Sr Manager, Accounting

Senior Manager Of Accounting

The Senior Manager of Accounting provides leadership and oversight of the company's general accounting ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in accounting functions involving fixed assets, project accounting and property accounting for accruals related to restaurant facilities and occupancy expenses. This role directs and optimizes key restaurant accounting functions for El Pollo Loco. Additionally, the Senior Manager of Accounting leads and develops a high-performing accounting team, driving excellence and accountability in accounting and operational effectiveness.

Essential duties and responsibilities include providing strategic leadership in all aspects of accounting and financial management, overseeing and enhancing the month-end close and financial reporting processes, reviewing transactions, interfaces, and journal entries related to property, plant & equipment, supervising, mentoring, and providing guidance to accounting staff, preparing and reviewing documentation for external audits, continually assessing processes for efficiency and suggesting/implementing improvements, ensuring work performed by accounting staff is in compliance with SOX controls, special project work for ad hoc reporting, working flexible or extended hours to support completion of the close and quarterly reviews and annual audit, leading compliance efforts related to audits and financial reporting obligations, supporting working relationship with external auditors, tax advisors, and other financial stakeholders, managing accounting processes including month-end closing, financial reporting, systems efficiencies, process improvement, account reconciliations, and special projects, driving continuous process improvement initiatives, providing leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for accounting staff, and executing other projects and responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Accounting.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, minimum of 7+ years of progressive accounting leadership experience, preferably in a multi-unit restaurant or retail environment, extensive knowledge of GAAP, income statement and balance sheet and relationships between general ledger accounts, proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams, demonstrated success in driving process improvements and automation initiatives, experience supporting external audit and SOX compliance processes, CPA license strongly preferred, proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams, independent self-starter with a can-do attitude, strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities, excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong leadership and team-building capabilities, confidence in decision-making and execution of strategic initiatives, ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, and financial reporting tools, ability to prioritize multiple projects, manage tight deadlines, and ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities, high attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and compliance, result and deadline oriented with professional demeanor, capacity to exercise independent judgment and make impactful business decisions, and ability to work at the Support Center consistent with the hybrid work policy.