Lead Accounting Associate

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
78216-6903, San Antonio, TX, USA
In-Office
Entry level
Food
There's pride in every Whataburger.
The Role
Manages travel and expense reporting processes by analyzing spending, auditing transactions, preparing leadership reports, supporting audits, resolving system issues, training users, maintaining policies, and implementing process improvements. Partners with departments, vendors, and stakeholders to improve workflows, ensure compliance, and identify cost-saving opportunities. The role is onsite in San Antonio Monday through Thursday, remote-flexible Fridays, with occasional travel and extended hours.
Summary Generated by Built In

Welcome to Whataburger Careers!

Our Flavor — Why Whataburger

Whataburger isn’t just a fast-food burger chain it is where bold leadership starts — and where potential doesn’t just grow, it heats up. Whether you're leading the line or working behind the scenes, this is the place where opportunities stack up, and every day gives you a chance to Make a Difference.

Since 1950, we’ve invested in people who lead with integrity, Serve with Heart, and bring their best flavor to the team. We believe in working together, speaking up, having a little fun, and Winning as One — because great burgers (and great teams) start with the right ingredients. If you're ready — to learn, grow, impact, and Move Forward Boldly — we’ve got your back and your path cooked to perfection.

Your Recipe for Impact — What You’ll Do

As a Lead Accounting Associate, you'll help drive the effectiveness of Whataburger's travel and expense reporting processes by ensuring accurate expense tracking, supporting compliance, and enhancing system performance. You'll serve as a trusted resource for Family Members, vendors, and business partners while identifying opportunities to improve processes and reporting. Through your work, you'll Make a Difference by supporting sound financial decisions, Serve with Heart by delivering exceptional service and guidance, Win as One through collaboration across departments, and Move Forward Boldly by recommending and implementing improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, and accountability.

Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities

As a Lead Accounting Associate, you will:

  • Monitor and analyze travel and expense activity
  • Identify spending trends, risks, and cost-saving opportunities
  • Prepare expense reports and insights for leadership
  • Audit expense transactions for accuracy and policy compliance
  • Support internal and external audit requests
  • Troubleshoot expense system issues and user inquiries
  • Train employees on expense reporting processes and tools
  • Maintain and update expense policy resources
  • Recommend and implement process improvements
  • Partner with departments, vendors, and stakeholders to optimize workflows
  • Research regulatory and industry changes impacting expense management
  • Support special projects and other duties as assigned

The Sauce — Pay & Perks

As a Lead Accounting Associate, you will receive:

  • Competitive Weekly Pay
  • Bonus Program that scales up to 2.5X payout potential based on company results
  • 5 weeks PTO
  • Flex Weeks
  • Paid Corporate Holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave*
  • 401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%
  • Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits*
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits*
  • Opportunities for Career Development and Growth
  • Whataburger Family Foundation - Scholarship Program (dependents eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance
  • Discounted Meals for You and a Guest
  • Wireless Service Discounts
  • Computer & Software Discounts
  • Fitness / Gym Discounts
  • Awards and recognition for all you do
  • Retirement Celebration Program

What You Bring to the Table — Required Experience

As a Lead Accounting Associate, you must have: 

  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience
  • Experience managing multiple administrative responsibilities
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Outlook
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills
  • Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures
  • Strong organization and time management skills
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to build effective working relationships across teams
  • Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment

Extra Toppings — Desired Experience

As a Lead Accounting Associate, we prefer you to have: 

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field
  • Experience with travel and expense management systems
  • Experience auditing expense reports or financial transactions
  • Experience supporting process improvement initiatives
  • Experience creating reports and analyzing financial data
  • Experience developing training materials or conducting user training
  • Knowledge of JD Edwards or similar ERP systems
  • Knowledge of corporate expense policies and compliance requirements

Where & How You’ll Work

This role is based at the San Antonio Home Office, working on‑site Monday through Thursday with remote flexibility on Fridays. In this role, you’ll have strong collaboration with leadership, across cross-functional teams, and with external partners to align capabilities with restaurant realities. The work environment is fast‑paced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Full‑time availability is required, with occasional extended hours based on business needs, along with occasional travel to properties, project sites, and external meetings. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office.

Whataburger is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, age, or other condition or status protected by law. Whataburger participates in the federal E-Verify Program. For more information go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

*Eligibility rules may apply

300 Concord Plaza Dr San Antonio TX 78216-6903

Skills Required

  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience
  • Experience managing multiple administrative responsibilities
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Outlook
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills
  • Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures
  • Strong organization and time management skills
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to build effective working relationships across teams
  • Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field
  • Experience with travel and expense management systems
  • Experience auditing expense reports or financial transactions
  • Experience supporting process improvement initiatives
  • Experience creating reports and analyzing financial data
  • Experience developing training materials or conducting user training
  • Knowledge of JD Edwards or similar ERP systems
  • Knowledge of corporate expense policies and compliance requirements
  • Residence within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office
  • Full-time availability

Whataburger Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Whataburger and has not been reviewed or approved by Whataburger.

  • Healthcare Strength Healthcare coverage is positioned as robust, with multiple medical options, dental and vision, telehealth access, and added mental-health and chronic-condition programs. The package also includes disability options and an Employee Assistance Program with counseling support.
  • Retirement Support Retirement support includes access to a 401(k) with an employer match and potential profit-sharing, with eligibility tied to service requirements. This creates a tangible long-term savings component beyond hourly wages.
  • Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards Career upside is emphasized through performance incentives and a management track that can reach materially higher total compensation, including six-figure potential at the Operating Partner level. Scholarships, education assistance, and prize-based programs add non-wage recognition tied to participation and development.

Whataburger Insights

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The Company
HQ: San Antonio, Texas
23,707 Employees
Year Founded: 1950

What We Do

On Aug. 8, 1950, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson opened up the world’s first Whataburger on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. He had a simple goal: to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold and so good that after one bite customers would say, “What a burger!” He succeeded on both counts and turned that one little burger stand into a legend loved throughout Texas and the South. Today, each and every Whataburger is made to order, right when it’s ordered. And they’re still made with 100 percent pure, never-frozen beef and served on a big toasted five-inch bun with all “the extras” to suit your taste. Grilled jalapeños, extra bacon, three slices of cheese, no tomatoes, extra pickles? No problem. Your Whataburger will be made just like you like it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whataburger’s following has grown exponentially in its more than 75-year history, thanks to a number of features, including its famous burgers and growing list of menu items, its iconic orange-and-white-striped restaurants and its famous Fancy Ketchup. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. It’s a place that feels like home to more than 51,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. It’s a brand built on pride, care and love. It’s a place people count on in their communities. It’s a place where goodness lives. So now with more than 1,100 Whataburger restaurants across 16 states stretching from Las Vegas to the Carolinas, road-trippers and hometown folks alike continue gathering under the big orange-and-white roofs for fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly service.

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