Job Description

Position Summary

The Director of Finance & Business Strategy is a key member of Katherine's Catering's executive leadership team, partnering directly with the President to advance the company's financial strength, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. This role combines disciplined financial management with strategic analysis to ensure that all business decisions, spanning pricing, staffing, capital investment, and market expansion, are informed by accurate data and sound financial insight.

The Director of Finance & Business Strategy develops and maintains the systems, models, and reporting frameworks that provide visibility into performance at every level of the organization. Through comprehensive profitability analysis, the position identifies high-margin opportunities, aligns cost structures with strategic objectives, and establishes clear financial benchmarks for budgeting, forecasting, and growth planning. The result is a more agile, data-driven organization capable of making confident, evidence-based decisions that enhance both short-term results and long-term value.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and executive team on all financial and business planning matters. Translate financial data into actionable insights that inform strategic and operational decisions. Lead long-term financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes. Model the financial impact of new initiatives, venue partnerships, and pricing structures. Contribute to company-wide strategic discussions on profitability, efficiency, and growth.

Financial Management & Reporting

Oversee day-to-day accounting operations including general ledger, A/P, A/R, payroll, and banking relationships. Prepare accurate monthly and quarterly financial statements, including P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet reports. Maintain budgets, monitor variances, and provide monthly executive dashboards with key financial indicators (e.g., food cost %, labor %, event margin, breakeven analysis). Ensure all accounting practices comply with GAAP and relevant local, state, and federal requirements.

Profitability Analysis & Event Costing

Build and maintain event-level costing models to evaluate true profitability, incorporating food, labor, rentals, and overhead. Partner with the culinary and event planning teams to analyze menu and package margins. Develop clear pricing and discount frameworks that protect profitability while supporting sales flexibility. Create post-event profitability summaries to drive continuous improvement in quoting and forecasting.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Scenario Planning

Lead the annual budgeting cycle and monthly reforecasting processes. Build dynamic financial models that reflect seasonal sales cycles and labor trends. Develop breakeven sales analysis and scenario-based forecasts to guide leadership decisions. Support capital planning and investment analysis for new facilities, equipment, or ventures.

Systems Building & Process Improvement

Design efficient systems and workflows for financial tracking, data integrity, and reporting. Integrate Caterease, QuickBooks, and other tools to streamline data flow between departments. Establish best practices for financial coding, approval processes, and cost allocations. Coach team leaders on financial literacy and budget ownership.

Collaboration & Leadership

Act as a strategic partner to department heads, helping them understand financial performance and identify improvement opportunities. Lead with transparency, accountability, and a collaborative mindset consistent with Katherine's culture of excellence and hospitality. Contribute to cross-functional discussions involving operations, HR, sales, and marketing from a financial strategy perspective.

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. Minimum 7+ years of progressive experience in financial management, analysis, or controllership. Demonstrated experience in hospitality, catering, or event-based businesses preferred. Advanced proficiency in QuickBooks, Excel/Google Sheets (pivot tables, scenario modeling, advanced formulas), and financial reporting tools. Proven track record of building financial systems and improving business visibility. Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Ability to translate data into actionable strategies for non-financial leaders. Entrepreneurial mindset with a balance of strategic thinking and operational execution.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Referral program Retirement plan Vision insurance
Work Location: In person