Head of Finance

Head of Finance / Finance Lead Location: Houston, TX Company: Dish Society / Five 12 Restaurant Concepts Reports to: Founder & CEO Location: Houston or Austin/Remote About Us Dish Society is a neighborhood café built around thoughtful hospitality, clean ingredients, and strong connections to the communities we serve. What began as a single location has grown into a multi-unit concept across Houston and Austin, with continued expansion planned. Dish Society is part of Five 12 Restaurant Concepts, a growing portfolio of hospitality brands focused on creating high-quality, community-driven dining experiences. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a hands-on Finance Lead who wants to help build and own the financial infrastructure that supports our next stage of growth. This is not a traditional corporate finance role. You will work directly with the Founder/CEO and leadership team to strengthen financial discipline, provide strategic insights, and help guide major decisions around growth, capital allocation, and operational performance. The right candidate is excited by the opportunity to build, own, and shape the finance function inside a growing company. The Role We want someone who to build the financial foundation of a growing hospitality company—not just report on it. The Finance Lead will own the company’s financial operations and serve as a key strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team. This role blends Controller-level accounting leadership (≈60%) with forward-looking Financial Planning & Analysis (≈40%). You will ensure the financial foundation of the business is strong while also helping leadership make smarter, faster decisions as the company grows. This position is ideal for someone who wants broad ownership and impact, rather than a narrow role inside a large finance organization. What You’ll Do Financial Operations & Accounting Leadership (Controller Responsibilities – approx 60%)
Own the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all financial reporting
Complete the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes
Manage general ledger, reconciliations, and accounting policies
Ensure GAAP compliance and maintain strong financial controls
Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processes
Manage relationships with external CPA firms, tax advisors, and auditors
Maintain and improve accounting systems and financial workflows
Build scalable processes as the company grows Financial Planning & Analysis (Strategic Finance – approx 40%)
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning
Build and maintain financial models related to:
New store openings
Capital investments
Pricing and cost structure
Growth scenarios
Develop clear financial reporting dashboards and KPI tracking
Analyze unit-level economics across locations
Partner with operations leadership to improve financial performance
Support capital planning and financing initiatives Strategic Partnership with the CEO
Translate financial data into actionable business insights
Help evaluate growth opportunities and investment decisions
Provide clear visibility into cash flow and financial health
Pressure-test strategic initiatives through financial modeling
Participate in leadership discussions around operational improvements and expansion Building the Finance Function
Help design and build the company’s long-term finance infrastructure
Identify opportunities to improve financial systems and reporting tools
Hire and develop additional finance team members as the company grows
Establish scalable financial processes to support multi-unit expansion This role has significant opportunity to grow into a senior finance leadership role (VP Finance / CFO) as the organization continues to expand. Who This Role Is For This role is ideal for someone who:
Enjoys owning the entire finance function, not just part of it
Wants to work closely with a founder-led leadership team
Is comfortable being both hands-on and strategic
Is energized by building systems, processes, and insights that help a business grow
Prefers a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment over a large corporate structure Qualifications Experience
8–15 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting
Experience in a Controller, Director of Finance, Finance Manager, or similar role
Demonstrated ownership of financial reporting and close processes
Experience building financial models and supporting business decisions
Experience working directly with senior leadership or founders Industry experience (strongly preferred)
Multi-unit restaurants
Hospitality
Retail
Consumer services
Other multi-location operating businesses Skills
Strong accounting and financial reporting expertise
Excellent financial modeling and analytical abilities
Ability to translate financial data into clear insights
Strong systems and process thinking
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving autonomous environment
High level of ownership and accountability Education
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business
CPA, MBA, or other advanced credentials are preferred but not required Why This Role Is Unique Most finance roles focus on a narrow slice of the business. This role offers the opportunity to:
Own the entire finance function
Work directly with the Founder/CEO
Influence strategic decisions
Help shape the financial foundation of a growing company
Build systems and infrastructure that scale with the business
Grow into a senior leadership role as the company expands For the right candidate, this role offers a rare opportunity to combine operational finance, strategic thinking, and real business impact. Compensation Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience, including:
Base salary ($130-$160k)
Benefits package including 401k
Long-term growth opportunities within the organization How to Apply Please submit your resume and a brief note describing why this opportunity interests you. We are looking for someone who is excited to build, own, and grow alongside the business.