Job Description
Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Controller
DEPARTMENT: Accounting
LOCATION: La Quinta, CA
REPORTS TO: CFO
TRAVEL: Yes
FLSA: Exempt
SALARY: $150K (DOE)
WORK SCHEDULE: Must work a minimum of 40 hours per week; schedule to be determined by Supervisor.
Role Overview:
Reporting directly to the CFO and collaborating closely with the VP of Finance, the Controller will oversee and continuously improve the financial infrastructure of a $400M+ vertically integrated produce company. With the oversight of a 13-person accounting team, this role is responsible for ensuring the company's financial operations are accurate, compliant, and aligned with our rapid growth trajectory. The ideal candidate has national public accounting experience and brings expertise in agriculture, food production, or manufacturing accounting, strong leadership skills, and a forward-thinking, risk-based approach to process improvement. A successful hire will not only optimize operations today but proactively build the accounting process foundation for the company’s next phase of growth.
Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
Purpose
As Controller, you will directly shape the backbone of our company’s accounting operations in a mission-critical role that supports the farming, packing, harvest, sales and administration groups. This is an opportunity to assist the organization in scaling the accounting group to better support the business.
Growth
This is not a maintenance role. The company has experienced significant growth in recent years and is investing heavily in time and resources to support its next leap forward. You’ll assess teams, define standards, and support cross-functional reporting projects led by the VP of Finance.
Motivators
Ideal for a builder-leader motivated by creating structure, overcoming challenges, and creating visible impact. You’ll have executive access and freedom identify and recommend transformative processes to replace legacy systems and build a more efficient accounting function.
Major Performance Objectives
• Examine the Accounting Department Structure
Within the first 120 days, conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current accounting teams. Deliver a proposal to optimize roles, improve internal controls, and uplevel staff skills.
• Lead the Enhancement of Financial Reporting & Data Accuracy
By month 6, work with the VP of Finance to launch an upgraded internal reporting framework that increases speed and accuracy of margin analysis, cost tracking, and reporting. Collaborate with the VP of Finance to capture and deliver data needed to support executive-level dashboards and key performance metrics.
• Improve Close and Compliance Processes
Within the first 90 days, reduce the financial close cycle to no more than 7 business days and ensure compliance across all accounting practices. Identify manual choke points, gaps, or accounting risks and work with the Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager to implement corrective actions or automation workflows where possible. Work with the GRC Manager to document processes.
• Support Strategic Planning & Forecasting Processes
By the end of the first full year, implement a revised planning calendar and forecast process in coordination with the VP of Finance. Improve visibility into seasonal cash flow needs, inventory valuation, and cost allocations tied to crop and SKU-level performance.
• Build Bench Strength and Develop High-Performing Teams
Over the first year, develop a talent plan for the accounting team, including skills need assessment, leadership training, and succession planning. Establish metrics for performance, development, and engagement.
Critical Subtasks
• Complete a 360-Degree Accounting Health Audit
Within the first 60 days, review chart of accounts, internal controls, bank reconciliations, fixed asset processes, and audit readiness. Flag any risk areas and report findings to the CFO.
• Assess and Optimize Famous ERP Configuration and Usage
Within the first 180 days, conduct a diagnostic of how Famous ERP is being used in accounting. Identify configuration inefficiencies, custom workarounds, and gaps in data visibility or user adoption. Partner with ERP Systems & Process Improvement Manager to prioritize most impactful projects.
• Standardized Cost Accounting for Farming Operations
Evaluate, improve and document clear methodologies for crop-level cost allocations across all farming districts. Work with operations managers to develop improved inventory control and reporting processes with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for operations personnel. Together with the VP of Finance, work to integrate reporting across finance, operations, and field production teams.
• Implement Management Reporting Templates for the C-Suite
Build and roll out templates for monthly P&L, variance reporting, and cash flow forecasting to be delivered consistently by the 7th business day of each month.
• Support the creation of KPI Dashboards by Business Line
Provide data to the VP of Finance to allow for real-time or weekly updates on margins, cost per acre/box, inventory turnover, and production vs. sales metrics. Coordinate inputs across departments.
• Evaluate Internal Controls and Recommend Enhancements
Work with the Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager to map all critical controls and identify weaknesses. Propose improvements related to approvals, vendor payments, and account reconciliations — with an eye on scalability.
• Continuously Evaluate Existing Tools and Data Collection Techniques
Within the first 180 days, take ownership of identifying opportunities for improved processes to support or enhance the core responsibilities of this role. This includes working with the ERP Systems & Process Improvement Manager to evaluate ERP plugins, workflow automation opportunities, data collection processes, or decision-support models to reduce cycle time and improve reporting accuracy.
Culture and Situation Fit
This role sits at the center of a scrappy, fast-moving organization that values action, resilience, and accountability. We operate with an entrepreneurial mindset where "figure it out" is part of the daily vocabulary, and leaders are expected to contribute solutions, not just raise problems. The successful Controller will need to model our core values: be accountable for results, to coach and be coachable in the face of feedback, solution-oriented under pressure, and committed to getting better every day. Clear, direct communication is essential across farming operations, sales, finance, and the C-suite. This isn’t the place for passive observers. It’s a company built for people who work hard, push through ambiguity, and take pride in building something lasting from the ground up.
Work Environment
The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level and working conditions are similar to those for an administrative office. The employee is occasionally exposed to hot, cold, wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, Precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme cold or heat
Prime Time International is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Company DescriptionPrime Time International is a grower, packer, shipper and marketer of fresh produce.
Company Description
Prime Time International is a grower, packer, shipper and marketer of fresh produce.