Director of Finance

Spark Car Wash • Summit, NJ

18d • Hybrid

About The Position

Spark Car Wash is a high-growth, institutionally backed express exterior car wash company serving the Northeast, with plans to open numerous locations across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The Director of Finance leads financial planning, forecasting, and performance analysis, providing strategic insights that guide business decisions and support continued growth. Reporting to the VP of Finance, the role oversees a Strategic Finance Analyst and partners with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to improve financial visibility, evaluate growth opportunities, and strengthen business performance. The Director will also help build a modern, technology-driven finance function by using AI, automation, and advanced analytical tools.

The role is based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Summit, New Jersey. The schedule is onsite Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays. Responsibilities include leading budgeting and forecasting, producing monthly financial reporting and analysis, developing financial models and reporting tools, preparing board and lender materials, supporting compliance reporting, partnering with business functions, underwriting real estate opportunities, and conducting ad hoc analysis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 8 years of progressive experience in corporate finance, strategic finance, or FP&A.
• Strong financial modeling and analysis skills.
• Proficiency in AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, Parabola, and Placer.AI.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly synthesize complex information.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and managing multiple priorities in fast-paced settings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable insights.
• Advanced proficiency in creating executive-level presentations and materials.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
• Ability to partner closely with senior leaders and exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• High ownership mindset and alignment with Spark’s values.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in private equity-backed environments.
• Prior experience working in multi-unit, development, or consumer retail-oriented companies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management reporting, including MD&A, KPI reporting, and budget-to-actual variance analyses, using finalized financial results to provide actionable insights.
• Lead the annual budget and rolling forecast processes.
• Provide monthly trend analyses and comprehensive quarterly reforecasts to update performance against expectations.
• Develop, maintain, and improve financial models for store performance, budgets, capital expenditures, liquidity, and other business areas.
• Use AI, automation, and advanced analytical tools to develop business reporting, dashboards, and reporting packages.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve efficiency; serve as an internal subject matter expert and business partner in driving AI adoption.
• Prepare materials for quarterly board meetings with independence, clarity, and analytical rigor.
• Engage with lenders on new deal opportunities by preparing lender packages, including site underwriting, and assisting with the close process.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting for ongoing compliance obligations.
• Partner with Sales Operations, Marketing, and other corporate functions to provide financial insights and recommendations that support decisions, revenue growth, and profitability.
• Analyze business performance, identify trends and opportunities, and deliver reporting to maximize revenue and operational efficiency.
• Support development of tools to better underwrite real estate capital decisions.
• Conduct ad hoc analysis to support strategic decisions, including pricing, customer, benchmarking, and real-estate sizing analyses.
• Identify and implement processes and analytical tools to analyze performance and evaluate new opportunities.
• Oversee a Strategic Finance Analyst.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay salary plus annual performance-based bonus.
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan with a 4% company match.
• Four weeks of paid time off plus company-paid holidays.
• Company laptop and branded gear.
• Free car washes at all Spark locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director