Profitability Manager - Indirect Costs

Inspire Brands•Atlanta, GA

14d

About The Position

The Profitability Manager – Indirect Cost Governance plays a critical role in driving financial performance, operational optimization, and cross-functional alignment across Inspire’s company-owned restaurants. This role blends financial acumen with operational insight to identify opportunities that enhance restaurant-level profitability, streamline support center processes, and strengthen execution across field and corporate teams. With primary responsibility for indirect cost performance, the Manager acts as a key integrator—translating data, insights, and enterprise initiatives into scalable, sustainable solutions that improve controllable cost outcomes. This role ensures indirect cost strategies move beyond analysis into disciplined execution, accountability, and long-term impact

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
6–8 years of experience in operations finance, analytics, strategy, or operational optimization roles.
Experience interpreting P&L and GL data to understand cost drivers and financial performance.
Experience working in cross-functional, matrixed environments.
Advanced Excel proficiency: experience working with Power BI or similar reporting tools preferred.
Financial & Business Acumen: Ability to connect cost performance and financial outcomes to restaurant-level profitability and enterprise objectives.
Operational Judgment: Ability to balance cost discipline with operational realities, service standards, and brand priorities.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to align, influence, and drive accountability across Procurement, Finance, Facilities, Operations, and Brand teams without direct authority.
Insight-to-Action Translation: Ability to convert data, analysis, and trends into clear recommendations, priorities, and execution plans.
Governance & Execution Discipline: Ability to establish structure, monitor performance, and ensure sustained follow-through in complex environments.
Analytical Rigor: Strong ability to identify trends, exceptions, and root causes across large data sets.
Communication & Executive Presence: Ability to communicate clearly and confidently with leaders at multiple levels.
Change Enablement: Ability to support adoption of new processes, tools, and routines while managing change pragmatically.
Continuous Improvement Mindset: Demonstrated curiosity and drive to identify opportunities, test improvements, and sustain gains over time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in restaurant, retail, or multi-unit operating environments is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own governance and performance monitoring for indirect cost categories (e.g., facilities services, supplies, utilities, service contracts).
Identify cost optimization opportunities and performance gaps through GL analysis, trend monitoring, and outlier detection.
Track and validate savings realization against approved targets, ensuring sustainability beyond initial implementation.
Partner with functional owners to resolve root causes and close performance gaps.
Serve as a central integrator across Procurement, Facilities, Finance, Operations, and Brand teams to align indirect cost priorities.
Support enterprise governance routines, ensuring initiatives are clearly owned, tracked, and executed.
Influence outcomes through insight, structure, and accountability rather than direct ownership of execution.
Escalate risks, dependencies, and non-compliance trends to REO leadership with recommended actions.
Translate financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights tied to restaurant-level P&L performance.
Partner with Data & Analytics shared services to define business requirements for indirect cost reporting and dashboards.
Develop exception-based reporting and scorecards that highlight risks and opportunities for leadership and field teams.
Ensure insights are practical, understandable, and actionable for non-finance partners.
Support the transition of indirect cost initiatives from project-based or consulting-led efforts into REO-owned operating routines.
Help institutionalize playbooks, governance rhythms, and performance management practices.
Identify opportunities to replenish and expand the indirect cost efficiency pipeline over time.
Partner with Brand Operations and Field leadership to ensure indirect cost initiatives are executable at the restaurant level.
Incorporate operator feedback to improve adoption and effectiveness of cost initiatives.
Balance cost discipline with operational realities, service standards, and brand integrity
Lead and develop an Analyst supporting indirect cost optimization.
Provide coaching, prioritization, and development to build analytical rigor and business judgment.
Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement.