Leap Brands is hiring: Vice President of Accounting - Restaurants in Costa Mesa

Vice President of Accounting - Restaurants

This range is provided by Leap Brands. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$250,000.00/yr - $350,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Leap Brands

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

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

• 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.
• 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.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Accounting/Auditing and Finance
• Industries: Restaurants, Food and Beverage Services, and Retail