Controller

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.