Controller

About the role

GHJ Search & Staffing is partnering with a successful, privately held company in the agriculture and organic produce industry to identify a hands-on Controller for its Bakersfield headquarters.

Reporting directly to the CFO, the Controller will lead a four-person accounting team and take ownership of the company's core accounting operations, financial reporting, controls, and close processes.

This is not a purely oversight-focused Controller position. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating at both the leadership and transactional levels-developing the accounting team while personally getting into journal entries, reconciliations, general ledger activity, financial reporting, and accounting issues when needed.

The opportunity is particularly well suited for a Controller or experienced Accounting Manager who enjoys working in a smaller, entrepreneurial environment and wants significant visibility and the opportunity to expand their responsibilities over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting function and maintain ownership of accurate and timely month-end and year-end close.
• Remain actively involved in journal entries, account reconciliations, general ledger activity, and resolution of accounting discrepancies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a four-person AP/AR accounting team.
• Oversee grower accounting, settlements, and reporting, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
• Prepare and review financial statements, budgets, forecasts, and variance analyses.
• Partner closely with the CFO on cash flow forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, analysis, and business decision support.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable financial requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally with sales, operations, and grower relations to understand how operational activity flows through the financial statements.
• Identify and implement accounting process, systems, reporting, and workflow improvements.
• Leverage technology and automation to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of the accounting function.
• Maintain effective financial reporting and accounting workflows within the company's ERP environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; Accounting preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience with significant hands-on general ledger and close responsibility.
• Accounting management, Assistant Controller, Controller, or comparable leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting staff.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, accrual accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong ERP/accounting systems experience.
• Agriculture, produce, food production/distribution, or another inventory-based industry background strongly preferred.
• Experience with grower accounting, settlements, farming operations, or agricultural accounting is highly desirable.
• Famous ERP experience is a plus.

What They're Looking For

• The ideal Controller combines strong technical accounting skills with a hands-on mentality. You enjoy leading people but don't believe a Controller title means stepping away from the accounting itself.
• You are someone who will dig into an unusual balance, prepare or review a journal entry, help resolve a reconciliation issue, improve a process, and work alongside the team when necessary.
• This is a highly visible position with direct access to the CFO and executive leadership and the opportunity to assume greater responsibility as the organization evolves.
• #GHJSS #LI-MO1