Multi-Brand Winery Controller / CFO

Location: Healdsburg, CA
Reports To: Owner & Managing Partner
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary:
We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Winery Controller to lead the financial operations of our multi-brand winery and provide the financial insight needed to support a growing wine business. The Controller will oversee accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, inventory accounting, compliance, and internal controls across the winery. This role requires someone who understands that winery accounting is uniquely complex, with significant inventory, production costs, vineyard and grape contracts, bulk wine, finished goods, excise taxes, distribution, and long production cycles. The ideal candidate is a hands-on financial leader who can maintain rigorous accounting standards while partnering closely with owner, managing partner, operations, winemaking, sales, and other departments to improve profitability and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:
Accounting & Financial Reporting-
Lead the day-to-day accounting and manage Bookkeeper, including AP, AR, general ledger, payroll, and month-end close.
Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
Maintain a robust chart of accounts and accounting procedures.
Ensure timely account reconciliations and investigate variances and unusual transactions.
Establish and maintain strong internal controls and accounting policies.
Coordinate annual financial statement reviews, audits, and tax-related activities with external advisors.

Cash Management & Working Capital-
Manage daily and weekly cash flow forecasting.
Help optimize working capital given the winery's long production and inventory cycles.
Oversee banking relationships, cash controls, and treasury activities.
Provide ownership and management with clear visibility into liquidity and future cash requirements.
Oversee and manage financial accountability protocols across various business units.

Winery & Inventory Accounting-
Track and analyze wine production costs from grape acquisition through bottling and finished goods.
Maintain accurate costing for wine production and inventory valuation.
Partner with the winemaking and operations teams to understand production variances and cost drivers.
Monitor inventory aging, write-downs, spoilage, breakage, and obsolete inventory.

Financial Planning & Analysis-
Work closely with the Owner and Managing Partner on annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
Work closely with the Owner and Managing Partner to analyze actual results versus budget and provide meaningful explanations and recommendations.
Provide financial analysis to support pricing, production, purchasing, capital expenditures, and strategic decisions.
Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency.

Compliance & Tax-
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial requirements.
Oversee reporting and accounting related to wine industry regulatory requirements, including excise tax and related filings.
Coordinate with outside CPA, tax, legal, and regulatory advisors.
Maintain accurate records and documentation for audits and regulatory reviews.

Leadership & Business Partnership-
Lead, develop, and manage accounting and finance personnel as the organization grows.
Serve as a trusted financial partner to Ownership and Managing Partner.
Bring financial discipline to strategic decisions without losing sight of the creative and operational realities of the wine business.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
5+ years of wine industry accounting/finance experience at Controller-level responsibility.
Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
Demonstrated experience with inventory and cost accounting.
Experience managing month-end and year-end close processes.
Strong experience with Quickbooks, Excel/Google Sheets, & CRM software.
Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial analysis.
Strong understanding of internal controls and financial processes.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to communicate financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is hands-on, commercially minded, and highly accountable. They are comfortable moving between detailed accounting work and high-level financial strategy.
They understand that the Controller is not simply responsible for producing accurate financial statements—the role is to help management understand where the business makes money, where cash is tied up, what is driving costs, what controls need to be in place, and what decisions will improve the company's long-term performance.
The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic winery environment where priorities can change quickly and where collaboration across finance, production, sales, and operations is essential.

Compensation & Benefits:
Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications, expected range $125-175k per year.
Health, dental, and vision benefits.
Paid time off and holidays.
Opportunity to play a key role in the growth and development of an independent winery.

Equal Opportunity:
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.