Job Details

Status:  Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to:  Director of Operations

Supervisory:  Yes

Primary Office:  Aptos Office or Hybrid

Salary:  $110,000 - 120,000, commensurate with experience

Job Summary

Join California FarmLink! As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we invest in the prosperity and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and fishers who have limited access to financial resources. Our programs center communities of color, and promote just and resilient economies and natural resource conservation. We offer fair financing, business education, and support for owning or managing agricultural land.

Our Lending Program provides access to credit. Our three Land and Business programs provide technical assistance and business education. The Business and Innovations program provides farmers, ranchers and fishers with technical assistance and pilots new programs to further FarmLink`s mission.

We are seeking an experienced Controller to join our Finance Team.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Controller will have primary responsibility over the day to day operations of a finance team of 3-4 people. This role requires extensive cross-department collaboration to be successful. As the lead of the finance function, the Controller sets the tone for transparency and clarity, modeling best practices for effective and efficient stewardship of Foundation funds.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages team in setting and achieving goals around monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes and deliverables
• Implement consistent accounting policies, practices, and procedures across all programs using best practices
• Develop and enforce internal controls to maximize transparency, clarity, and protection of organizational assets
• Create an environment of trust and productivity within the Finance team that transcends across the organization in a collaborative manner
• Lead the annual budgeting process; support the creation of budgets, variance analysis, and forecast with continuous process improvements and communication to respond to requests
• Provide or facilitate training of staff in financial management concepts across the organization
• Owns the annual audit and tax return filing; manages timeline and deliverables to completion
• Provides support to development in grant/contract budget creation, intake, and reporting. Liaison with Development and Operations to guide the transition from application to activation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor`s Degree in accounting, finance or a related field
• 5-8 years of general accounting experience, not for profit experience strongly preferred
• 3-4 year of demonstrated experience managing an accounting/ finance team

Desired Qualifications

• Strong systems skills with: Quickbooks, Google Suite, and MicroSoft applications
• Curious and inquisitive
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Demonstrates patience, empathy, tenacity and high quality work ethic
• Analytical with the ability to manage complex data sets
• Creative thinker, with a flexible approach to solving problems
• Experience with CDFIs a plus

California FarmLink offers a generous benefits plan, including health insurance after 30-60 days (depending on start date), employer contribution to 403b retirement plan, paid vacation, and a family-friendly and flexible work environment. California FarmLink maintains a drug-free workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We seek candidates that represent the diversity of the communities we serve, and strongly encourage you to apply.

How to Apply

Please use subject line “Controller” to email a thoughtful cover letter explaining your interest in the position and organization, along with your resume to: humanresources@cafarmlink.org. No phone calls please.

For more info, and to learn about California FarmLink`s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: https://www.californiafarmlink.org/about-us/our-values#dei-principles

Who We Are

The California FarmLink invests in the prosperity and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and fishers who have limited access to financial resources. FarmLink envisions a healthy food system where farmers and ranchers have opportunities to build wealth and conserve natural resources. We strive for equitable access to opportunity, resilient working landscapes, fairness and accountability, and learning from small farmers and ranchers from all walks of life. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), FarmLink has established one of the nation`s most robust economic engines to support farmers of color and invest in the success of small farms, ranches, and fishing businesses in California.

FarmLink is a growing, fast-paced organization made up of energetic professionals dedicated to making change in their communities. We strive to foster a collaborative, team-oriented workplace that supports innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to small business development. FarmLink seeks people inspired by a passion for issues of sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and social equity in California agriculture.

We believe that in order to advance a vision for a more inclusive, equitable food and farming system, we must likewise strive for a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment that is supportive, transparent, and positive. We value curiosity, open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning from each other and the clients we serve. Each new addition to our team is a valued opportunity to bring new perspectives and approaches to meeting our mission, and we intentionally seek professionals with diverse life experiences that bring new points of view to help improve our services to the community. All Board and staff members abide by and practice our Values and DEI Principles in their daily work.