Director of Finance / Controller
Location: Irvine, CA
Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing / Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site
Compensation: $150,000$180,000 Base Salary
The Opportunity
We are conducting a confidential search for a
Director of Finance / Controller to join a growing organization in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership opportunity for a finance professional who thrives at the intersection of accounting, manufacturing operations, and business strategy.
The ideal candidate will bring strong manufacturing cost accounting expertise, a deep understanding of inventory and product costing, and the ability to build scalable financial processes that support business growth.
Reporting directly to executive leadership, this individual will play a critical role in strengthening financial operations, improving cost visibility, and driving profitability through meaningful financial insights.
We are looking for someone who can operate strategically while remaining closely involved in the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the business.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Accounting Operations
Lead accounting operations, including month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
Oversee financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and general accounting activities in accordance with GAAP.
Develop meaningful financial reports, dashboards, and KPIs to support business decisions.
Partner closely with executive leadership and Operations to identify opportunities to improve profitability and financial performance.
Establish financial policies, procedures, and controls to support a growing organization.
Manufacturing Cost Accounting & Inventory
Oversee manufacturing cost accounting, including COGS, standard costing, inventory valuation, and production variances.
Analyze material, labor, and overhead costs to identify opportunities for improved operational efficiency and margins.
Maintain accurate product costing, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and manufacturing cost standards.
Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory controls, reporting accuracy, and manufacturing profitability.
Evaluate inventory discrepancies, write-offs, and operational variances while implementing corrective processes.
Process Improvement & Business Partnership
Identify and implement improvements to financial systems, reporting processes, and accounting workflows.
Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve accuracy, accountability, and efficiency.
Leverage ERP and financial systems to improve reporting capabilities and operational visibility.
Collaborate across departments to support financial planning, cost optimization, and business initiatives.
Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations for leadership.
Qualifications
Required:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including significant manufacturing accounting exposure.
Strong expertise in manufacturing cost accounting, COGS, standard costing, inventory management, and financial reporting.
Solid understanding of GAAP, financial controls, budgeting, and forecasting.
Experience working with ERP and accounting systems.
Proven ability to partner with manufacturing and operations leadership to improve financial performance.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Comfortable working in a hands-on capacity within a dynamic, growing organization.
Preferred:
Experience within food and beverage manufacturing or consumer-packaged goods (CPG).
Previous experience as a Controller, Plant Controller, Finance Manager, or Director of Finance.
Understanding of grocery, retail, or distributor-based business models.
Experience with trade promotions, rebates, product-level profitability, and manufacturing margin analysis.
Experience establishing accounting processes, improving internal controls, and optimizing ERP systems.
CPA designation.
What Makes This Opportunity Compelling?
High-Impact Leadership Role: Work directly with executive leadership and influence financial and operational decision-making.
Opportunity to Build: Help strengthen financial infrastructure, improve processes, and establish scalable accounting practices.
Operational Influence: Play a meaningful role in improving manufacturing performance, product costing, and profitability.
Growth Environment: Join an organization where your expertise can directly support continued business development and operational improvement.
Broad Scope: Combine strategic financial leadership with hands-on accounting and operational responsibilities.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive base salary
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with company matching
Life insurance
Paid time off
Interested?
If you're a hands-on finance leader with strong manufacturing cost accounting expertise who enjoys building processes, partnering with Operations, and making a measurable impact, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect.
Apply today to learn more about this confidential leadership opportunity.