Controller

Overview

Department: Finance & AccountingReports To: Director, FinanceLocation: O’Rourke Family EstatePosition Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Controller is responsible for leading O’Rourke Family Vineyard’s accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and financial operations. This position oversees the integrity and accuracy of financial information across all business units, including winemaking and production, vineyards, inventory and barrel storage, bottling, packaging, wholesale distribution, direct-to-consumer sales, tasting rooms, hospitality, and winery retail operations.

The Controller provides timely, accurate, and meaningful financial information to senior management. The role requires strong technical accounting expertise, effective leadership, and an understanding of the unique financial and operational complexities of a large winery.

Compensation and Perks

• Base salary of $80,000-$120,000 + bonus
• Extended health and dental benefits
• Employee discounts across our restaurants and properties.
• Professional development support

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting and Accounting

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes and ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, balance sheet reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Ensure accounting practices comply with applicable accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, accounting policies, and financial reporting procedures.
• Analyze financial results, identify trends and variances, and communicate findings and recommendations to senior management.
• Coordinate year-end financial statements and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors and accounting advisors.

Winery Cost Accounting and Inventory Management

• Oversee cost accounting for grapes, bulk wine, finished goods, bottling, packaging, barrels, and production operations.
• Ensure accurate costing and valuation of wine inventory throughout the production lifecycle, from grape sourcing and fermentation through aging, blending, bottling, storage, and sale.
• Monitor inventory movements, production yields, shrinkage, losses, and inventory adjustments.
• Partner with winemaking, production, procurement, and warehouse teams to establish and maintain accurate product costing and inventory controls.
• Review standard costs, actual production costs, inventory reserves, and gross margins by product, brand, and sales channel.
• Coordinate and oversee physical inventory counts and investigate material discrepancies.
• Support accurate tracking of vineyard costs, grape purchases, harvest costs, and growing-season expenditures.

Internal Controls and Risk Management

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve internal financial controls and accounting procedures.
• Ensure appropriate controls over purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, inventory, cash receipts, and disbursements.
• Monitor financial risks associated with inventory valuation, production losses, credit exposure, foreign currency transactions, and commodity and grape purchasing.
• Oversee compliance with applicable tax, excise, sales tax, and wine industry reporting requirements.
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties, approval authorities, and financial documentation.
• Identify control weaknesses and implement improvements to protect company assets and ensure reliable financial information.

Taxation and Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate corporate income tax, sales tax, excise tax, and other applicable tax filings with internal staff and external advisors.
• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with federal, provincial or state, and local reporting requirements.
• Oversee supporting documentation for tax filings, inventory records, and regulatory audits.
• Maintain compliance with applicable wine production, distribution, and reporting obligations in coordination with operational and compliance personnel.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• CPA designation or equivalent professional accounting qualification preferred or required, depending on organizational needs.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including experience in a Controller or senior accounting leadership role.
• Experience in manufacturing, food and beverage, agriculture, wine production, or another inventory-intensive industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial reporting, cost accounting, inventory valuation, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Experience managing accounting teams and working with external auditors, tax advisors, and financial institutions.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems, accounting software, and advanced spreadsheet and financial reporting tools.
• Experience with complex inventory, work-in-process, production costing, and seasonal cash flow management is an asset.

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