Controller | $150K | Restaurant Group | Strategic Finance Leader

Published: 6/14/2022

Job Description

A growing restaurant group in the Allentown, PA area is seeking an experienced Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a hands-on finance professional who can oversee accounting, strengthen financial controls, lead a team, and provide meaningful financial insight to executive and operational leadership.

The ideal candidate is more than a technical accountant. We are looking for a collaborative, people-focused leader who enjoys developing teams, partnering with leadership, and taking ownership of the company's financial health.

Compensation: $150,000

Location: Allentown, PA

Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt

What You'll Do

• Lead and oversee the company's accounting operations and related entities

• Manage, mentor, and develop the accounting team while creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement

• Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes

• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting

• Analyze financial results, identify trends and variances, and communicate key findings to leadership

• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls

• Lead the annual budgeting process and ongoing forecasting

• Develop financial models, projections, KPIs, and operational performance metrics

• Oversee cash management and maintain banking relationships

• Monitor debt obligations and ensure compliance with loan covenants

• Coordinate annual financial statement audits and support tax and 401(k) audit requirements

• Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal reporting requirements

• Oversee accounts payable, bank reconciliations, fixed assets, and depreciation schedules

• Partner with Payroll to resolve accounting and reporting discrepancies

• Manage outsourced accounting and reporting functions

• Oversee the accounting aspects of leases, CAM requirements, insurance renewals, business licenses, and related compliance matters

• Maintain the integrity of the company's accounting records and chart of accounts

• Support executive decision-making through financial analysis and strategic recommendations

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience

• Previous Controller or senior accounting leadership experience

• Restaurant, hospitality, multi-unit, or multi-entity experience strongly preferred

• Proven experience managing and developing accounting professionals

• Strong financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis skills

• Experience with cash management, banking, debt administration, audits, and compliance

• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting processes

• Experience working with ERP/accounting systems

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to explain financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance leaders

• Hands-on, collaborative, and solutions-oriented leadership style

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

CPA, CMA, or Master's degree is a plus.

The Ideal Candidate

The right person will be a confident financial leader who can balance technical accounting expertise with strong people leadership. You should enjoy building relationships, developing your team, partnering with operations, and helping leadership make informed business decisions.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad Controller function within a restaurant organization while making a direct impact on financial performance, operational efficiency, and team development.

If you're an experienced Controller looking for a leadership opportunity where your financial expertise and people-management skills will both be valued, we'd like to hear from you.

\nCompany Description

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.