Cherry Bekaert is partnered with a high-growth experiential entertainment company to identify a Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer (COO/CFO) on a contract-to-hire basis to join its executive leadership team. This is a contract-to-hire executive opportunity, with the intent to convert to full-time employment after approximately 2–3 months, based on performance and business need. The role is ideally based in New York City, with travel required to headquarters and operating locations across the United States. Upon conversion, the anticipated base salary range is $200,000–$250,000, plus bonus.
Position Summary The COO/CFO serves as the senior-most leader overseeing both operational execution and financial performance across the enterprise. Reporting directly to the Co-Founders, this role is responsible for stabilizing, scaling, and optimizing the operational and financial infrastructure of a multi-location experiential business and its related digital channels.
During the contract period, the executive will focus on evaluating current operations, strengthening financial discipline, and implementing foundational processes. Upon conversion, the role assumes full ownership of long-term strategy, enterprise performance, and growth. This position leads through senior operational and financial leaders and is accountable for enterprise-level outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Set and uphold the operational vision and standards across all locations and business channels
Own company-wide P&L performance, including revenue strategy, pricing, labor models, margins, and cost structure
Lead and develop General Managers and senior operational leaders across multiple locations
Establish scalable systems, SOPs, and playbooks to support new site openings and national expansion
Partner closely with Human Resources leadership on workforce planning, leadership development, and performance accountability
Oversee all accounting and finance functions, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting
Leverage KPIs and financial insights to drive data-informed strategic decisions
Ensure compliance, risk management, and safety standards across all operational and e-commerce environments
Maintain a consistent leadership presence through regular site visits and engagement with field teams
Qualifications
12+ years of progressive leadership experience across operations and finance
Proven success leading multi-location, guest-centric organizations, preferably within hospitality, experiential retail, entertainment, or related industries
Strong ownership of P&L performance and experience scaling growing businesses
Demonstrated ability to lead senior leaders through influence, clarity, and accountability
Extensive experience partnering cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, HR, Marketing, and Executive Leadership
Data-driven decision-maker with strong financial acumen and executive judgment
Willingness to travel as required to support operational excellence and leadership engagement
Why This Opportunity This contract-to-hire role offers a unique opportunity to enter a dual COO/CFO position with immediate executive-level impact and a clearly defined path to permanent leadership. The organization is seeking a proven operator and financial leader who can quickly assess the business, drive near-term stability, and position the company for disciplined, sustainable growth.