Controller

Job Description

Lead the financial operations of a family-owned agricultural group where the diagnosis is already done and your mandate is to build.

ABOUT US

The Rooney Agriculture Group is a private, family-owned portfolio of three integrated agricultural companies: Rooney Farms (Large-scale row crop operations in Wisconsin), Rooney Angus Ranch (Large scale registered Black Angus seedstock with locations in both Wisconsin and Montana), and Rooney Grain (a commercial elevator with more than 2.5 million bushels of capacity and a corn roller mill launching Fall 2026). Together with affiliated land-holding entities, the group spans roughly ten sets of books. We are vertically integrated from seedstock genetics through processing and retail, and we are investing aggressively in the next stage of growth.

THE ROLE

This is a newly created position with full P&L responsibility for all three agricultural entities, reporting directly to the CEO/Owner. In 2026 we completed a comprehensive audit of our financial systems, workflows, and controls across the group. You will inherit a validated findings list, a sequenced roadmap, and a direct mandate from ownership to execute it. You will not spend your first year figuring out what is broken. You will spend it building.

You will work hands-on with a two-person bookkeeping team while designing the systems that scale beyond them, including leading the selection and implementation of a modern multi-entity accounting platform to replace QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise within 12 to 18 months.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

- Monthly close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash management across the group

- The group's first true consolidated financial statements, with intercompany eliminations

- Internal controls: payment approval workflows, dual-control thresholds, and clean audit trails

- Commodity accounting: hedging activity, mark-to-market discipline, and seasonal inventory valuation

- A 13-week rolling cash forecast across distinct seasonal cycles

- Margin reporting for the roller mill launch, separating toll milling and buy/mill/sell economics

- Platform selection, chart of accounts standardization, and integration with grain accounting (GrainTrac/ScaleTrac) and payroll systems

- Relationships with external CPAs, agricultural lenders, and regulatory entities

FIRST-YEAR OBJECTIVES

- Pressure-test the completed audit and publish your execution roadmap within 90 days

- Implement the corporate card and AP automation program; materially reduce paper check volume

- Stand up the 13-week cash forecast and a monthly budget-versus-actual variance process

- Lead accounting platform selection, with implementation targeted for the first half of 2027

- Deliver mill margin reporting in time for the roller mill's first full quarter of operation

- Rebuild Rooney Angus Ranch accounting workflows as an immediate priority

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Agribusiness (required); CPA or MBA preferred

- 5+ years of progressive financial leadership, ideally in agriculture, food production, or commodity-based industries

- Multi-entity accounting and consolidation experience

- Experience with hedging, futures contracts, and commodity risk management

- Demonstrated success implementing financial systems; modern multi-entity platforms (Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Dynamics, or similar) strongly preferred

- Willingness to perform hands-on bookkeeping while building systems and team capacity

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

- Base salary of $115,000 to $140,000, commensurate with experience, plus a performance-based annual bonus

- 401(k) with 3% company match

- Health and dental insurance (75% employer-paid for employee coverage)

- Company-paid life and disability insurance

- Relocation assistance if applicable, professional development allowance, and industry conference participation

LOCATION

Fully on-site at our Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin headquarters, with occasional travel to regional operations including our Montana ranch.

Rooney Agriculture Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse team that represents the communities we serve.