Director Of Finance

ABOUT US

L5 Fitness is a fitness brand operating 41 Orangetheory Fitness studios across 6 markets, backed by a private equity group committed to strategic growth and operational excellence. Through its Area Representative role, L5 Fitness supports both its owned portfolio and an additional 80+ Orangetheory Fitness studios, impacting more than 120 locations in total.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Finance is a strategic finance leader responsible for executing and improving financial systems that provide clarity, control, and forward-looking insight to support confident, timely decision-making across the organization. This role combines the operational rigor of a controller with the strategic vision and leadership required to drive financial performance in a dynamic, multi-unit environment.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable in the details and in executive-level conversations.

This is not simply a traditional position, we are looking for a financial leader who can simplify complexity, communicate insights effectively, and partner closely with field and functional leaders to make faster, more confident decisions. Success in this role means: leaders understand their numbers, forecasts are reliable and timely, variances are identified early, and financial insights actively shape operational and strategic decisions. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership & Strategy:

· Partner with the President and Director team to translate business strategy into actionable financial plans

· Provide forward-looking financial insights that inform strategic decisions on market performance and operational investments

· Lead the annual budgeting process and develop rolling forecasts that drive business planning

· Identify trends, variances, and opportunities early to enable proactive decision-making

· Collaborate closely with the President and investors to support reporting, planning, and compliance requirements in a private-equity-backed environment

Financial Operations & Reporting:

· Own all financial reporting, including monthly P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statements, and variance analysis

· Ensure accurate and timely financial close processes (monthly, quarterly, annual)

· Maintain and improve general ledger integrity and chart of accounts structure

· Manage relationships with external auditors and ensure successful audit outcomes

· Develop and maintain financial dashboards and KPIs that provide actionable insights to leadership

Systems & Process Improvement:

· Evaluate, improve, and streamline financial systems and processes to increase efficiency and accuracy

· Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and reduce administrative burden

· Implement controls and procedures that ensure financial integrity without creating unnecessary complexity

· Champion a culture of continuous improvement within the finance function

Payroll Oversight:

· Oversee payroll processing and compliance across all 41 studio locations (using PuzzleHR/Paylocity)

· Ensure accuracy through regular auditing and internal controls

· Partner with Payroll Specialist to streamline processes and resolve escalated issues

· Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations across 6 markets

Multi-Unit Financial Management:

· Develop and maintain studio-level financial reporting and analysis

· Work with regionals and studio managers to help them understand and improve their studio’s economics

· Identify best practices and performance drivers across locations

· Support growth and expansion initiatives with financial modeling and feasibility analysis

Team Leadership & Development:

· Lead and develop the finance team

· Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on accuracy, insight, and service

· Partner effectively with external vendors and financial partners

· Clearly communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders

Required:

· Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

· 7-10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience

· 3+ years in a leadership role (Controller, Director of Finance, or similar)

· Strong technical accounting knowledge (GAAP, financial statements, general ledger management)

· Multi-unit or multi-location experience preferred (retail, hospitality, fitness, franchise, or similar)

· Experience with payroll oversight and compliance across multiple jurisdictions

· Proven ability to improve financial processes and systems

· Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial systems/ERP platforms

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

· Experience working with private equity backed companies is a plus

*while this position is remote, you must live in MI (metro Detroit) and be able to commute to Royal Oak once a month for a meeting

Preferred:

· Experience with Sage accounting software

· Familiarity with Paylocity (HRIS) and PuzzleHR (payroll vendor)

· Experience with Whitecloud or similar reporting platforms

Leadership Competencies:

· Strategic thinker who can connect financial data to business outcomes

· Exceptional communicator who can translate complex financial information for diverse audiences

· Change agent with a track record of simplifying processes and driving improvement

· Collaborative partner who builds trust across the organization

· Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills

· Comfortable with ambiguity and able to build structure where needed

· Proactive, ownership-oriented mindset