Chief Financial Officer | Growing Restaurant Company

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Southern California | High-Growth Fast Casual Restaurant Company

Build the Financial Foundation for the Next Great Growth Brand

An innovative and rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant company that is redefining the guest experience through exceptional food, culture, and operational excellence. With strong unit economics, a loyal customer base, and an ambitious growth strategy, the company is entering an exciting phase of expansion and is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer to help lead the journey.

This is a rare opportunity to join the executive leadership team of a highly respected emerging brand and play a pivotal role in scaling the business, building infrastructure, driving profitability, and creating long-term enterprise value.

The successful candidate will receive a highly competitive compensation package, performance incentives, and meaningful equity participation, providing the opportunity to share in the value created as the organization continues its growth trajectory.

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer will serve as a key strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team, overseeing all aspects of Finance, Accounting, Financial Planning & Analysis, Treasury, Tax, Risk Management, Human Resources, Payroll, and Compliance.

The CFO will be responsible for building and leading a scalable financial and people infrastructure capable of supporting rapid multi-unit growth. This executive will provide strategic guidance on expansion, profitability, capital allocation, organizational development, and long-term value creation while ensuring the company maintains the highest standards of financial integrity, tax compliance, payroll compliance, and regulatory oversight.

Human Resources and Payroll will report directly to the CFO.

The ideal candidate combines strategic leadership capabilities with a hands-on approach and thrives in entrepreneurial, fast-paced, growth-oriented environments.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Develop and execute financial strategies that support aggressive growth objectives and long-term value creation.
• Participate in key business decisions regarding expansion, capital investments, market development, and organizational growth.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to improve profitability, cash flow, operational performance, and enterprise value.
• Support board, investor, lender, and ownership reporting requirements.
• Help establish the financial and organizational infrastructure necessary to support future growth.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Lead all budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.
• Develop comprehensive financial models to evaluate growth opportunities, new restaurant openings, and strategic investments.
• Build KPI dashboards and reporting tools that provide visibility into company performance.
• Analyze restaurant-level economics, labor performance, food costs, occupancy costs, and profitability trends.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
• Deliver actionable insights that drive data-based decision making throughout the organization.

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Oversee all accounting functions, including financial reporting, general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, and month-end close processes.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls and financial governance procedures.
• Lead cash management, treasury functions, banking relationships, and working capital optimization.
• Manage annual audits and coordinate relationships with external auditors and advisors.
• Ensure financial systems and processes can scale alongside company growth.

Tax Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Oversee all federal, state, and local tax compliance requirements.
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of corporate income tax, sales tax, use tax, payroll tax, franchise tax, property tax, and all applicable regulatory filings.
• Partner with external tax advisors to proactively manage tax strategy and compliance obligations.
• Monitor changes in tax laws and regulations that may impact the organization.
• Ensure the company remains compliant across all jurisdictions in which it operates.
• Lead responses to tax audits, regulatory reviews, and government inquiries.
• Develop and maintain policies and controls that minimize financial and regulatory risk.

Human Resources & Payroll Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for Human Resources and Payroll functions.
• Directly manage HR and Payroll leadership teams and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversee payroll operations to ensure accurate and timely processing of wages, bonuses, commissions, benefits deductions, and tax withholdings.
• Ensure compliance with all payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, employment laws, and labor requirements.
• Partner with HR leadership on workforce planning, talent acquisition, compensation strategy, benefits administration, employee relations, training, and organizational development.
• Develop compensation structures, labor models, and incentive programs that support company growth and financial objectives.
• Ensure HR and payroll systems, controls, and reporting capabilities effectively support a rapidly growing multi-unit organization.
• Support the development of a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and leadership development.

Growth, Development & Expansion

• Partner with development and operations teams to evaluate new market opportunities and expansion initiatives.
• Develop financial analyses and return-on-investment models for new restaurant openings and strategic projects.
• Evaluate capital expenditures and growth investments to ensure strong financial returns.
• Support franchising, licensing, or corporate growth initiatives as applicable.
• Build scalable systems and processes capable of supporting significant unit growth.
• Serve as a key contributor in future financing events, recapitalizations, acquisitions, or strategic transactions.

Capital Markets, Banking & Investor Relations

• Manage relationships with lenders, banks, investors, and financial partners.
• Support fundraising activities and capital structure planning.
• Prepare financial presentations and reporting packages for ownership, investors, and lenders.
• Provide financial leadership during due diligence processes, financing transactions, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Assist in preparing the organization for future liquidity events or long-term exit strategies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance, accounting, HR, and payroll organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance metrics and development plans for direct reports.
• Create scalable organizational structures that support future growth and succession planning.
• Champion a people-first leadership philosophy while maintaining strong financial discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
• CPA and/or MBA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including senior executive-level responsibility.
• Prior experience as CFO, VP Finance, SVP Finance, Corporate Controller, or equivalent leadership role.
• Multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, franchise, or consumer-facing industry experience required.
• Demonstrated success supporting high-growth organizations and scaling infrastructure.
• Strong expertise in accounting, FP&A, treasury, tax compliance, payroll administration, and financial controls.
• Experience overseeing Human Resources and Payroll functions preferred.
• Strong understanding of federal and state employment laws, payroll tax regulations, wage and hour compliance, and risk management practices.
• Experience working with lenders, investors, private equity groups, or growth capital partners is highly desirable.
• Exceptional analytical, leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on when necessary.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

• Executive leadership role with direct impact on company growth and strategy.
• Opportunity to help scale one of the most exciting emerging brands in the restaurant industry.
• Significant runway for expansion and career growth.
• High visibility with ownership and executive leadership.
• Meaningful equity participation aligned with long-term value creation.
• Ability to build systems, teams, and infrastructure that will shape the future of the company.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where leaders have the autonomy to make an impact.