ABOUT NORTHWEST WINE ACCOUNTING

Northwest Wine Accounting is a 100% remote, outsourced accounting firm specializing in the wine industry. We provide comprehensive bookkeeping and controllership services tailored to the unique needs of small wineries. Our mission is to serve as a full "outsourced accounting department" for our clients, helping them navigate the complexities of the industry with confidence.

THE ROLE

As a Client Controller, you will work with staff accountants to manage a portfolio of winery clients. This role combines strong technical accounting, client-facing confidence, team leadership, and true operational ownership of a multi-client portfolio.  The Controller is responsible for ensuring client financials are accurate, complete, timely, and useful, while helping the accounting team operate effectively and grow and develop their skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Oversee the work of 2-3 staff accountants on a portfolio of client accounts, ensuring month-end close, financial reporting, and other deliverables are accurate, complete, and delivered on time. 
•  Serve as the senior accounting resource for complex matters, researching issues and providing guidance to both clients and internal team members.   
•  Proactively identify accounting risks, unusual transactions, reporting issues, and process weaknesses and drive them to resolution. 
•  Provide clear feedback to staff accountants, helping to develop their technical judgment, client ownership, and accounting abilities.
•  Own complex wine costing and inventory work.
•  Lead financial review meetings with clients, explain results and variances, answer questions, and help clients understand the financial story behind the numbers. 
•  Coordinate with tax preparers and other outside professionals .
•  Support client onboarding and transitions as needed.
•  Help strengthen and standardize firmwide accounting procedures, review standards, documentation, and internal controls.

QUALIFICATIONS

•  Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in Accounting or closely related field
•  CPA preferred
•  7+ years of progressive accounting experience
•  Strong experience with month-end close, financial statement review, and technical accounting
•  Demonstrated experience reviewing the work of other accountants, providing effective feedback, and developing junior staff 
•  Significant experience working in an outsourced, CAS, public accounting, or other multi-client environment 
•  Strong controller-level financial acumen, including the ability to interpret financial statements, explain variances and trends, and discuss KPIs, budgets, and forecasts with clients. 
•  Ability to handle complex client questions and situations independently
•  Strong judgment, organization, and problem-solving skills
•  Excellent verbal and written communication skills
•  Strong inventory and cost accounting experience; winery, manufacturing, or other inventory-intensive industry experience highly preferred 
•  QuickBooks Online experience highly preferred

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

A successful Client Controller provides strong technical review and leadership across their portfolio. They recognize when something is wrong, solve the issues that require senior judgment, give clear and useful feedback, and help accounting staff become more capable, independent, and consistent. Their value is not in personally doing everything, but in building a team that produces high-quality work reliably.

They also build strong relationships with clients, understand their businesses, ensure the accounting is accurate and complete, and help clients understand what their financial statements are telling them.

Within the first six months, we expect the Controller to understand our accounting standards and client base, earn the trust of both staff and clients, independently oversee a meaningful portfolio, and increasingly become the person we can trust to say: “I’ve got this portfolio.”

OUR TEAM

We’re a fully remote team that believes exceptional client service comes from combining strong technical skills with clear communication, thoughtful processes, and a genuine commitment to helping one another. We value positivity, ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

We work hard but we also believe work should be sustainable. This means flexibility, reasonable hours, and respect for each person’s life outside of work.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

•  Full-time (.8 FTE may be considered)
•  100% remote
•  Flexible schedule, no overtime
•  Generous PTO and paid holidays
•  Annual team retreat
•  Reimbursements for CPE and technology expenses
•  Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA)
•  3% IRA match
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TO APPLY

Please complete the application form located at https://forms.gle/wfydoS1CZ3ugEoTh8