Are you a strategic financial leader ready to guide the future of a family-owned, legacy agricultural enterprise?
Do you possess the ability to be a key advisor to the CEO through managerial accounting and data-driven decisions?
Are you looking for a role where you can oversee the financial health of a diverse Agribusiness including dairy, farming, cattle, commercial trucking, and custom harvesting?
Our clientis a diversified agricultural enterprise committed to innovation, vertical integration, and growth. The operation is headquartered near Grand Rapids, MI and includes a large, progressive dairy, multi-thousand-acre crop operation, cattle feeding, regional milk hauling/trucking company, and custom harvesting enterprises.
This is a career-defining opportunity to serve as the strategic financial architect and partner for a vertically integrated enterprise. This role offers the autonomy to move the organization from historical reporting to forward-looking managerial accounting while guiding the company for continued scale. The CFO will be connected to the land and the people, ensuring they aren't just looking at spreadsheets but understanding the real assets behind the numbers.
The Chief Financial Officer isn't walking into a turnaround; they are being handed the keys to a functional, successful, and well-positioned company with big plans for continued growth.
If you are a seasoned Controller or CFO who can lead and expand upon an already impressive legacy, this could be your next role.
CULTURE:
You are entering ahigh-stakes, high-trust, entrepreneurial environment. The culture will require you to possess the grit and energy to handle the realities of a fast-paced dairy, farming, and trucking company while simultaneously possessing the intellectual agility to build complex financial models for future growth. It is a culture that respects "boots on the ground" reality over corporate theory, but it is seeking a financial partner to help it to continue to scale, professionalize, and transition to the next generation.
THE ROLE:
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The CFO is a high-level leadership role responsible for the financial health, strategy, and administrative operations of all business units. A position that represents a true strategic partnership with the founder-CEO and with the next-generation family leader currently being developed. Unlike a traditional role focused solely on historical reporting, the CFO must champion managerial accounting - establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and implementing systems that reward performance and drive future decisions.
You will manage the company's day to day accounting, cash management, oversee complex credit facilities, and ensure accurate financial reporting across the Dairy, Farm, Cattle, Trucking, and Custom operations. This is a hands-on leadership role based on-site as well as the potential for some remote work from home. You will work directly with ownership to structure financial operations for the company.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Strategic Financial Leadership: Oversee financial activities for all diversified enterprises. Manage the business loan portfolio, borrowing bases, and banking relationships.
- Managerial Accounting: Move beyond simple tax compliance to provide deep financial analysis, focusing on capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations.
- KPI Development: Collaborate with the CEO to develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measurements for company performance across all units.
- Financial Reporting: Prepare consolidated and entity-specific financial reports (income statements, balance sheets, cash flow) in accordance with GAAP.
- Cash & Credit Management: Manage day-to-day cash flow, credit facilities, and banking relationships with a proactive, forward-looking approach.
- Team Leadership: Supervise administrative and accounting staff. The CFO has the authority to hire additional support staff as needed to build a robust financial department.
- Systems Oversight: Maintain and refine the use of QuickBooks and proprietary industry software to ensure data accuracy.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business required. A CPA designation or MBA is preferred but not required if the candidate possesses extensive relevant experience. Experience working in a leadership role for a family-owned business is highly preferred.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of high-level financial accounting and agricultural experience.
- Agricultural Acumen: Strong preference for candidates with backgrounds in Agribusiness, Ag Lending, or the Dairy Industry. Understanding the nuances of livestock, growing crops, and multi-entity books is essential.
- Strategic Mindset: Ability to handle complex negotiations with vendors, customers, and financial partners; quickly transitioning between detailed reporting and high-level strategy.
- Cultural and Locational Fit: Must be comfortable in a high-energy, direct, fast-paced environment. The workplace will be a mixture of work from home and on-site at various locations important to the business.
- Software Proficiency: Microsoft Office, QuickBooks and the ability to learn proprietary software.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
- Salary: $125,000 - $175,000 depending upon experience.
- Performance Bonus: Annual performance bonus target of 10% – 20% based on company profitability
- Retirement: Company match 401(k)
- Paid Time Off & Major Holidays
- Health Insurance: Company provided
- Relocation: Assistance available
KEYWORDS
Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Controller, Managerial Accounting, Dairy, Agribusiness, Agricultural Lending, Borrowing Base, Vertical Integration, Grand Rapids, GAAP, KPI, Financial Strategy, Livestock, Trucking
