Controller

Job Description

Job Description

OBJECTIVE / ACCOUNTABILITY

The Controller provides financial leadership and strategic direction for Midwest Groundcovers, ensuring financial strength, reporting integrity, effective resource management, and long-term sustainability. As a strategic partner to ownership and senior leadership, this role translates financial and operational information into insight that strengthens business decisions, supports organizational performance, and advances long-term company objectives. The Controller leads Finance and Accounting while providing strategic oversight of business systems and partnering across the organization to drive accountability, continuous improvement, and sustainable growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management & Business Performance

• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful financial reporting, including financial statements, inventory reporting, profitability analysis, executive dashboards, and key performance indicators.
• Lead financial planning, annual budgeting, cash flow, working capital, and long-range financial planning in alignment with ownership and company objectives.
• Strengthen cost accounting and financial analysis in partnership with Production, Operations, Inventory, and Sales to improve decision-making, product margins, and overall business performance.
• Provide financial insight and recommendations on pricing, profitability, capital investments, acquisitions, expansion opportunities, and other significant business decisions.
• Identify financial trends, risks, opportunities, and scenarios and translate complex information into clear recommendations for ownership and senior leadership.

Governance, Risk & Financial Stewardship

• Maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, compliance practices, and governance standards while protecting company assets and promoting ethical financial stewardship.
• Oversee accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, general ledger, credit, month-end close, tax compliance, audits, and intercompany transactions.
• Oversee cash management and maintain key banking and financing relationships along with ownership, including operating lines, construction financing, international banking, and applicable financial covenants.
• Lead financial risk management, insurance-related financial matters, and business continuity efforts to support organizational stability and resilience.
• Serve as a trusted financial liaison to lenders, auditors, and other key external stakeholders, communicating clearly and confidently while honoring commitments.

Strategy & Business Planning

• Serve as the primary financial liaison to ownership, the Board of Directors, lenders, and key external stakeholders, providing clear insight into financial performance, forecasts, capital plans, and strategic risks.
• Partner with ownership and senior leaders to develop and execute 3–5 year financial and business plans that connect strategy, capital investment, resources, and performance.
• Provide financial leadership and insight for company-wide strategy, operational alignment, and senior leader decision-making.
• Partner across Sales, Operations, Production, Human Resources, and other functions to evaluate business performance, improve processes, strengthen accountability, and support informed decision-making.
• Support a shared-services and intercompany approach across Midwest Groundcovers, Midwest Trading, and affiliated entities, ensuring financial practices, allocations, and reporting align with organizational objectives.
• Anticipate future organizational needs and support succession planning, continuity, and documentation of critical financial, operational, and systems knowledge.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop teams across Finance, Accounting, and Administration 
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, KPIs, and development plans that connect individual and department priorities to company goals.
• Coach leaders and employees through regular feedback, performance management, and development opportunities while fostering a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
• Build strong working relationships across departments, encourage teamwork, and create alignment through clear expectations, open communication, and shared accountability.
• Ensure critical financial, administrative, and business systems processes are documented and developed to support continuity, succession, and future growth.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Managerial-level financial leadership with deep expertise in accounting, financial strategy, forecasting, treasury, cost accounting, and enterprise performance management.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect financial results to operational performance, customer needs, profitability, and long-term strategy.
• Proven ability to influence, collaborate, and build trust with ownership, senior leaders, employees, lenders, auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, communication, presentation, and decision-making skills with the ability to bring clarity to complex issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continued professional growth.

EDUCATION AND / OR EXPERIENCES

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required.
• CPA, MBA, CMA, or other advanced financial credential strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, accounting, and business leadership, including experience in a Controller, CFO, VP Finance, or comparable role.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with ownership, boards, executive teams, lenders, and external auditors.
• Experience operating in an ERP system, business intelligence, automation, or significant business systems initiatives.
• Experience in the Green industry, agriculture, manufacturing, or distribution experience is highly valued.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Brings sound judgment, discretion, and leadership maturity to complex financial and business decisions. 
• Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced, seasonal, and operationally complex environment while balancing long-term objectives with immediate business needs. 
• Communicates financial and business information clearly to ownership, senior leaders, managers, employees, and external partners. 
• Balances strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to problem solving, follow-through, and execution. 
• Builds trust through integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to doing what is best for the company and its customers.
• Thrives in a family-owned business culture where trust, adaptability, and accountability are essential. 
• Demonstrated cultural alignment with the company’s values and Fundamentals, with the ability to actively model and reinforce them in daily leadership, decisions, and interactions.

COMPENSATION INFORMATION

• Base Compensations of $110,000 -$125,000
• Performance Based Bonus

BENEFITS

We believe investing in our employees is key to our success. Eligible team members enjoy a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability and Voluntary Life Insurance
• Company-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Company-paid Group Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• A collaborative, team-oriented workplace recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024, 2025 and 2026

ABOUT THE COMPANY

For more than 50 years, Midwest Groundcovers has been a trusted leader in the Green Industry, growing and propagating more than 20 million premium wholesale plants each year . While groundcovers remain our specialty, our diverse product offering includes evergreens, broadleaves, deciduous shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, vines, and native prairie, wetland, and woodland species.

We proudly partner with landscape architects, landscape designers, contractors, municipalities, and other green industry professionals to provide innovative plant solutions that promote beauty, durability, and sustainability throughout the Midwest. Our commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service has made us one of the region's premier wholesale growers.

At Midwest Groundcovers, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We're proud to have been recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024, 2025 and 2026 , reflecting our commitment to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and purpose-driven work environment where employees can grow both personally and professionally.

If you're looking to build a meaningful career with a company that values teamwork, innovation, and a passion for horticulture, we'd love to have you join our team.