Chief Accounting Officer - BJR

Leap Brands•Costa Mesa, CA

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (Master’s preferred).
CPA required.
10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including senior leadership roles.
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).
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.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, or consumer services strongly preferred.

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.
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.
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.
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.