hard to always provide our customers with Quality Chicken. Fast. Easy. Affordable.

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. At El Pollo Loco, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range. Individual pay decisions will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.

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