Being a First Time CFO in The Restaurant Industry, Lessons Learned with Alex Holt
FP&A Unlocked · 2025-07-10 · 46 min
Episode notes
In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Alex Holt, the CFO of Milo’s Hamburgers, to discuss the intersection of finance, business operations, and growth. Alex shares his journey from public accounting to the food service industry, offering insights into the challenges of managing finance in a family-owned, fast-growing restaurant chain. He also discusses the unique dynamics of budgeting, forecasting, and providing advice for aspiring finance leaders. Alex Holt is the CFO of Milo’s Hamburgers, a beloved 23-unit fast-food chain known for its iconic burgers and sweet tea, based in Alabama. With experience as the Executive Vice President of Finance at Capstone Communities and a background in real estate, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge in finance, data visualization, and process improvement. He is passionate about making data useful and has a strong focus on enhancing financial operations. Expect to Learn: How the role of FP&A extends beyond reporting to driving business change. The unique challenges of managing finances in a growing, family-owned restaurant chain. The importance of process improvement and documentation when scaling operations.