Chief Financial Officer - Restaurants (Charlotte)

Job Overview:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the fund level will oversee financial strategy, reporting, and operational performance across multiple restaurant brands within the private equity portfolio. This individual will act as a strategic leader, managing and guiding the CFOs of portfolio companies while ensuring alignment with the funds financial goals, investment strategies, and value creation plans.

The ideal candidate will have deep experience in multi-unit restaurant finance, M&A, financial restructuring, and driving EBITDA growth in a private equity-backed environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Fund-Level Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute financial strategies that maximize the performance of restaurant portfolio companies while aligning with the funds investment objectives.
• Provide oversight and guidance to portfolio company CFOs, ensuring financial discipline, operational efficiency, and compliance with PE expectations.
• Establish financial controls, reporting structures, and forecasting models across all portfolio companies.
• Serve as the primary financial liaison between the fund and restaurant brand CFOs, ensuring clear communication of financial expectations and key performance metrics.

Portfolio Company Oversight & Value Creation

• Partner with portfolio company CFOs to optimize financial performance, improve margins, and enhance cash flow.
• Monitor financial health across brands, identifying risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for revenue growth.
• Lead capital allocation strategies across the restaurant portfolio, including investment prioritization, refinancing, and working capital management.
• Support CFOs in improving unit economics, pricing strategies, and cost controls to drive profitability.

M&A & Growth Strategy

• Lead financial due diligence, modeling, and integration for restaurant acquisitions, divestitures, and roll-ups.
• Evaluate and execute growth strategies, including new store development, franchise expansion, and strategic exits.
• Develop playbooks for post-merger integration, ensuring seamless financial and operational transitions.

Investor & Lender Relations

• Prepare and present financial reports, forecasts, and performance insights to private equity partners, lenders, and investors.
• Support fundraising and capital deployment efforts, working closely with the investment team on financing structures.
• Oversee debt compliance, covenant monitoring, and capital structure optimization.

Operational & Financial Performance Monitoring

• Implement standard KPIs, benchmarking, and reporting across portfolio companies to measure financial success.
• Develop and refine budgeting and forecasting processes at both the fund and portfolio company levels.
• Ensure financial reporting accuracy and consistency, driving data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a private equity-backed multi-unit restaurant or retail environment.
• Experience managing multiple CFOs across a diverse portfolio of restaurant or consumer-facing brands.
• Strong expertise in restaurant unit economics, franchising, and corporate finance.
• Deep knowledge of financial modeling, valuation, capital markets, and M&A execution.

Skills:

• Proven ability to drive financial and operational improvements across multiple business units.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence C-suite executives and investors.
• Advanced financial planning, reporting, and analytical capabilities.
• Experience with financial reporting systems, ERP platforms, and business intelligence tools.

Preferred Traits:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance financial discipline with growth initiatives.
• Strong understanding of private equity value creation strategies and exit planning.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth, and dynamic environment.