• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s degree or CPA a plus)
• Minimum 5+ years progressive financial leadership experience, including CFO or equivalent role
• Financial Acumen and Expertise:
• A deep understanding of accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting.
• Expertise in managing both the balance sheet and cash flow for large, asset-heavy operations like yours.
• Strategic Thinking:
• Ability to align financial strategies with the company’s long-term vision and goals.
• Experience in cost management, capital allocation, and revenue optimization in agriculture and related industries.
• Industry Knowledge:
• Experience in the agriculture or dairy sectors is a huge advantage, as these industries have unique financial cycles and challenges.
• Understanding of commodity markets, pricing strategies, and risk management.
• Leadership and Communication Skills:
• Ability to lead finance teams and collaborate effectively with other departments, such as crop production and dairy management.
• Strong communication skills to explain complex financial data in a way that aids decision-making at the executive level.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
• Proficiency in using data analytics and financial software to improve forecasting, cost analysis, and performance tracking.
• Ability to turn financial data into actionable insights for operational improvements.
• Risk Management and Compliance:
• Expertise in identifying financial risks, including market volatility, credit risk, and operational risks.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, tax optimization, and compliance specific to agriculture and dairy businesses.
• Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills:
• Experience navigating economic downturns or other industry-specific challenges like fluctuating commodity prices, labor shortages, or environmental regulations.
• A track record of finding innovative solutions to optimize costs and improve profitability.
• Growth Mindset and Investment Experience:
• Ability to evaluate opportunities for growth, whether through expanding operations, mergers and acquisitions, or new technology investments.

• Soft Skills and Cultural Fit (Mandatory)

  • Courage: Willing to have difficult conversations respectfully but firmly — even with ownership.
  • Financial Integrity: Maintains best practices even under pressure
  • Communication: Hyper-communicative across teams, owners, and Board.
  • Tact: Ability to navigate sensitive ownership and generational leadership dynamics.
  • Patience: Steadiness and resilience through slow cultural change.
  • Assertiveness: Operates as a real check and balance
  • Critical Thinking: Sufficient discovery and analysis before recommending actions.
  • Core Values Alignment: Integrity, Respect, Grit, Stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Capital Formation

• Design and execute innovative financing strategies: bank syndications, asset-backed lending, monetized installment sales, strategic partnerships, private equity alternatives. Ect.
• Build and manage relationships with lenders, investors, and strategic partners to support growth.
• Evaluate mergers, acquisitions, expansions, and investment opportunities through rigorous financial analysis.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Lead the development of and reconciliation for the annual business plan and budget. 5-year forecasts that aligned to corporate strategy.
• Build financial models, cost analyses, and operational KPIs to support decision-making.
• Deliver actionable insights on margin improvement, breakeven thresholds, and operational efficiencies.

Operational Finance and Controls

• Oversee all accounting functions through the Controller and bookkeeper.
• Accountable for the development, motivation and compensation of the finance team
• Implement and continuously improve financial systems for real-time operational visibility.
• Monitor cash flow daily and optimize working capital management.
• Ensure full compliance with GAAP, tax regulations, and lender covenants.

Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and manage financial, operational, and regulatory risks.
• Lead insurance coverage evaluations, disaster recovery planning, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Proactively manage commodity price volatility, interest rate exposure, and credit risk.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Partner with COO–Farm on crop budgeting, equipment purchasing, and field operations financials.
• Partner with COO–Dairy on feed cost strategies, milk pricing, herd expansion funding, and facility CapEx.
• Collaborate with HR Director on labor cost planning, housing budgets, and compliance exposure.