Corporate Controller Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview

Our client, a well-established and growing organization within the agriculture industry, is seeking an experienced Corporate Controller to lead its accounting operations and financial reporting functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Corporate Controller will serve as a key member of the finance leadership team and will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and effectiveness of the company's accounting processes.

This position will oversee the day-to-day accounting function while partnering closely with the CFO and senior leadership on financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, internal controls, and strategic initiatives. The Corporate Controller will also lead and develop the accounting team and will have the opportunity to evaluate existing processes, implement improvements, and enhance the overall efficiency and scalability of the finance organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting leader who possesses strong technical accounting knowledge while also understanding the operational side of the business. This individual should be comfortable working in a dynamic environment, managing competing priorities, and providing leadership with accurate and meaningful financial information to support business decisions.

Responsibilities of the Corporate Controller

• Oversee the company's accounting operations, including general ledger, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, cash management, and related accounting functions.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring financial reporting is completed accurately and within established timelines.
• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP, including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and supporting schedules.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure appropriate reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and supporting documentation are completed and reviewed.
• Partner with the CFO and senior management in the development of annual budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans.
• Provide financial analysis, reporting, and recommendations to executive leadership to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Monitor company performance against budgets and forecasts, analyze significant variances, and communicate findings and recommendations to leadership.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning to support ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain effective internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures to safeguard company assets and ensure the accuracy of financial information.
• Evaluate current accounting processes and systems and identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, reporting capabilities, controls, and scalability.
• Coordinate annual audits and serve as a primary point of contact for external auditors, tax professionals, banking partners, and other financial service providers.
• Support tax compliance, regulatory reporting, and other financial requirements in partnership with internal and external resources.
• Partner cross-functionally with operational leaders to improve financial visibility, reporting, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team while establishing clear expectations, accountability, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Support the CFO with special projects, financial initiatives, and other strategic priorities as the organization continues to grow.

Qualifications of the Corporate Controller

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership, managerial, or supervisory capacity.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing month-end and year-end close processes, general ledger accounting, financial statement preparation, and account reconciliations.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial analysis.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and successfully implement more efficient accounting practices.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing and managing accounting or finance professionals.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with ERP and accounting systems.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate financial information to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and build effective relationships with senior leadership and operational teams.
• Agriculture, food production, manufacturing, or other operationally complex industry experience is highly preferred.
• CPA designation or CPA eligibility is preferred but not required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Corporate Controller is an experienced, hands-on accounting leader who can balance strong technical accounting capabilities with a practical understanding of business operations. This individual will be comfortable managing the details of the accounting function while maintaining a broader view of the organization's financial performance.

The successful candidate will bring a continuous-improvement mindset and will be motivated by the opportunity to evaluate existing processes, strengthen controls, improve reporting, and develop a high-performing accounting team. This is an excellent opportunity for an established accounting professional who wants to join a stable, family-oriented agriculture organization and make a visible impact on the company's continued growth.