DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

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 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

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

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

Capital Oversight & External Relationships

• Serve as primary financial liaison to private equity partners, lenders, and external auditors

• Own all lender reporting packages, covenant calculations, and compliance certifications

• Monitor debt covenants, liquidity thresholds, and leverage metrics, proactively identifying risk

• Prepare board and investor-level financial materials, including EBITDA bridges and variance explanations

• Lead annual audit process and maintain audit-ready financial documentation at all times

• Oversee franchise financial compliance requirements and ensure timely submissions

• Partner with legal and executive leadership on lease obligations, guarantees, and financial risk exposure

• Develop and maintain financial controls appropriate for a PE-backed, multi-unit portfolio

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

• 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’s 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 Microsoft Office Suite

*While this position is remote, you must live in MI (metro Detroit) and be able to commute to Royal Oak monthly for meetings

Preferred:

• Experience with Sage accounting software

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

• Experience with Whitecloud or similar reporting platforms

• Experience working with private equity-backed companies

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