Controller, Finance & Banking, Accounting Manager

Base pay range

$/yr - $/yr

The Controller will be joining an ambitious winery at a pivotal moment in its growth journey. Backed by a highly successful team with deep roots in the hospitality industry, the winery is investing heavily in upgrading its facilities, elevating wine quality, and transforming itself into a premier destination winery offering exceptional hospitality and entertainment experiences.

This role goes beyond traditional accounting support. It offers the chance to help shape the financial backbone of a business that is operating with a startup mindset and ambitious growth trajectory. The Controller will play a key role in ensuring accuracy, compliance, and financial insight while collaborating closely with the head office accounting team. This is a full-time, onsite position at the winery in San Martin, CA, and presents an exciting opportunity for a motivated professional who wants to grow with a dynamic, evolving organization.

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Perform and oversee all hands‑on accounting functions including general ledger entries, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll coordination, fixed assets, inventory accounting, and cost accounting.
• Prepare, review, and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Personally manage month‑end and year‑end close processes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Maintain, document, and continuously improve internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure financial integrity.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process for the winery.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and provide variance analysis and recommendations.
• Develop financial models and analyses to support operational and strategic initiatives.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including California employment and wage‑and‑hour laws as they relate to payroll and financial reporting.
• Oversee sales and use tax, excise tax, and alcohol industry‑specific compliance and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate audits, reviews, and tax filings with external auditors and advisors.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures.

Inventory & Cost Management

• Oversee winery inventory accounting including bulk wine, bottled wine, dry goods, and supplies.
• Ensure accurate costing of production, including labor, materials, and overhead.
• Partner with operations to improve cost controls, inventory accuracy, and margin performance.
• Direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of accounting staff, including assigning work, setting priorities, providing training, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Recommend hiring, promotion, disciplinary action, and termination decisions for accounting personnel, or provide input that is given particular weight.
• Establish department goals, workflows, and procedures consistent with company objectives.
• Serve as a key financial advisor to executive leadership, exercising independent judgment on financial, operational, and compliance‑related matters.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with operations, sales, HR, and executive leadership to support strategic initiatives and continuous improvement.
• Support due diligence, system implementations, and process improvements as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3–5 years in a leadership or controller‑level role.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP; familiarity with winery‑specific cost accounting (production, COGS, inventory) is a plus.
• Previous winery experience strongly preferred, including experience with wine production accounting, inventory and bulk wine tracking, excise tax reporting, and alcohol industry regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in Quick Books Enterprise required.
• Advanced Excel skills; exposure to ERP/accounting systems a plus.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to work…