VP of Finance

About Taco Bamba

Taco Bamba is one of the most celebrated regional restaurant brands in the mid-Atlantic, founded by Chef Victor Albisu and built on a simple but hard-to-replicate combination: exceptional food, a genuine team culture, and a deep connection to the communities it serves. What started as a single location in Falls Church has earned national recognition and a fiercely loyal following across the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond. The company is now entering its next chapter and is building the infrastructure and leadership team to support growth.

Job Summary

Taco Bamba is looking for a finance leader ready to strengthen the company's financial infrastructure, build out reporting and analytical capabilities, and establish the discipline the business needs to grow with confidence. This role is the company's senior‑most finance executive, with full ownership of the finance function and a seat at the table on every major business decision. Backed by a well‑capitalized institutional partner, Taco Bamba is not looking for someone to manage investor relations or raise capital — this role is about building the financial engine that drives disciplined, sustainable growth. Reporting directly to the CEO, this person will have meaningful influence from day one.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Produce accurate, timely financial statements and management reports for the CEO and Board
• Ensure GAAP compliance and lead annual audits
• Establish and enforce best‑in‑class unit‑level economics, including food cost, labor productivity, and contribution margin targets
• Develop standardized new unit‑level performance benchmarks including ramp curves, payback periods, and cash‑on‑cash returns
• Oversee external tax preparation and compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
• Translate financial reporting and analysis into clear, actionable insights for operations and non‑finance stakeholders

Budgeting, Forecasting and Cash Management

• Lead the annual budget process, working closely with all departments
• Maintain rolling forecasts to identify risks and opportunities in real time
• Monitor performance against budgets and forecasts and drive meaningful variance analysis
• Implement a 13‑week cash flow model and ongoing liquidity planning in partnership with the CEO to support operations and growth

Systems and Infrastructure

• Provide oversight of the currently outsourced accounting function and plan for the future state of the finance team as the company grows
• Design and implement financial systems, processes, and workflows to support a multi‑unit, growing operator
• Build a scalable data infrastructure that enables real‑time visibility into store‑level and systemwide performance
• Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, banking partners, and legal counsel

Expansion and Strategic Planning

• Partner with cross‑functional teams to assess the financial implications of growth strategies, including new unit development, market entry, and capital allocation
• Define and enforce investment criteria for new locations, including return thresholds, payback periods, and capital efficiency; evaluate the financial viability of expansion opportunities and present well‑structured recommendations to the CEO and Board

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required; CPA with GAAP experience required
• 8–12+ years of progressive financial leadership experience in high‑growth environments, ideally within restaurant, retail, or hospitality; prior experience with companies undergoing meaningful expansion is a strong plus
• Experience in high‑growth, multi‑unit restaurant or retail environments with 20+ company‑owned locations preferred
• Demonstrated experience building or significantly improving all aspects of a finance function (systems, processes, and team)
• Deep understanding of unit economics and operational finance
• Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and unit economics
• Familiarity with restaurant‑specific accounting platforms (Restaurant365 or equivalent) preferred
• Ability to translate financial complexity for a non‑finance audience
• Hands‑on, low‑ego leader comfortable operating in a lean, entrepreneurial environment