Chief Accounting Officer - BJR
Costa Mesa, CA
Full Time
Leap Brands
Executive
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Vice President of Accounting is a senior finance leader responsible for overseeing all accounting operations for the restaurant group, including financial reporting, general ledger, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, fixed assets, and internal controls. This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant financial statements while supporting operational scalability, margin management, and strategic decision-making across a multi-unit restaurant portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Reporting
- Lead and oversee all accounting functions, including GL, AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, and revenue recognition.
- Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
- Prepare and review consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
- Partner with the CFO on financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
- Provide clear financial insights and variance analysis to executive leadership and operations teams.
Operational Accounting (Restaurant Focus)
- Oversee unit-level accounting, including sales reporting, cash controls, labor accounting, food and beverage cost tracking, and inventory.
- Support new restaurant openings, remodels, acquisitions, and divestitures from an accounting and systems perspective.
- Collaborate with operations to improve margin performance, cost controls, and financial discipline at the store level.
Controls, Compliance & Audit
- Establish, maintain, and enhance internal controls and accounting policies to support growth and mitigate risk.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including sales tax, payroll tax, and tip reporting.
- Lead external audits, tax filings, and interactions with auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners.
- Oversee compliance with debt covenants and lender reporting requirements.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Own accounting systems and tools (POS integrations, ERP, payroll, expense management).
- Drive process improvements, automation, and standardization to scale the accounting function efficiently.
- Lead system implementations or upgrades as the business grows.
Team Leadership & Development
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing accounting team.
- Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (Master’s preferred).
- CPA required.
- 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including senior leadership roles.
- Prior experience in multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, or consumer services strongly preferred.
Technical Skills
- Expert knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
- Experience with multi-entity consolidations.
- Strong understanding of restaurant P&Ls, labor models, food cost, and unit economics.
- ERP and POS system experience (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Oracle, Toast, Aloha, Micros).
Leadership & Business Skills
- Proven ability to lead and scale accounting teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to translate financial data into operational insights.
- Excellent communication skills with executive-level presence.
- Hands-on, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused mindset.
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