Director of Accounting & Finance

Our Client, a well established and growing retail chain based in Riverside, CA is seeking a progressive and driven Director of Accounting & Finance to join their Corporate Finance team.

SUMMARY OF POSITION: The Director of Accounting and Finance works throughout the organization to steward fiscal control in specific entities and in the consolidation of the organizational financials. The Director focuses on ensuring financials are processed and completed accurately, in a timely manner, and presented in a format relevant to the owners and functional leads management of the organization. The Director partners with others leads to develop financial acumen throughout the organization. The Director mentors and develops junior team members within accounting as well as other areas of the organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Insurance: Sr. Director of Accounting & Finance and advisors in maintaining proper insurance coverage
• Tax: Ensure all taxes are paid including sales/use
• Property and equipment: Ensure assets are properly recorded and depreciated.
• Allocation Account: Oversee and maintain inter-entity allocation ruleset and ensure accurate recording and updates as required over time.
• Banking: Bank account reconciliation and administration
• Reporting: Generate reports as determined by the executive team
• Payroll: Ensure corporate and store labor is recorded accurately including bonus liabilities and payments and complete ad hoc payroll analyses

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establishing and maintaining processes/systems surrounding cash management, A/P, Payroll, Sales Audit & Close-to-Report
• Responsible for ensuring that accounting of the Company’s operations is in accordance with GAAP.
• Manage, and be able to contribute to, the day-to-day accounting transactions including preparation and posting of journal entries and reconciliation of balance sheet accounts.
• Oversee reconciliation of balance sheets and cash
• Oversee fixed asset additions and depreciation schedules.
• Monitor cash flow at all restaurants bi-weekly or as necessary.
• Ensure adequate controls are in place and policies are adhered to.
• Lead the consolidation of all monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements for consolidated and certain specific entities.
• Coordinate and prepare year-end close and assist with annual audit and tax preparation with external accounting partners
• Monitors and improve local controls and accounting procedures and address any unit-level issues.
• Work with owners and executive leadership to ensure operational success through cost analysis support, operations support and compliance with all contractual requirements.
• Supports organization financial objectives by providing financial analyses and recommendations and directing staff.
• Develops accounting organizational strategies by contributing accounting and financial information, analysis, and recommendations for strategic thinking and direction, and establishing functional objectives in line with organizational objectives.
• Establishes accounting operational strategies by evaluating trends, establishing critical measurements, determining production, productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies, designing systems, accumulating resources, resolving problems, and implementing change.
• Provides financial projections by coordinating budget/forecast preparation, collecting, analyzing, and consolidating financial information, and advising departments on the collection and analysis of data

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Remain up to date on all US GAAP changes.
• Remain adaptable to take on any accounting projects as they present themselves.
• Continuously monitor, recommend, and implement improvement initiatives to increase effectiveness and productivity.
• Identify long-term goals and champion initiatives for achievement.
• Take action to support and implement change effectively.
• Challenge and push the organization and yourself to excel and achieve.
• Direct and lead others to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
• Understand general business and financial concepts, understand the company’s business, and use both general and specific knowledge to be effective.
• Uphold a high standard of fairness and ethics in everyday words and actions.
• Have the personal courage to address difficult issues in the face of opposition.
• Have the skills to effectively communicate with an audience in a formal setting.
• Strive to expand knowledge and refine skills of self and organization through education and training.
• Create, develop, and foster a high performing finance team through empowerment and development of direct reports.

WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred but not required.
• 8+ years of total experience similar capacity
• Experience managing external Audit/Tax relationships.
• Demonstrated experience in external financial reporting and analysis with a strong knowledge of US GAAP
• Accounting principles and practices
• Must have strong technical accounting skills and up-to-date knowledge of the latest accounting standards including working knowledge of revenue recognition and lease accounting standards.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and communication skills necessary
• Ability to interpret complex technical accounting issues and implement practical solutions.
• Direct, relevant experience with working in mid-to large-scale ERP systems desired
• Proficient in financial modeling in Microsoft Excel
• Desire and ability to work in a fast-paced environment, in an ambiguous and developing structure.
• Track record of meeting tight working deadlines and prioritizing workload