Job Title: Head of Finance
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Status: Full-Time
Salary Range
$190,000–$215,000 per year (based on experience)
About Bask & Lather Co.
Bask & Lather Co. is a fast-growing, family-founded haircare brand dedicated to restoring crowns and confidence. What began as a kitchen remedy has evolved into one of the most celebrated textured-hair care brands in the U.S., known for disciplined growth, strong unit economics, and deep community trust.
As we scale across channels, retail partners, and product categories, we are focused on building financial discipline that enables speed, accountability, and smart decision-making.
Role Overview
The Head of Finance owns financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, margin performance, and cost discipline across the business. This role is the primary finance partner to the CEO and department leaders, responsible for turning strategy into financial guardrails and holding the organization accountable to results. This role is expected to challenge assumptions, push for financial discipline, and drive margin and cost accountability across the organization. This is a hands-on operating finance role, not a bookkeeping position. Day-to-day accounting is supported by an external firm. The Head of Finance leads planning, performance management, margin optimization, and cost control while directly managing internal finance support staff, including AP/AR.
The role reports directly to the CEO.
Core Responsibilities
Financial Planning, Forecasting & Headcount Planning
- Lead annual budgeting, quarterly reforecasting, and rolling 12–18 month forecasts.
- Own headcount planning in partnership with leadership, ensuring staffing aligns with growth priorities and margin targets.
- Evaluate tradeoffs across spend, hiring, and investment decisions.
- Build scenario models to support prioritization and resource allocation.
Margin Optimization & Cost Management
- Own gross margin and contribution margin visibility by product, channel, and promotion.
- Identify and drive margin improvement initiatives across COGS, freight, fulfillment, and discounting.
- Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to reduce cost leakage and improve unit economics.
- Actively push for cost discipline, efficiency, and ROI-driven decision-making across teams.
Budget Ownership & Business Partnering
- Partner with department leaders to set and manage budgets with clear accountability.
- Lead monthly budget vs actual reviews and explain variances.
- Provide direct, actionable guidance to leaders on spend optimization and tradeoffs.
- Ensure financial rigor without slowing execution.
Cash Flow, AP/AR & Working Capital
- Own cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
- Directly manage the AP/AR function, ensuring timely collections and disciplined payables.
- Improve cash conversion cycle through payment terms, inventory planning, and working capital management.
- Monitor burn rate and ensure capital is deployed intentionally.
Revenue & Performance Visibility
- Own revenue reporting by channel, product category, and initiative.
- Monitor promotional performance and pricing impact.
- Develop dashboards covering revenue, margin, operating leverage, and key KPIs.
- Translate performance data into clear insights for leadership.
Accounting Firm Oversight & Controls
- Manage the external accounting firm responsible for bookkeeping and close.
- Review monthly financial statements for accuracy, clarity, and usefulness.
- Ensure timely closes and strong alignment between accounting and planning.
- Maintain appropriate approval workflows and financial controls.
Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement
- Improve financial reporting accuracy, timeliness, and usability.
- Implement scalable, lightweight finance processes.
- Ensure clean data flow between finance, operations, and e-commerce systems.
- Support system improvements as the business grows.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead and develop finance support staff, including AP/AR.
- Collaborate closely with Operations, Growth, E-commerce, Sales, and HR.
- Act as a trusted partner while holding teams accountable to financial outcomes.
Qualifications
- Experience in CPG, e-commerce, retail, or consumer brands required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
- 7–12+ years of experience in FP&A, strategic finance, or operating finance roles.
- Proven experience driving margin improvement and cost discipline.
- Strong understanding of inventory, COGS, and headcount planning.
- Experience managing AP/AR and working with external accounting partners.
- Comfortable partnering directly with founders and senior leaders.
Key Competencies
- Strong financial judgment with an operator mindset.
- Comfortable challenging assumptions and pushing for financial accountability.
- Ability to communicate clearly and directly with non-finance leaders.
- High accountability, discretion, and ownership mentality.
- Thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
Success Metrics
- Forecast accuracy and clarity of financial planning.
- Gross margin and contribution margin improvement.
- Cost control and efficient headcount growth.
- Cash flow predictability and working capital improvement.
- Leadership confidence in financial decision-making.
- Reduction in financial noise and escalations.
Bask & Lather Co. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs.
