Techincal Accounting Manager

Specialty Restaurants; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation pay

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Lifestyle Spending Account

401k with employer match after 12 mths

Education Assistance Program (EdAP)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Paid holidays

Job summary

Specialty Restaurants, a leader in hospitality, seeks a Technical Accounting Manager to own the monthly close, GAAP-compliant books, and lead a team of three. You’ll handle complex accounting for restaurant and development entities, delivering clear memos and guidance for Operations and leadership.

You will oversee ASC 842 leases, development accounting, and long-lived assets, while driving internal controls and policy updates. A hands-on, multi-unit background is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including month-end close ownership.
• Experience in restaurant, hospitality or multi-unit operations.
• Strong US GAAP knowledge, including ASC 842.
• Experience supervising accounting staff and managing workflows.
• Advanced Excel and BI tools experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly and annual close against a published close calendar and communicate slippage.
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Review monthly financial statements and provide flux analysis for management.
• Lead the annual financial statement audit and coordinate with auditors.
• Monitor internal controls and adapt policies as business changes.
• Support development and restaurant accounting including leases and improvements.

Skills

Advanced Excel

BI tools

Analytical thinking

Team leadership

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Restaurant365

Job description

About Us:Specialty Restaurants is a leader in the hospitality industry, managing iconic restaurants and event spaces across the country. Our portfolio includes some of the most celebrated dining destinations, each offering exceptional cuisine, breathtaking views, and a memorable guest experience. In addition to our diverse restaurant concepts, SRC also manages an extensive real estate portfolio, including prime waterfront properties and landmark locations. Specialty Restaurants has a rich legacy that also extends into aviation, with roots tracing back to our founder. This history continues to inspire us in our pursuit of innovation and excellence in all areas of our business. We are dedicated to delivering extraordinary guest experiences and upholding our commitment to quality and service across our properties.Position SummaryThe Technical Accounting Manager owns the month-end close and is the company's go-to resource for complex accounting questions. Reporting to the Controller, this role leads a team of three, keeps the books GAAP-compliant across restaurant and development entities, and turns technical guidance into plain-language answers for Operations and leadership.It suits a hands-on accountant from multi-unit restaurants or hospitality who wants to own both the technical calls and the close.Top-notch Benefits:Competitive salary in the range of $115,00-$130,000 plus bonus annually depending on experienceBenefits including vacation pay, medical, dental and vision insuranceLifestyle Spending Account, this benefit supports you and your family in numerous ways such as through gym memberships, child care, groceries, student loans & more!Weekly lunches provided on site Mondays-WednesdaysCompany dining package with allotted spending amount each monthVariety of Supplemental Benefit Plans for life's unknowns401k with annual employer match after 12 monthsEmployer paid life Insurance throughout the length of employmentPaid/Floating holidays for 10 major holidaysEducation Assistance Program (EdAP) for hospitality related education growthEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) to assist with work life balanceManagement Referral Program with up to a $4,000 payout for qualifying managementEmployment Classification- Salaried, ExemptKey ResponsibilitiesMonth-end close & financial reportingOwn the monthly, quarterly and annual close against a published close calendar; track and communicate any slippagePrepare and review journal entries, accruals and balance sheet reconciliations; resolve reconciling items promptlyReview monthly financial statements and supporting schedules; deliver flux analysis that explains the \"why\" to managementPrepare the annual audited financial statements, including the statement of cash flows and footnote disclosuresPrepare lender reporting, including debt covenant calculations and compliance certificatesLead the annual financial statement audit and coordinate requests from auditors, tax advisors and other third partiesTechnical accounting & policyResearch, conclude on and document non-routine transactions in clear technical memosOwn the accounting policy manual and close procedures; update them as standards and the business changeMonitor new FASB standards, assess their impact and lead adoptionDesign and monitor internal controls that safeguard assets and support accurate reportingRestaurant & development accountingLeases (ASC 842): maintain ROU assets and lease liabilities; account for new leases, modifications, renewals, tenant improvement allowances and percentage rentNew restaurant development: capitalization vs. pre-opening expense, construction-in-progress, capitalized interest and placing assets in serviceLong-lived assets: restaurant-level impairment testing, closures and remodels, asset retirement obligationsDevelopment entities: [intercompany activity and consolidation of development and property entities]Reserves & estimates: self-insurance, legal and other significant accrualsOperations supportMonitor food, beverage, labor and operating costs; flag trends and variancesPartner with Operations leadership to analyze restaurant performance and improve profitabilitySupport inventory accounting, cost analysis and margin reviewsExplain variances and accruals to restaurant managers in plain, non-technical termsTeam leadership & AP oversightSupervise, mentor and develop the AP Supervisor, Senior Accountant and Staff AccountantOversee accounts payable; review and approve select vendor payments for proper coding and approvalAutomate manual work and strengthen controls using Restaurant365 and AI tools for research, analysis and workflowsCollaborate with Operations, HR, Payroll, Development and Executive LeadershipQualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of the month-end closeRestaurant, hospitality or other multi-unit operating experienceStrong US GAAP knowledge, including working knowledge of ASC 842Experience researching complex issues and writing well-supported accounting memosExperience supervising accounting staff and managing workflowsAdvanced Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH) and BI toolsPreferredCPA a plus, not requiredPublic accounting or audit experience (strongly preferred)Restaurant365: GL, AP, bank reconciliations and AP automationReal estate or development accounting experienceWorking knowledge of POS, inventory and payroll systemsSuccess FactorsResearches accounting issues independently and lands on a defensible answerStays accurate under tight deadlinesManages multiple priorities in a growth environment where priorities shift quicklyBuilds strong, service-oriented relationships across departmentsFinds and implements scalable process improvements without being askedShows high integrity and sound judgment