Senior Director, Finance and Growth – International

About the Role

This role provides strategic leadership and decision support across financial forecasting, budgeting, financial systems, development agreements, unit-level economics, operational modeling, and ad hoc analysis supporting the broader International business. The Senior Director, International Finance and Growth serves as a key member of the leadership team reporting to the SVP of Finance.

Responsibilities

• Financial Planning & Analysis (50%)
  • Manage a multi-currency, multi-market P&L in partnership with General Managers, synthesizing the key drivers of EBITDA.
  • Partner with International leadership to project and reconcile key financial and operational performance metrics on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
  • Identify variances to forecast, budget, and prior year using standard “Bridge” methodologies and develop actionable insights.
  • Lead quarterly forecast cycles and the annual budget process for all international financial inputs, ensuring timelines are established, communicated, and met.
  • Manage collection and review of franchisee financial statements and conduct financial analysis to identify risks and opportunities.
  • Drive timely collection of all fees and financial commitments from franchisees.
  • Track and benchmark unit-level economics to identify trends and target areas of improvement by country.
  • Identify, develop, and promote financial best practices across international markets.
  • Analyze and assess the unique cost environments, regulatory contexts, and consumer markets across the global portfolio.
  • Build data infrastructure and track franchisee health, bridging from imperfect information to a refined business intelligence database.
  • Devise tools for leverage by CKE and franchisees, including pricing, labor, and principles around EBITDA flow-through.
• Oversight of the International Finance Function & Growth & Development (35%)
  • Oversight of the above-market development function including 1 FTE.
  • Management of the overall pipeline, including updating, reporting, and gap closure.
  • Custodian of NPV analysis and tools for Development Agreement approval.
  • Major deal negotiation including inorganic opportunities.
  • Collaboration and partnership with GMs and field development resources including standardization of tools, systems, and acceleration of builds.
  • Exemplify capability development for franchisees (e.g., Development Capability Workshops) and field.
  • Serve as a lead for new franchise reviews, expansions, or market assessments.
• Strategic & Ad Hoc Project Support (15%)
  • Support senior International and Finance leadership on strategic initiatives, which may include joint ventures, M&A, direct investment analyses, or market-entry evaluations.
  • Influence and align diverse stakeholder groups, including franchise partners, executive leadership, operations, legal, and finance teams.
  • Contribute to ongoing improvements in franchise application, transfer, and review processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
• 12+ years of cumulative experience in finance, development, strategy, or an analytical role (or equivalent experience).
• Experience supporting franchised business models.
• Experience negotiating development agreements and franchise transactions.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrated executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders and franchise partners through data-driven recommendations.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across departments and cultures.
• Ability to manage and operate across different time zones, supporting personnel based in the United States, Mexico, Europe, UAE, and Australia.
• Demonstrated ability to develop actionable insights from imperfect or diverse data sets.
• Ability to raise the bar with proactive insights and analysis, driving toward a culture of accountability and empowerment.
• Mastery of Excel; experience with Hyperion, Adaptive, or similar planning tools is required.
• Experience with financial systems, business intelligence platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and ERP systems.
• High analytical capability, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to dive into details to solve problems.
• Knowledge of restaurant, retail, or multi-unit business models preferred.
• Experience working in international or global organizations is required.
• Ability to protect confidential and sensitive information as part of the planning process.

Work Environment

• Restaurant Support Center that operates in a fast-paced setting with a high volume of activity and a deadline-driven environment.
• Hybrid work model, requiring on-site presence in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
• Regular interaction with internal partners in person, by phone, and/or electronic communications.
• Sitting for extended periods of time, using telephone, typing, and/or operating a computer and/or mouse.
• Ability and willingness to travel, including international markets (20%).