Job Description

The

Opportunity

This role is

for northern Alabama’s pre-eminent barbecue restaurant chain with 15 locations, ~$22MM in annual revenue and

+160 employees. A proven industry veteran leads the growth of the enterprise,

the company is backed by long-term focused and patient owners, and the firm is

seeking a financial professional with the drive and determination to execute

relentlessly on its long-term business plan.

The Position

This

opportunity is perfect for a hands-on, entrepreneurial, and dynamic finance

professional seeking a chance to continue to evolve a company's finance

function. This role will function as the head of the accounting/finance

function and report directly to the President, with a dotted line to ownership.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the accounting/finance function for a

profitable, growing, and beloved brand with stable ownership that is in it for

the long-run.

The ideal candidate will inherit

and improve the existing foundational finance functions such as annual

budgeting, monthly budget variances, forecasting, and periodic reporting packages

for the various stakeholders (Area Directors, General Managers, President,

ownership, and commercial banks and lenders). The role will have financial

oversight of the different value creation initiatives, including but not

limited to: new store openings, remodel programs, updating branding, re-focus

on menu profit drivers, improving labor scheduling, and investments in

technology (AI, digital/social media, website, apps, tablets, software)

designed to create a seamless customer experience. Financial oversight will

include creating thoughtful ROI analysis, creating budgets, and monitoring the

economic success of the initiatives.

The role

will be responsible for the traditional accounting and controller functions,

overseeing financial reporting, treasury, accounts receivable (“AR”) and

payables (“AP”), payroll, IT, and administration (legal, contracts, insurance,

etc.). The position will partner closely with the operations and HR function.

Most notably, the candidate will zealously champion cost-containment and cash

management. Key initiatives will include maintaining and improving the

company’s structured monthly close process and annual GAAP audit process,

researching and implementing the latest in AI tools/agents to facilitate

seamless, accurate, and real-time reporting to all stakeholders, and serving as

a true partner to the President in leading the company daily.

This role is located in

Ardmore, AL, and will require significant onsite work and close collaboration

with the President who resides in Huntsville. The ideal candidate will reside

within close proximity of Huntsville with reasonable remote work to be

permitted. The finance team is comprised of a small team (currently 2

subordinates), and the Company will judiciously add resources as it grows.

The ideal candidate will be a

proven leader with extensive/progressive finance experience and relentless

intellectual curiosity. The candidate will also be capable of overseeing

the accounting function and be experienced in managing banking relationships,

cash flow, and a leveraged balance sheet. The candidate should have national or

recognized firm experience (e.g., big-four, large regional) or similar best in

class experience (national consulting firm, Fortune recognized [or equivalent] Company),

or investment banking, or extensive experience working with institutional

investors. A finance professional with public accounting experience, a CPA, and

comprehensive finance-related experience is also suitable.

A candidate with restaurant or

similar experience managing an active growth pipeline via new unit development

is a plus.

The Responsibilities:

·

Prepare GAAP

financials (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) on a monthly

and annual basis with variance reporting to prior year and budget; manage

annual GAAP audit

·

Enhance and

implement financial and accounting systems, processes, tools, and control

systems to better manage the business and to facilitate annual reviews/audits

with limited adjustments; ensure that reasonable financial approval processes

are in place and followed

·

Oversee the Company's

capital structure and balance sheet while maintaining a laser focus on cost

containment and cash management

·

Prepare daily,

weekly, and monthly financial reporting packages for Area Directors, General

Managers, President, and ownership; manage appropriate reporting requirements

for commercial banks and lenders; leverage the latest in technology/AI to

provide real-time reporting

·

Continually

improve the timeliness of financial reporting and the quality of business

planning, budgeting, and financial analysis; facilitate the development of

robust financial analytics and metrics 

·

Oversee financial

analysis and budgeting of business operations; spearhead the interpretation of

operating results with a focus on identifying opportunities for improvement 

·

Manage day-to-day

finance functions, including responsibility for the management of accounts

payable & accounts receivable as well as in-house payroll (and

evaluate pros/cons of moving to outsourced payroll with legal-based HR

function)

·

Collaborate with President

and ownership to determine the appropriate level of funding to support growth

and changes in Company's business strategy 

·

Maintain

all business licenses, permits, and contracts

The Candidate Will Have:

·

The

ability to integrate into the long-standing, unique culture of the Company

·

A love of

managing, motivating, and inspiring teams to achieve goals they never thought

possible

·

High integrity and

the will to always do the right thing

·

An entrepreneurial

mind with agility and the ability to wear multiple hats - this should excite

you, not frustrate you

·

Ambition for

ownership and accountability in the organization

·

Team and

Company-first mentality, focused on results

·

Hyper-organized

with a high degree of attention to detail

·

Ability to do

reporting and analysis on their own

·

High-level of

energy that is contagious and makes work fun for their teammates

·

Resiliency and

grit to push through challenges

·

Demonstrated

ability to learn and adapt

·

Self-starter

mindset with a confident and proactive approach

·

Ability to build

relationships with store-level and corporate employees

Required Qualifications:

·

Relevant

Experience

o

Recognized

firm experience (big 4, large regional, national consulting firm) or

o

Fortune-recognized

or similar caliber company, or

o

Investment

banking or extensive experience working with institutional investors, or

o

Public

accounting experience, a CPA, and extensive finance-related experience

·

Progressive finance experience (annual budgeting,

reporting packages, KPIs)

·

Sufficient accounting experience to lead the

annual audit and prepare books in accordance with GAAP

·

A minimum of seven years of accounting and

finance experience

·

Advanced Excel Skills (sumifs, pivots, vlookup,

index matches) and experience building multifaceted spreadsheets

·

Extensive data and analytical expertise;

experience with and intellectual curiosity around emerging AI technology and

its application to the restaurant industry preferred

Other Optional Qualifications:

·

Experience with QuickBooks

·

Experience working with institutional ownership and

multi-unit businesses; restaurant experience a plus

·

Experience in

budget management and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

·

Background

overseeing Information Technology functions including but not limited to PCI

compliance, data security, and data analytics

·

Private-Equity Experience

·

Experience shouldering the administrative burden

for executives

·

Experience working with and achieving results

with a small team

·

Experience working with small-midsize companies,

either as a public accountant to or an employee for those organizations

·

Ability to identify business improvement

opportunities and work as a partner with operations and sales to capitalize on

those opportunities

·

Experience wearing multiple hats in a

growth-orientated company

·

Experience interacting effectively across an

organization.

Educational Requirements:

·

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or

Equivalent

·

CPA or MBA a

plus 

Benefits and Compensation:

·

$125-$150k

base salary plus annual bonus

·

Potential

to participate in the Company’s equity participation plan based on performance

·

Healthcare

benefits

·

Dental and Vision

·

401k

LawLers Barbecue is a locally owned business in the Tennessee Valley, not some big corporate chain.
The owners were born and raised in Athens, Alabama and still live there today.
From the owners…
Yes, we have grown to become more than a “mom ‘n pop” restaurant, but we still try and keep that small town hospitality feel…no matter how big we get.
Generations of folks have made LawLers a family tradition at their supper table.

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