Director of Finance

Company Description

The Hand & The Eye is a first-of-its-kind destination in the heart of Chicago, blending world-class close-up magic with extraordinary culinary and cultural experiences. Rooted in wonder, elegance, and connection, we exist to make every moment a magic moment. Our immersive multi-venue experience draws on Chicago’s legacy of storytelling, theater, and hospitality to reimagine what a night out can be.

We are seeking a strategic, detail-driven, and highly collaborative Director of Finance to steward the financial health, systems, and long-term sustainability of The Hand & The Eye. This role is responsible for building, maintaining, and elevating the financial infrastructure that supports our programming, membership, events, and hospitality operations.

The Director of Finance plays both a hands‑on and forward‑thinking role, ensuring that day‑to‑day accounting and reporting processes run smoothly, while also shaping the financial strategy that fuels our growth. This leader partners closely with the executive team to translate numbers into insight, create clarity around performance trends, and establish financial discipline across the organization.

Key areas of responsibility include financial planning & analysis, budgeting, cash‑flow management, accounting oversight, compliance, internal controls, KPI development, and ongoing operational support. The ideal candidate brings exceptional analytical rigor, a deep understanding of hospitality or multi‑revenue business models, and a solutions‑oriented mindset grounded in accuracy, transparency, and trust.

• Ensure monthly P&Ls accurately reflect all revenue streams, expenses, cost of sales, and membership/event performance, with clear reconciliation across systems.
• Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly variances between actuals, forecasts, and budget to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead monthly financial reviews with the Executive Team, offering insight‑driven commentary that highlights operational challenges, emerging trends, and strategic levers.
• Participate in ownership and stakeholder meetings, presenting financial results, forecasts, and strategic recommendations.
• Build trust and financial fluency across the organization by providing clear explanations, coaching leaders on performance drivers, and helping teams understand how their work impacts the bottom line.

• Develop a rigorous annual budgeting process that engages each department in setting realistic, aligned, and data‑informed goals.
• Partner across departments to build accurate forecasts that respond to business volume and market conditions.
• Identify revenue, margin, and cost‑control opportunities that enhance financial performance without compromising the guest or member experience.
• Produce rolling forecasts and scenario models to inform strategic planning, capital needs, and future investments.

• Oversee all day‑to‑day finance functions, including income audit, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management protocols, and timely month‑end reporting.
• Lead a comprehensive month‑end close process: preparing journal entries and accruals, reconciling balance sheet accounts, validating membership billing flows, and ensuring accurate tax reporting.
• Oversee general cashier operations, ensuring accurate daily deposits, secure cash‑handling practices, and proper reconciliation of all house banks and petty cash funds.
• Manage and track the capital expense budget, reconciling expenditures and partnering with leadership on prioritization and ROI review.
• Review, negotiate, and maintain vendor contracts, ensuring favorable financial terms, alignment with operational needs, and compliance with internal controls.
• Oversee insurance programs (property, commercial, liability, workers’ compensation), managing renewals, claims, and risk assessments.
• Manage annual federal, state, and local tax filings.
• Monitor all operating, payroll, and reserve accounts to ensure healthy cash flow and support accurate, timely financial decision‑making.
• Maintain strong accounting and operational controls to safeguard…