Who is Fall Creek?

We're a US-based company with a keen focus on blueberry genetics, plants, and grower support delivered to the world's premier blueberry growers. From our humble beginnings in Lowell, Oregon more than 40 years ago, we now also have nursery operations in Mexico, Peru, Chile, Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Australia, and China. Additionally, we have built a global team of the finest breeders, researchers, propagators and nursery professionals, grower support technicians, sales and customer service experts and more. We're a deeply-planted link in a global chain, ready to serve our customers and our industry throughout North, Central, and South America, Greater Europe, Asia, and Africa. Our mission is to serve the growers and to support the blueberry industry, helping to ensure growers maximize success through our delivery of the best genetics and plants, technical know-how and global market intelligence. To fulfill our mission, we focus on cultivating exceptional plants, building strong relationships and providing responsive customer service. This is all part of how we're helping to build A World with Better Blueberries™.

The Mexico Regional Controller role is a leadership position responsible for guiding the regional accounting function and partnering with the Regional Director – Mexico (RD) and Operational team to support regional strategy and objectives, driving process improvement to yield better operational efficiencies and enable business insights, supporting the financial systems roadmap, ensuring controls and risk management are well balanced and effective, and enabling strong performance against strategic, financial, and operational goals as the company strives toward its business objectives. They own Financial and Regulatory Compliance for the region. The person in this role demonstrates a passion for their profession and has great knowledge of people management, accounting, audit, tax, and financial compliance matters.

ORGANIZATIONAL FIT: The position reports to the CFO and RD - Mexico with direct responsibility for the Mexico Region Accounting function. The Mexico Regional Controller partners with the RD and Operational team members and works with global stakeholders to support the business. They also collaborate as needed with external auditors, tax consultants, accountants, financial institutions, and other business consultants.

JOB SETTING: Office setting in a hybrid environment. In office location is in the Tala, Jalisco vicinity. International travel is also likely from time to time.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Other duties may be assigned)

1.   Leads organizational development for the Finance Team. Coaches and develops employees to improve job performance when appropriate. Ensures that performance discussions are completed in a timely manner. Leverages the strengths of the accounting team and clarifies roles and responsibilities. Establishes and maintains good morale, motivation, and recognition of accomplishments.

2.   Establishes effective and efficient internal controls to ensure timely, relevant, and accurate financial reporting. Takes appropriate and timely action to remedy internal control weaknesses identified by the company's internal control function and external auditors.

3.   Supports, perpetuates, and enhances Fall Creek's core values and corporate culture.

4.   Leads continuous improvement in processes and systems to increase efficiency, streamline workflow and create effective controls throughout the company.

5.   Acts as a business partner and advisor to the Mexico Region Leadership Team in providing business, finance, accounting, and controls leadership toward the execution of region and company goals.

6.   Provides leadership in strengthening internal communications with employees at all levels throughout the region and the company.

7.   Ensures financial results for the region (and company) are prepared in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with U.S. GAAP and established accounting policies and procedures. Presents the regional financial statements and other financial reports and schedules in support of overall company processes and statutory requirements.

8.   Partners with the RD and Operational team in forecasting and budgeting activities for the region, interfaces with global FP&A team to complete forecasting processes.

9.   Oversees all regional regulatory reporting and filing in compliance with statutory standards and other applicable laws and regulations.

10. Performs business analytics and provides impactful KPI's and reports in support of the Mexico Region's business and growth objectives.

11. Acts as a super-user for the ERP and other finance systems. 

12. Responsible for region's cash forecasting and leadership in the Order to Cash cycle. Performs cash projections to effectively manage cash balances.

13. Responsible for the operation of all accounting systems and records, including, but not limited to, cash receipts, expenditures, purchasing, inventory, assets, and payroll.

14. Supervises the cost accounting function regionally and ensures consistency with global company standards.

15. Assists with formulating the financial objectives and policies of the region.

16. Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and develops staffing plans that effectively accomplishes the departments goals and objectives.

17. Supervises, reviews, and signs off on bank account reconciliation and verifies the bank balance with the general ledger.

18. Supervises all month-end and year-end accounting procedures including reviewing and approving journal entries for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cost accounting and general ledger entries.

19. Responsible for year-end audit/review planning and execution with the auditors regionally.

20. Responsible for delivering regional book-tax differences and financial projections that will aid the company's tax accountants to prepare the tax estimates and final tax return in a timely manner.

21. Assures the highest level of confidentiality on sensitive matters concerning the business and organization.

22. Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

23. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.

24. Adheres to the standards set forth in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and maintains accounting records to validate standards are in place and functioning.

COMPETENCIES:

·        Technical Skills

·        Leadership

·        Management

·        Business Acumen

·        Action Orientation

·        Composure

·        Problem Solving

·        Teamwork

·        Communication

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

·        Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, business or finance, with accounting preferred.

·        Fluent in verbal and written English and Spanish.

·        Requires 7+ years management-level accounting experience with direct supervisory responsibilities in a manufacturing, agricultural, or fresh fruit or food processing industry.

·        Requires solid understanding of U.S. GAAP, IAS, local statutory accounting and tax rules and regulations, financial statement presentation and accounting theory.

·        Proven ability to supervise, lead and develop employees. Capable of building teams and working with internal and external constituents and accustomed to working cross-borders and cross-culturally.

·        Five or more years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing, agricultural, or fresh fruit or food processing industry

·        Previous experience working with a global ERP system, preferably with implementation experience.

·        Experience with integrated accounting software systems.

·        Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite.

·        Experienced in leading and developing virtual and/or remote teams.

·        Ability to be a proactive, strategic thinker with solid problem-solving skills.

·        Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with strict attention to detail and prioritization.

·        Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.

·        Requires good judgment and the ability to positively influence team decision making.

·        Ability to develop clear action plans and drive processes with many interdependencies.

·        Demonstrated record of success in a multicultural environment and ability to work effectively with diverse communities.

·        Ability and willingness to perform the essential functions of the position.

·        Demonstrated professional and ethical business practices, adherence to company policies and standards, and commitment to personal and professional development.