Accounting Manager in Lake Forest, California at Del Taco, LLC

Accounting Manager

Position Summary

The Accounting Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting activities and financial reporting processes for a multi-unit restaurant organization with both company-operated and franchised locations. This role ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial information and maintains accounting practices in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company policies.

The Accounting Manager will play a key role in the monthly close process, preparation and review of financial statements, balance sheet integrity, account reconciliations, and development of effective accounting controls and processes. The position will partner closely with Finance, Operations, Franchise Administration, and other functional leaders to provide accurate and actionable financial information.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical accounting knowledge, attention to detail, process discipline, and the ability to operate effectively in a high-volume, multi-entity environment.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Lead and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close processes, ensuring timely and accurate completion.
• Prepare and review financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
• Review restaurant-level and consolidated financial results for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate accounting treatment.
• Manage consolidation of multiple legal entities and restaurant locations.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other close-related activity.
• Maintain strong balance sheet controls and ensure timely reconciliation and resolution of outstanding items.
• Analyze unusual transactions, account fluctuations, and financial statement variances and coordinate appropriate corrections.
• Support preparation of monthly financial reporting packages for senior management and other stakeholders.

Restaurant & Franchise Accounting

• Oversee accounting processes supporting company-operated restaurants, including restaurant sales, cash, credit card activity, third-party delivery, gift cards, inventory, payroll-related entries, and restaurant operating expenses.
• Ensure accurate recording and reconciliation of POS sales and related tender activity.
• Oversee accounting and reconciliation of franchise-related revenue, including royalties, franchise fees, advertising or marketing fund contributions, and other franchise-related charges.
• Maintain appropriate accounting for franchise receivables and coordinate collection or resolution of outstanding balances.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment and revenue recognition for franchise-related activities in accordance with GAAP.
• Partner with Operations and Franchise teams to research and resolve restaurant- and franchise-level accounting issues.

General Ledger & Accounting Operations

• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts across multiple entities and locations.
• Review and approve journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Ensure appropriate accounting for fixed assets, leases, accruals, prepaid expenses, intercompany activity, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Manage intercompany accounting and ensure balances are reconciled and appropriately eliminated during consolidation.
• Establish and maintain consistent accounting policies and procedures across the organization.
• Ensure accounting transactions are properly documented and supported.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Develop, document, and maintain effective accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of accounting processes.
• Reduce reliance on manual processes through improved systems, automation, and standardized workflows.
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and approval controls.
• Support implementation and optimization of accounting, restaurant, payroll, AP, and financial reporting systems.
• Ensure accounting processes are scalable to support restaurant growth, acquisitions, new franchise locations, and organizational expansion.

Audit & Compliance

• Serve as a primary accounting contact for the annual financial statement audit or review.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor requests.
• Ensure accounting records and supporting documentation are maintained in accordance with company policies and applicable requirements.
• Coordinate with external tax professionals as necessary; however, primary responsibility for tax compliance and tax strategy resides outside this role.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor members of the accounting team.
• Establish clear responsibilities, deadlines, and performance expectations.
• Review work performed by staff and provide appropriate coaching and technical guidance.
• Build a culture of accountability, accuracy, continuous improvement, and strong customer service to restaurant and corporate partners.
• Develop team capabilities and processes that support an efficient and increasingly automated accounting organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Accounting degree strongly preferred.
• CPA preferred but not required.
• Approximately 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including experience managing or supervising accounting staff.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Demonstrated experience managing monthly and annual close processes.
• Experience with multi-entity, multi-location accounting strongly preferred.
• Restaurant, hospitality, retail, franchising, or other multi-unit industry experience preferred.
• Experience with franchise accounting, including royalties and franchise-related receivables, is a plus.
• Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, fixed assets, leases, and intercompany accounting.
• Experience working with external auditors and preparing financial statement audit support.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP/accounting systems.
• Experience improving accounting processes and leveraging technology and automation is strongly preferred.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical accounting and GAAP knowledge
• Financial statement and balance sheet orientation
• Disciplined approach to month-end close
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple entities, locations, and deadlines
• Process improvement mindset
• Effective team leadership and development
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to partner effectively with Finance, Operations, Franchise, and other business functions
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented restaurant environment