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Welcome to Tomorrow

We believe that effective leaders don't simply seek "jobs"; they seek organizations with a compelling story, exceptional colleagues, and room for continued growth. As you scroll through this page, you will gain a better understanding of Great Clips' narrative, where the company has been, and where it is going.

Head of Finance

Great Clips Inc.

With roughly 4,400 retail locations across nearly 200 core North American markets, Great Clips Incorporated is one of the largest franchisors in the country, and is the category leader in the salon industry today generating nearly $1.5B in network sales and executing over 110 Million haircuts annually.  Homegrown right here in Minnesota, the company opened the doors of its first location on the University of Minnesota campus in 1982, and immediately took off, built on the foundation of convenient, efficient, low-priced service, a relatively new concept in the salon space in during this time period.  Prior to 2020, Great Clips experienced 15 consecutive years of significant geographical and top line growth (51 consecutive quarters of same store sales growth), an extraordinary run for a organization already at scale, and considering the economic cycles that unfolded during that time period.  Despite the major challenges faced by retailers during the pandemic, Great Clips experienced insignificant contraction and, today, is reinvigorated by its recently developed 3-Year Strategic Growth Plan which includes crucial investments into Data and Analytics, Information Technology and Digital Assets (mobile, web, etc.), and continued geographical expansion, particularly across Canada.  As part of this plan, the executive team at Great Clips recognizes the importance of investing in executive bench strength.  Given this, the company's 24 year finance chief seeks a dynamic Director of Finance for a newly created role to help lead the function into its future.

A Foundation you can build on

Getting a sense of the foundation that has been built prior to your arrival offers a lens through which you can see where your career may go.

Great Clips

Supported by several proprietary technologies/apps, Great Clips' value proposition is in offering its consumer base an inexpensive, no frills, convenient haircut experience.  Great Clips Inc. also remains one of few franchisors that is extremely focused on developing and maintaining incredibly strong, positive, and extremely supportive relationships with its franchise owners across North America.  The ownership opportunity inside Great Clips' franchise network has proven to be a strong one, as the company tends not to follow economic cycles.  While Great Clips' certainly emphasizes the importance of cleanliness, quality, consistency, and service across its retail network, its executives outwardly share that it is not meant to be "flashy or sexy", but instead, a very strong and valuable business model with lean operating costs allowing for the continuation of low prices for its customers and high returns for franchisees.

History

Founders Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer opened Great Clips' first salon on the U of M campus in 1982 during a time when speed and convenience was uncommon in the grooming industry.  After gaining immediate traction, they brought Ray Barton into the fold to drive formal expansion and franchising growth opportunities.  Under Ray's leadership, Great Clips grew from just 150 stores in 1988 to 1,000 stores in just 9 years, and by 2011, Great Clips reached 3,000 stores when Barton stepped down from the CEO post after 28 years, handing the baton to his sister, Rhoda Olsen.  Rhoda went on to earn "MN Executive Of The Year" as CEO, leading through continued growth, and handing the baton to current CEO (former Franchise Owner), Steve Hockett.

Scale

Although lean and versatile in its home office, Great Clips is the largest salon network in the US today.  It drives well over $1B in network sales and executes over 110 Million haircuts annually across 4,400 retail locations in the US and Canada, and its network employees over 44,000 stylists.  There are over 1,200 franchise owners across the Great Clips' highly collaborative system, allowing for uncommon levels of information transfer through the sharing of ideas, innovations, and techniques.  

Growth

Great Clips is currently positioned well to reset the stage for growth, expansion, and marketshare gains having recently developed a 3-Year Strategic Growth plan.  Historically, the company maintained a relatively sizable debt position.  But its executive team expects to be debt free in the very near term, allowing for the shift into an "investment" and growth model once again.  It plans to invest in central data and analytics capabilities, recruiting and talent acquisition frameworks, marketing and demand generation systems, consumer facing digital and mobile tool, and leadership development.

Our Take On Great Clips

Kindness and Authenticity

Great Clips' culture is underscored by a deeply rooted principle, established by its Founder and former CEO Ray Barton, of caring for other people.  This principle remains core to the company's current team, which becomes evident quickly during onsite visits.

Commitment To Relationships

Great Clips Inc's central team, unlike the reputation of many others in the franchisor category, is unwavering in its dedication to caring for, supporting, guiding, and helping its franchise owners be successful via franchise advisory counsel meetings, training programs, co-ops discussions, and ownership succession seminars.

Nonhierarchical

The culture of Great Clips is one of very little bureaucracy, where team members have the autonomy to drive the business forward in an agile way without the hurdles of red tape.  CEO Steve Hockett maintains an open door, and executives are accessible and responsive.

What You Will Be A Part Of

As a senior leader at Great Clips Inc, you will position the organization for its future, which requires an understanding of those around you, what they collectively stand for, and how they positively impact the world.

RHODA OLSEN TALKS CULTURE

Former Chief Executive of Great Clips, and current Vice Chair of the Board, Rhoda Olsen, discusses her take on what makes Great Clips such a special firm.

MEET GREAT CLIPS' FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN

Great Clips' founder, former CEO, and current Chairman of the Board, Ray Barton talks vision and aspiration.

STEVE HOCKETT DISCUSSES TECH AND GROWTH

Current Chief Executive, Steve Hockett, discuss with Squawk Box crew the impact that technology has had on Great Clips' business.

GREAT CLIPS BRAND, GROWTH, AND FRANCHISE STORIES

Former VP of Real Estate (now President), Rob Goggins, speaks to the Great Clips brand and shares franchisee success stories, particularly HQ's support of real estate selections.

GREAT CLIPS RANKED IN ENTREPRENEUR MAG TOP 500 FRANCHISES

Great Clips ranks #1 in salon category, and #24, in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, the world's most comprehensive franchise ranking.

GREAT CLIPS MOHAWK WARRIOR DONATES

Great Clips Mohawk Warrior gives back and surprises school in Palmetto, FL, with $5,000 worth of free school supplies.

The Company You’ll Keep

Who you’ll work with is often more important than the work itself. Get to know the Great Clips senior leadership team you will be engaging with in this role.

Rachelle Johnson

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & TREASURER

Rachelle Johnson is a 23 year veteran of Great Clips Inc, having joined the company in 1999 as one of the first FP&A leaders hired at the home office.  Now, as head of the entire finance and treasury function, Rachelle's group is responsible for maintaining a strong financial backbone for the Great Clips enterprise, leading the annual audit and compliance tax work and the internal annual corporate budgeting process.  Her group is also responsible for providing support to franchisees on financing, budgeting, valuation, and analysis to enhance salon profitability.  Rachelle is an incredibly authentic personality and leader who approaches her team with empathy and care.  She firmly believes that Great Clips is at a pivotal moment with an exciting opportunity for its next stage of growth and innovation.  As she continues her amazing tenure with Great Clips, she has begun to think seriously about CFO succession within the organization she loves. 

Steve Hockett

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Rob Goggins

PRESIDENT

Jared Nypen

VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT

Mari Fellrath

VICE PRESIDENT OF BI & TECHNOLOGY

A Day in the Life

As Great Clips Inc. embarks on its next stage of growth and evolution, the Director of Finance will assume a newly created role leading 3 direct leadership reports including a Manager of FP&A, a Manager of Tax, and a Manager of Treasury, with an additional 2 direct reports.  Highest on the priority list is the need for team member and leadership development.  Great Clips' executive team is fully aware of the necessity to build leadership and executive level bench strength, and this Director will be a critical component in helping prepare the next generation of leaders at the organization.  They will also potentially be considered as a part of the CFO succession plan over the long-term.  As Great Clips' approaches the full payoff of its debt structure and shifts into a period of capital investments, this leader will help to mature the function and organization by way of automation, implementation of new systems and technologies, requiring an innovative and technically sound leader who will embrace the opportunity to engage directly with both internal functional partners, as well as external franchise owners in consultative financial modeling, budget preparation, and other areas of guidance.  

Responsibilities

  • Directs the development and communication of short and long-term strategic plans in the FP&A, Treasury and Tax areas, in accordance with senior leadership’s overall direction.  Help define and plan goals, objectives and programs that will achieve organizational growth, profitability and compliance.

  • Directs the annual corporate budgeting process and provides annual budgeting tools through conclusion of each year budgeting cycle.

  • Leads financial analysis and financial decision support to management for a wide variety of analytical and operational business decisions for all areas of the company including but not limited to supporting analytics, historical and projected business results.

  • Provides support for Franchisee individual and organizational analysis and the collection, standardization, analyzing and communication of salon business and profitability information within the Great Clips system.

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  • Oversees cash flow management and other Treasury support activities to ensure accurate cash records, decisions on collection workout situations, potential defaults, and collection actions.  Assists with bank debt restructuring, key backup for banking and lender relationships.  Assists with Insurance and overall company risk management.  Oversees and/or provides back up for the salon payment vendors, specifically related to credit card processing, giftcard/Greatcard.processing, tip card processing, and PCI compliance.

  • Provides direction and support over the tax preparation process. Ensure that all tax-related issues are handled in a timely and accurate manner.  Assist in developing new tax strategies or policies for the Great Clips system. 

  • Supervises the Treasury Manager, Finance Manager, and Tax Manager.

Requirements

  • 4-year degree in accounting or finance and 4-6 years of experience in finance, accounting, or tax; or a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.
  • Ability to develop and modify business and financial models for all aspects of operations, including business planning, salon operations, financial analysis, benchmarking, etc.
  • Strong people leadership and relationship management skills.
  • ​Knowledge of and skill in using computers and related software for spreadsheet, database and data analysis; ability to develop and model financial information using Excel; skill to perform financial equations of advanced difficulty such as ratios in accounting applications, NPV, IRR, ROI, etc.

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  • MBA is desired

  • Ability to analyze financial and customer data and trends and develop recommendations for changes in programs/processes.

  • Possesses strong verbal and written presentation skills to communicate information in a well-organized, planned manner that is clear and understandable.

  • Capability to lead projects or initiatives and work collaboratively with a group of individuals organized for a particular purpose to make the work of the group successful and effective.

Download Full Job Description

What You Bring to the Table

Versatile People Developer

Great Clips maintains a lean and highly agile team structure, which allows its leaders the flexibility to impact several functional areas.  This leader will oversee FP&A, Tax, and Treasury, and will impact across the entire internal organization, while engaging directly with franchise owners to drive more effective financial literacy.  Alongside, the finance management team is eager for a new leader who will dedicate time and commitment to their continued development as leaders.

Relationship-Oriented Partner

Nearly every senior leader at Great Clips Inc consistently engages across HQ, but also across the North American franchise system.  This leader will be involved in advisory council meetings, ownership and next gen seminars, training discussions, and more as a critical provider of counsel and guidance to business owners within the network.

Data-Driven

Great Clips has access to a tremendous amount of data and information from many sources.  This leader will have an opportunity to make an impact on the function and organization as it begins to invest in more automation, innovation, and growth, while centralizing its data and analytics capabilities.

We believe this opportunity has the potential to be your next best thing. What do you think?