Chief Financial Officer for Multi-Site Retail Franchise System
A well-established national retail franchise organization with more than 65 years of operating history is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join the executive leadership team.
This organization operates a large multi-unit franchise system with strong brand recognition and long-standing franchise relationships. The CFO will play a central role in guiding financial strategy, supporting franchisee success, optimizing royalty performance, and preparing the organization for its next phase of expansion.
Recent and relevant franchise system experience is required for this role.
Strategic Financial Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to drive long-term financial strategy and system growth.
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
- Advise leadership and the Board on capital allocation, expansion modeling, and ROI for new units and territories.
- Support acquisitions, refranchising opportunities, and strategic growth initiatives.
Franchise System Financial Oversight
- Develop financial reporting frameworks and KPIs across the franchise system.
- Monitor franchisee financial health, profitability, and operational performance.
- Build system dashboards to track metrics such as AUV, EBITDA, same-store sales, labor and product cost ratios.
- Identify early indicators of franchisee financial stress and implement improvement strategies.
Revenue & Royalty Optimization
- Oversee royalty collection and reporting accuracy across the franchise network.
- Evaluate fee structures, royalty models, and incentive programs.
- Improve predictability of royalty revenue and system cash flow.
Corporate Finance Leadership and Growth & Development Finance
- Support franchise development teams with unit economics and financial modeling.
- Develop financial frameworks for franchise expansion and territory growth.
- Assist with financial components of franchise disclosure documentation and development planning.
Experience:
- 10+ years of senior finance leadership experience
- Direct experience within a franchise system (mandatory)
- Background in multi-unit retail, hospitality, or consumer services
- Strong FP&A, operational finance, and system-wide KPI management experience
- Experience working with lenders, private equity, or board governance
- Ability to partner effectively with both corporate leadership and franchise operators
Preferred qualifications include:
- CPA, MBA, or CFA
- Experience scaling franchise systems
- Financial systems transformation or ERP implementation
- Experience supporting franchise disclosure documentation (FDD).
This search is being conducted confidentially by HardestyLLC.
Additional information will be shared with qualified candidates during the initial conversation.
