Controller - Farming

GHJ Search and Staffing; Shafter (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Low-cost healthcare options

3 weeks PTO

401(k) with 4% company match

Cell phone reimbursement

Additional company-sponsored benefits

Job summary

GHJ Search & Staffing is seeking an experienced Controller to lead accounting and financial operations for a large agricultural organization in California. The role combines hands-on technical accounting with strategic leadership, analytics, and cross‑functional partnership to improve financial visibility and decision support.

The ideal candidate will oversee crop cost accounting, inventory management, and multi‑entity reporting, while strengthening internal controls and driving efficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 5+ years of related accounting or finance experience in agriculture, manufacturing, or inventory-intensive environments.
• Cost accounting experience with cost accumulation, allocations, and forecasting.
• Inventory accounting experience with reconciliations, valuation, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of operational accounting and translating financial data into insights.
• Experience leading and mentoring accounting professionals.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and reporting.
• Experience with ERP systems and creating financial/operational reports.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Exposure to data visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the farm accounting team across a multi-entity environment.
• Oversee crop and farm cost accounting, including cost accumulation, allocations, standard rates, raw product entries, inventory tracking, and planting/listing activities.
• Oversee inventory accounting and reconciliations, ensuring accurate tracking, valuation, and financial reporting.
• Monitor and analyze financial information related to harvesting and packout operations to ensure accurate cost allocations.
• Analyze financial and operational results, identify trends, explain variances, and forecast costs.
• Partner with operations and finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and strategic decision support.
• Develop and utilize ERP reports, data queries, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve visibility.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting processes, and procedures while increasing efficiency.
• Participate in budgeting and planning for farming operations.
• Ensure GAAP compliance and support financial audits.
• Lead special projects focused on improving reporting, transparency, and processes.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and staff development.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory accounting

Financial analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Leadership

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

GHJ Search & Staffing is working with a well-established, large-scale agricultural organization who is seeking an experienced Controller to lead accounting and financial operations supporting its farming business.

This is a key leadership position for an accounting professional who understands the complexities of cost accounting, inventory tracking, and operational finance within agriculture, manufacturing, or another inventory-intensive environment.

The Controller will oversee the farming accounting function while partnering closely with finance and operational leadership to improve financial visibility, analyze operating performance, strengthen controls, and provide meaningful information to support business decisions.

This opportunity is ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the operations and can balance hands‑on technical accounting expertise with leadership, analytics, and strategic partnership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the farm accounting team, ensuring timely and accurate accounting and financial reporting across a multi-entity environment.
• Oversee crop and farm cost accounting, including cost accumulation, allocations, standard rates, raw product entries, inventory tracking, and planting/listing activities.
• Oversee and review inventory accounting and reconciliations, ensuring accurate tracking, valuation, balance sheet reporting, and financial integrity.
• Monitor and analyze financial information related to harvesting and packout operations to ensure accurate cost allocations.
• Analyze financial and operational results, identify trends, explain variances, and forecast costs.
• Partner with operations and finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and strategic decision support.
• Develop and utilize ERP reports, data queries, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve operational and financial visibility.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting processes, and procedures while identifying opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Participate in budgeting and planning for farming operations.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies and support financial audits.
• Lead special projects focused on improving financial reporting, operational transparency, and accounting processes.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and staff development.

What They're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 5+ years of directly related accounting or finance experience within agriculture, manufacturing, or another inventory-intensive environment.
• Cost accounting experience is required, including cost accumulation, allocations, and cost forecasting.
• Inventory accounting and tracking experience is required, including reconciliations, valuation, tracking, and related financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of operational accounting and the ability to translate financial information into actionable business insights.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing accounting professionals.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial reporting capabilities.
• Experience working with ERP systems and developing reports or data queries for financial and operational analysis.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Exposure to data visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI or Tableau is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, and accounting best practices.
• Excellent communication, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to succeed in a fast‑paced, changing, operationally focused environment.
• Ability to work fully onsite in Shafter, CA and travel to regional facilities as needed.

$165,000 - $180,000 a year

The benefits package includes

• Low-cost healthcare options
• 3 weeks of PTO
• 401(k) with 4% company match
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Additional company-sponsored benefits

#GHJSS

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.