Enterprise Finance Partner

The Morning Star Company

Enterprise Finance Partner

Woodland, CA

About the Company

The Morning Star Company and its affiliates operate three tomato processing facilities in Central California, processing about 40% of the California processing tomato crop, in addition to tomato growing, transplanting, harvesting and trucking operations. The company employs approximately 500 year‑round and over 3,000 seasonal colleagues.

The Morning Star Company is the largest independent producer of bulk tomato ingredient products (tomato paste and diced tomatoes) in the world. We also produce canned tomatoes, tomato products and specialty sauces in pouches for customers in the retail and food service markets. The company is known worldwide for its innovation and integrity.

We are organizationally structured through a system we term Mission Focused Self-Management. Our company is operated by colleagues without titles or an appointed hierarchy of authority. Authority relative to other colleagues' activities is lateral, with our Mission as our guiding principle of action, and respect, influence and success built based on each colleague's integrity, competency, effort, persistence and straightforward persuasiveness. Although we have grown significantly, we intend to maintain a culture of individual responsibility and Mission Focused Self-Management.

The Mission

To advance Morning Star's operational and financial health by proactively providing information, analysis and recommendations to internal and external customers.

Role Overview

This role requires a candidate with a strong foundation in business, finance, and accounting, including exceptional expertise in cost accounting and financial analysis. The ideal individual brings a creative and rigorous approach to problem solving, coupled with persuasive, fundamentals-driven leadership and an exceptional drive to continuously strengthen and advance the company's competitive position within the industry. The individual will collaborate closely with colleagues responsible for key strategic and operational initiatives across major areas of the business. Some regular travel to our facilities in Los Banos will be required.

Specific Responsibilities and Activities

• Champion the adoption and integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to streamline financial and business processes, enhance forecasting accuracy, and drive data-informed decision making across the organization.
• Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and perform ad hoc analysis to support strategic decision making.
• Analyze operating and financial data to identify trends, establish key performance metrics, and recommend changes that improve results.
• Partner with operating colleagues to develop responsible budgets and conduct quarterly business unit reviews to maximize returns on invested funds.
• Evaluate and improve business processes, systems, and talent by identifying opportunities for transformation and implementing change.
• Ensure all internal and external contracts and commitments are properly executed with appropriate processes in place.
• Develop and manage colleague relationships which support your Mission, ensuring appropriate supporting colleague talent and ensuring you have a thorough knowledge of the strategies and affairs of all responsible operations—"hear the drums beat," know what those signals mean and what their strategic, tactical and financial ramifications are.

Qualifications

The successful candidate would likely have a meaningful formal education in business administration, information systems, finance, accounting, or economics, with 7 to 15 years of relevant experience. However, competency and energy are the drivers regardless of background.

Experience in Microsoft Excel including VLOOKUPs, macros, and pivot tables is required. Experience in SQL database query language and/or Sage 300 is a plus.

This position is for a practical and hands-on professional who enjoys working on a peer level with talented and committed colleagues, who has the self-confidence to pursue their convictions and work independently with broadly defined work objectives.

Compensation

Salary range: $175,000 – $250,000. The position is fully on site, based in Woodland, California, and candidates are expected to reside within a 45-minute commute radius.

Benefits

Morning Star offers a top‑tier, comprehensive health plan including medical, dental, and vision, and we pay the full monthly premiums for the colleague and all eligible family members. The company also contributes to colleagues' Health Savings Accounts. Year‑round colleagues are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plan with a 4% match.