Leap Brands is hiring: Chief Accounting Officer - BJR in Costa Mesa

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.