Family-owned and operated since 1989, Quails’ Gate Winery is one of Canada’s foremost estate wine producers. We farm more than 400 acres and are dedicated to crafting outstanding quality wines with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our team strives to deliver exceptional guest experiences in our award-winning Old Vines Restaurant, at our luxurious lake front accommodations and with every estate tour and wine tasting.

What it’s like to work at Quails Gate Winery

At Quails’ Gate Winery we believe that fostering growth in individuals and providing a positive place to work - where employees feel they are contributing to something memorable - is integral to providing a quality winery experience for our guests and a healthy workplace for you! We support these values by providing employee discounts, staff events and activities, ongoing training and employee of the month awards!

Our grapes aren’t the only thing we hand pick…

We are looking for a creative, motivated and detail orientated individual to fill the position of Controller at Quails' Gate Estate Winery. The Controller is a storyteller though numbers, and is the lead business partner to the hospitality, wholesale, and operations departments, overseeing all finance related items for the winery. Reporting directly to the CFO, this position is responsible for managing a team in the daily accounting transactions, preparation of budgets, financial statements, performance measures and reviewing statements and KPI’s with management to continuously improve our business operations.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Management
  • Focus on continuous improvement - manage accounting procedures, controls and system infrastructure, providing recommendations and action plans for efficiency gains.
  • Coach, mentor and manage Quails’ Gate finance team in day-to-day activities and strategic action plans
• Business Partnership & Reporting
  • Issue timely and complete monthly financial statements
  • Interpretation and communication of results
  • Assist with the preparation of quarterly management reports
  • Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics and review with management
  • Manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts
  • Calculate the variances from the budget and report and review significant issues to management
  • Provide financial analysis as needed, in particular for capital investments, pricing decisions and contract negotiations
  • Inventory management and product costing
• Transactions
  • Create and maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures
  • Oversee and supervise, daily cash reconciliation, accounts receivable and accounts payable
  • Ensure that periodic bank reconciliations, inventory reconciliations and other balance sheet account reconciliations are prepared and reviewed as required
  • Oversee and supervise payroll processing
  • Ensure that required debt payments are made on a timely basis
  • Maintain the chart of accounts
  • Evaluate and monitor internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial reports and the safeguarding of the company’s assets.
• Compliance
  • Coordinate the provision of Quails’ Gate year-end information to external accountants
  • Comply with local, provincial, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings
• Special Projects as assigned.

Skills, Education & Experience:

• Professional Designation in Accounting (CPA)
• 5-7 years in a progressively responsible accounting position
• 3-5 years’ experience leading and coaching a team
• CPG or Food industry experience (wine industry an asset)
• Previous manufacturing, job costing and inventory experience would be considered a strong asset
• Previous system implementation experience preferred
• Must have excellent time management skills
• Seizes opportunities to produce results without direct supervision

Abilities:

• Highly systems & technology literate – a wizard with reporting, presenting the right information, storytelling through numbers.
• Savvy in Business – understanding of a broad array of business functions and issues, able to rise above the daily details to see the “big picture”.
• Able to deal with ambiguity and a relative lack of infrastructure. Works well in a fluid, fast- paced environment. Creative thinker with the ability to deliver “out of the box” solutions.

Proficient with the following software packages:

• Microsoft Office particularly Excel and Word
• Sage
• H&L point of sale system (an asset)
• Commerce 7 (an asset)