Director of Finance

DescriptionA growing organization in the events, hospitality, food & beverage, and venue management industry is seeking an experienced Director of Finance to lead all accounting and financial operations. This executive-level role will partner with senior leadership to oversee financial planning, reporting, compliance, internal controls, and operational finance across multiple revenue-generating business units.The ideal candidate will possess strong technical accounting expertise, operational finance leadership experience, and a proven ability to support high-volume, fast-paced environments. Responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, cash management, financial reporting, audit coordination, and strategic financial analysis that supports business growth and profitability.Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Leadership & StrategyProvide strategic financial guidance to executive leadership.Develop financial plans, forecasts, and business analyses to support organizational objectives.Partner with operational leaders to improve profitability and drive performance.Present financial results, forecasts, and recommendations to leadership.Accounting & Financial ReportingOversee all accounting functions, including general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, and cash management.Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.Ensure accurate financial reporting in accordance with GAAP.Manage reconciliations and coordinate external audits.Budgeting, Forecasting & AnalysisLead annual budgeting and forecasting processes.Monitor financial performance and provide variance analysis.Analyze revenue, labor, operating expenses, and profitability trends.Develop financial models and reporting tools to support decision-making.Operational Finance OversightOversee financial performance for event operations, food & beverage programs, and venue-based revenue streams.Monitor margins, labor costs, inventory controls, purchasing activity, and event profitability.Collaborate with operations teams to improve financial accountability and performance.Compliance & ControlsMaintain strong internal controls and financial policies.Ensure compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and company standards.Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and mitigate risk.LeadershipLead, mentor, and develop accounting and finance team members.Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.RequirementsBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA preferred.10+ years of progressive accounting and finance leadership experience.Demonstrated financial oversight of event operations, food & beverage programs, and venue-based revenue streams, including cost controls, profitability analysis, inventory management, labor expense monitoring, and event-level financial performance reporting.Prior Controller or Director of Finance experience within events, hospitality, entertainment, convention center, arena, venue management, or other high-volume operational environments required.Strong experience managing full-cycle accounting and financial reporting processes.Proven expertise in month-end close, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and multi-account reconciliations.Experience managing high transaction-volume and operationally complex environments.Strong knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, audit compliance, and financial governance.ERP system experience required (NetSuite, Sage, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms).Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial reporting skills.Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and communication abilities.Ability to thrive in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments with changing operational demands.PreferredCPA designation.Experience supporting multi-location operations and multiple revenue centers.Background in hospitality, entertainment, sports, live events, convention centers, food & beverage operations, or venue management.Experience implementing process improvements, financial systems, and operational efficiencies.Job typePerm