Director of Accounting and Business Operations, Restaurant and Hospitality

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Compensation: $150,000 to $165,000 base salary, plus performance based incentive opportunities

Overview

A growing San Diego based hospitality accounting firm and affiliated restaurant group is seeking a Director of Accounting and Business Operations to help lead, build, and scale the business.

This is not a traditional back office accounting role. This is a hands on leadership position focused on building and scaling both internal operations and a growing hospitality accounting business, including team development and client growth.

The founder also owns and operates restaurants, giving this role direct exposure to both internal restaurant operations and external client facing accounting services. The Director will help strengthen financial systems, oversee accounting and human resources functions, build out the team, improve processes, and play a direct role in growing the accounting business.

This role will be involved in expanding the client base, supporting new client acquisition, and helping build a scalable platform designed for long term growth.

This is an ideal opportunity for a hospitality finance leader who wants to work closely with ownership, influence strategy, and help build something meaningful.

Position Overview

The Director of Accounting and Business Operations will oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, payroll, human resources administration, and process improvement for both the restaurant group and affiliated hospitality accounting business.

This person will be responsible for creating structure, building accountability, developing the team, and helping the business scale. The right candidate will be comfortable operating in a growing company environment where systems are still being built and improvement opportunities are everywhere.

This role requires strong restaurant accounting knowledge, leadership ability, HR awareness, client service instincts, and a builder mentality.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

Oversee accounting operations across restaurant and hospitality related businesses

Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, reconciliations, and internal controls

Provide financial insight to ownership and leadership to support operational decision making

Monitor key restaurant performance metrics including labor, food cost, prime cost, and profitability

Translate financial data into clear, actionable recommendations

Business Growth and Client Development

Drive the growth of the hospitality accounting business through active participation in new client acquisition

Partner with ownership to identify, pursue, and onboard new restaurant and hospitality clients

Leverage industry relationships, networking, and referrals to expand the client base

Represent the firm in client facing interactions with professionalism and strong financial insight

Support the development of scalable accounting services designed to attract and retain clients

Help position the business as a leading accounting partner within the restaurant and hospitality space

Team Building and Leadership

Build, hire, train, and develop the accounting and administrative team

Create clear roles, expectations, and accountability across the department

Develop scalable processes that support growth without sacrificing accuracy or service quality

Foster a culture of ownership, professionalism, and high performance

Accounting Operations

Oversee month end and year end close processes

Manage accounting systems including Sage Intacct or similar platforms

Improve bookkeeping, reporting, and workflow standards

Ensure compliance with financial reporting standards and company policies

Strengthen internal controls and financial discipline

Payroll and Human Resources Oversight

Oversee payroll systems and ensure accurate wage, benefit, and tax reporting

Lead human resources administration including employee records, compliance, policies, and documentation

Support the development of structured HR systems that scale with the business

Partner with leadership on staffing strategy, organizational planning, and employee development

Ensure compliance with employment laws and best practices within hospitality environments

Help build a strong internal culture aligned with accountability and growth

Technology and Process Improvement

Identify opportunities for automation and operational efficiency

Implement standardized accounting, payroll, and HR processes

Develop reporting tools and dashboards that improve visibility for ownership and clients

Continuously improve systems and workflows as the business grows

Ideal Candidate Profile

Strong accounting or finance background in restaurants, hospitality, or multi unit operations

Experience overseeing accounting, payroll, reporting, and internal controls

Comfortable working in an entrepreneurial, growth oriented environment

Experience with Sage Intacct or similar accounting platforms preferred

Strong Excel and financial analysis skills

Proven ability to build teams and systems from the ground up

Client facing mindset with strong communication and relationship building skills

Experience or interest in business development, client acquisition, or growing a service based business strongly preferred

Able to balance strategic thinking with hands on execution

Leadership Attributes

Entrepreneurial and growth minded

Humbly confident with strong professional credibility

Hands on, resourceful, and solution oriented

Strong sense of ownership and accountability

Comfortable building structure in a fast paced environment

Able to work closely with ownership and influence key decisions

Understands the realities of restaurant operations

Work Environment

This is an in person leadership role based in San Diego, working closely with ownership, restaurant leadership, clients, and the internal team.

The environment is fast paced, entrepreneurial, and growth oriented. This role is designed for someone who wants to help build and scale a business, not just maintain one.