Wawona Packing Co was founded in 1945 and is a third generation grower, packer, shipper of tree fruit products. More specifically, fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, pluots, and apricots. Wawona is an industry leader in both volume and quality with nationally recognized brand equity in the produce industry. The company is the largest producer of organic tree fruit in the world and continues to lead the industry in market share.
As SVP of finance and CFO, this position reports directly to the president and CEO of Wawona Packing, and directly manages department heads of accounting, IT, purchasing, and administration personnel.
Reporting to and partnering with the president, the CFO will set Wawona’s financial policy and direction while also being an active participant in, and driver of, the organizations overall strategy.
In addition, the CFO designs and coordinates a wide variety of accounting & statistical data reports, leads all financial administration, business and tax planning, budgeting, insurance and risk management, and monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.
Strategy:
- Partner with the president on all operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations to the president based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.
- Participate, with Director of Operations, in the ongoing strategic planning process identifying & implementing process controls.
- Implement and oversee budgeting, across departments, to monitor progress and present operational metrics that can improve efficiencies.
- Oversee the preparation and approval of all financial reporting materials and metrics; prepare and communicate monthly, quarterly, and yearly financial statements.
- Manage cash flow and forecasting; direct all financial, project based, and departmental accounting.
- Ensure that accounting team maintains record systems in accordance with GAAP, and monitor the use of all funds.
- Prepare annual budget; analysis of operating results and a comparison to those results of the prior year and budgeted.
- Cash flow management including the investment of excess cash and repayment of debt, managing insurance captives, and exploring tax planning strategies.
- Overseeing existing and new banking relations and corresponding line of credit to support the organizations operating and growth strategy.
- Oversee preparation of monthly financial statements, including analysis and reconciliation of all key balance sheet and income statement accounts.
- Coordinate any and all audit activities, to include Captives, 401K, IRS.
- Review all formal finance and IT related procedures, processes, and administration, recommending improvements to the system in place and managing the system going forward.
- Proactively monitors and researches financials impacts; input costs, gross margin, and operating expenses. Providing explanations and business solutions to help mitigate financial risks and provide transparency and information needed for making business decisions.
- Finance lead on formal RFP’s. Provides analysis and performance to ensure management has accurate information to make decisions.
- Thinks creatively and abstractly to develop alternative ideas to drive performance. Serves as a change agent and helps others. Learn, adapt to, and follow new processes. Is disciplined with business and financial processes, yet flexible in responding to changing customer demands. Balances both in the best interest of the company,
- Provides analysis to related month-end results in a methodology that is relevant and consistent with management expectations.
- Participates in financial and operational projects as apparent or assigned. Partners with others to pursue specific opportunities, solve business problems, and create better efficiencies.
Team Management:
- Oversee, develop, and manage direct staff, to include managers in finance and accounting, Director of Purchasing, Director of Human Resources, and Director of IT.
- Engage and work closely with other members of Senior Management team, to include, Operations, Food Safety, Field Department, and Sales and Marketing.
Desired Skills & Experience:
- A minimum of a BS/BA in finance/accounting or related fields from an accredited university ; a MBA a plus, CPA preferred.
- The CFO will be a seasoned leader with a minimum of 10 years of broad financial experience, will ideally have experience managing finance (Accounting, budgeting, control and reporting), banking relations, and experience gathering and evaluating financial information and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership for a complex agriculture or food related business.
- The ideal candidate will have a degree in Finance or Accounting and a CPA with 10 years’ experience in a senior lead finance or accounting position, preferably in the food or agricultural industry with cross over operations management.
