Restaurant CFO Executive Search
Financial Leaders Who Drive Profitability, Growth, and Long-Term Enterprise Value
The right Chief Financial Officer does far more than oversee financial reporting. Today's restaurant CFOs help organizations improve profitability, manage capital, support expansion, guide technology investments, navigate private equity relationships, and create long-term enterprise value.
At Wray Executive Search, we specialize in Restaurant CFO Executive Search for restaurant brands, franchise organizations, hospitality companies, and foodservice businesses nationwide. We identify financial executives who combine strategic leadership with operational understanding, helping organizations grow confidently through every stage of the business lifecycle.
Whether you're hiring your first enterprise CFO or replacing a long-tenured finance executive, our restaurant executive search team delivers leaders who understand the unique financial challenges facing hospitality businesses.
Trust Earned Through Decades of Success
96%
Search Completion Rate
94%
Offer Acceptance Rate
50+
Years as Industry Specialists
Restaurant & Franchise Executive Search
92%
Placement Retention Rate
21 Days
Average to 1st Vetted Slate of Candidate
Restaurant CFO Executive Search for Every Growth Stage
Why Restaurant CFO Hiring Has Become More Critical Than Ever
estaurant finance leaders face increasing complexity.
Modern CFOs must balance:
Margin optimization
Inflation and food cost management
Labor planning
Multi-unit financial performance
Franchise economics
Technology investments
Capital planning
Mergers and acquisitions
Investor and board reporting
Cash flow management
Risk management
Data analytics
As restaurant organizations become increasingly data-driven, CFOs have evolved from financial stewards into strategic business partners who influence nearly every major organizational decision.
The best CFOs help organizations improve EBITDA while building scalable financial infrastructure that supports future growth.
Our team partners with organizations across the restaurant and hospitality industry, including:
Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)
Fast Casual Brands
Casual Dining
Fine Dining
Multi-Concept Restaurant Groups
Franchise Organizations
Hospitality Companies
Foodservice Companies
Private Equity Portfolio Companies
Emerging Restaurant Brands
Whether your company is preparing for rapid expansion, recapitalization, acquisition, or operational transformation, we identify financial executives equipped to lead through change.
Executive Search Partner to Leading Franchise and Restaurant Brands
Why Organizations Partner with Wray Executive Search
Restaurant executive search is our specialty.
6 Points of Distinction
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Our Leadership
Our consultants have decades of industry specialization in restaurant, franchise, and food service.
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Wide Scope
Wray Executive Search offers a wide scope of industry knowledge and experience. We provide a wide array of services and have an extensive network in these arenas.
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Impactful Expertise
The cross-functional, wide-reaching expertise our company provides can have a deep impact on your business. We serve client needs internationally, nationally, regionally and locally.
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Unique Guarantees
We offer a full one-year replacement guarantee ensuring that our candidates will bring value long term. If, for some reason, the hired candidate does not work out, we will find a replacement.
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Diverse Consultants
Our consultants bring varied experience from all segments of the industry. We offer broad-based, cross-functional expertise to enhance our partnership.
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Competitive, Comprehensive Rates
There are no surprises when it comes to our fees. We maintain highly competitive performance-based rates founded upon our robust executive search record.
Restaurant CFO Executive Search Case Studies
Executive Search Case Study: VP of Accounting and Finance at Multi-Location Restaurant Group
Executive Search Case Study: CFO for High-Growth Multi-Unit Franchisee Organization
Executive Search Case Study: CFO of a Publicly Traded, Global Restaurant Franchising Company
Our Team
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Kevin Stockslager
Managing Partner
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Ray Kelley
Managing Partner
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Rebecca Patt
SVP & Partner
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Bob Gershberg
Executive Advisor
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Joe Radice
Advisor
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Jonathan Kelley
Vice President of Recruiting
Ready to Hire Your Next Restaurant CFO?
Whether you're replacing a retiring executive, building your first enterprise finance function, or preparing for your next stage of growth, Wray Executive Search can help you identify exceptional financial leaders.
Contact our team to discuss your Restaurant CFO Executive Search needs.
If you are looking to be considered for opportunities, go to our candidate page and submit your resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Restaurant CFO Executive Search typically take?
Most executive searches are completed within 10 to 16 weeks, depending on market conditions, geographic requirements, and candidate availability.
What industries does Wray Executive Search serve?
We recruit executive leaders for restaurant companies, hospitality organizations, franchise systems, foodservice businesses, and related consumer brands.
Do you recruit CFOs for private equity-backed restaurant companies?
Yes. Many of our searches involve private equity-backed organizations seeking financial leaders capable of accelerating growth, improving EBITDA, supporting acquisitions, and preparing companies for future exits.
Can you recruit confidentially while we still have an incumbent CFO?
Absolutely. Confidential executive searches are common, and we protect both client and candidate privacy throughout the process.