Remote Interim Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Missouri

Controller
Remote (USA) | Full-Time, Salaried Exempt

About the Role
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the country - a rapidly expanding footprint, 250 units signed, and 11 franchise partners. We're looking for a Controller to own the accounting engine behind that growth.
Most controller roles offer a slice. This one is the whole engine: the period close, daily treasury, franchise royalty and gift card economics, audit readiness, and the debt, equity, and cap table workpapers - across four entities and a thirteen-period fiscal calendar. Reporting to the CFO, this is a hands-on leadership seat for a process builder who wants their name on how the function runs.
You won't inherit a blank page. You'll inherit documented runbooks, an engaged CFO, and an executive team that has already committed to rebuilding accounting around AI leverage - with you owning the rebuild.
How We Work: The AI Mandate
Our close runs AI-assisted. The Controller owns the workflows, prompts, and controls around it, keeps them documented, and keeps human review on everything that posts. We are not looking for an AI hobbyist - we're looking for someone who has already engineered their first procedural revolution (a close shortened, a reconciliation reinvented, a workflow rebuilt), or who is operating AI tools at an advanced level in real accounting work today.
What You'll Own
Lead the period close across multiple entities and our 13-period fiscal calendar, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
Oversee reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, intercompany activity, consolidations, and financial statement preparation.
Manage daily cash forecasting, treasury activity, banking relationships, and payment controls.
Oversee weekly accounts payable and disbursement processes, maintaining appropriate segregation of duties.
Manage accounting for franchise royalties, advertising funds, development fees, and the company-wide gift card program.
Own key tax, compliance, audit, debt, equity, and cap table processes and workpapers.
Lead and develop the accounting team while building clear ownership, documentation, and cross-training across critical processes.
Own and improve AI-assisted accounting workflows, with appropriate documentation, controls, and human review.
Partner with the CFO, executive leadership, auditors, banking partners, franchise partners, and teams across the organization.

What We're Looking For
- Active CPA license (required).
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of a full period close.
- End-to-end ownership of an external audit relationship, planning through issuance.
- Experience leading and developing accounting team members.
- Strong multi-entity accounting experience, including intercompany activity and consolidation.
- Strong ERP experience; NetSuite strongly preferred.
- Experience with complex debt and equity: PIK interest, convertibles, and cap table management.
- Strong controls discipline and instinct for segregation of duties.
- Current, hands-on use of AI in real accounting workflows - with the review discipline to match.
- Thrives in a fast-moving, growing organization.
Preferred Experience
Restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other multi-location experience.
Franchise and/or gift card accounting experience.
High-growth, multi-state organization experience.
A track record of shortening a close, redesigning reconciliations, or improving accounting processes.
What We Offer
100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
Company-paid short-term and long-term disability and group life insurance
15 days of salaried vacation
401(k)
Remote work
*salary range includes base salary + allowances
At Hawaiian Bros, our mission is Spreading Positivity through the Aloha Spirit, guided by our values of Mutual Respect, Harmony, Gratitude, Integrity, Innovation, and Fun.
Applications through this posting only, please - no agency or search-firm inquiries, and unsolicited resumes from recruiters will not create any obligation.