WineTalent Classifieds: Production Cost Accountant and Analyst role in the Napa Valley

WineTalent is working with our client, Far Niente Family of Wineries and Vineyards, on an Accountant role within the Napa Valley.

About the Company:  Far Niente is a group of well-respected wineries and sustainably grown vineyards.  The six wine brands have widespread distribution and a strong direct-to-consumer business.  

About the Position:  The Production Cost Accountant and Analyst will apply the principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports by compiling information, preparing account reconciliations, and utilizing appropriate accounting control procedures.  The role provides accounting support in inventory, COGS reporting and analysis, account reconciliations, monthly close activities and end of year accounting resolution. 

Responsibilities:  

• Assists in month-end accounting close by performing accurate and timely completion of assigned financial close activities. 
• Performs complex analysis functions, reviews sub-ledger transactions and posts entries to general ledger accounts. 
• Responsible for the preparation of more complex account reconciliation and analysis.
• Perform analysis and forecasts on project and operational production costs.  
• Recommends and supports improvement opportunities and/or risks based on review and analysis of variances. 
• Develop and report key metrics to senior management. 
• Applies cost principles to analyze project costs and reconcile variances.
• Supports audit and regulatory requests, generates ad hoc analyses reports ensuring needed financial information is presented clearly, consistently, and on time.  
• Assists with specialized and complex assignments.

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or closely related discipline.  Experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.
• Can-do attitude, with at least 5 years of closely related work experience.
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with NAV, Adaptive Planning and Vintrace strongly desirable. 
• Experience in manufacturing (including but not limited to wine industry) accounting highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proven effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing, working with various levels throughout an organization.

Compensation and Benefits:

• This is a full-time, salaried position
• Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off and 401(k).

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.  

Please email resume and all inquiries to amy@winetalent.net  

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job

WineTalent Classifieds: Senior Financial Analyst in the Napa Valley

WineTalent is working with our client, Far Niente Family of Wineries and Vineyards, on a Senior Financial Analyst role within the Napa Valley.

About the Company:  Far Niente is a group of well-respected wineries and sustainably grown vineyards.  The six wine brands have widespread distribution and a strong direct-to-consumer business.  

About the Position:  The Senior Financial Analyst is responsible for the day-to-day analytical support for the company’s sales divisions and overall wine operations. This position requires ethical conduct and thoroughness in conjunction with critical thinking, attention to detail and strong time management skills.  

Responsibilities:  

• Support budgeting, forecasting and longer-term planning processes by providing revenue and cost inputs, including drivers and assumptions for various channels and products
• Assist in tracking consolidated cased goods inventory reporting
• Track marketing metrics to help measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Serve as interface between 3rd party data providers and develop, maintain and identify inaccuracies for daily dashboards
• Perform ad hoc analysis of daily business issues and provide sales support for the company
• Analyze and explain variances and prepare reporting package and presentation for monthly Management financial review
• Proactively analyze profitability trends - evaluating revenue, cost of goods sold and operational expenses and make recommendations to various teams
• Ability to navigate the three-tier system, recognize depletion trends and evaluate pricing
• Ability to organize and efficiently manipulate large data sets in Excel
• Work extended hours during peak times

Requirements:

• BS/BA in finance or business-related discipline
• Minimum of three years of increasingly responsible experience in a sales finance role with financial planning/analytics and modeling experience
• Experience in budgeting/forecasting and explaining a P&L
• Proficiency in Targit is a strong preference. Familiarity with Adaptive and NAV are highly desirable
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Successful candidate will be a very motivated self-starter and be able to work without daily guidance

Desirable Qualifications:

• Strategic thinker with highly competent analytical skills 
• Versatile, flexible, and willing to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• Positive, energetic, engaging and able to maintain composure under pressure
• Team-oriented professional who is willing to help and support others in their work to contribute to the overall success of the Company 
• Detail oriented, with ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly
• Curious and pro-active in recognizing trends and able to recommend action-oriented insights
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Prioritizes and balances workload to respond to new reporting and data requests
• Service orientation - maintains collaborative relationships with multi-functional teams while managing relationships and expectations of management and their various team members

Compensation and Benefits:

• This is a full-time, salaried position
• Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical, dental and  vision coverage, paid time off and 401(k).

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

Please email resume and all inquiries to amy@winetalent.net  

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job

WineTalent Classifieds: Information Technology Manager

 
WineTalent is working with our confidential client on an Information Technology Manager role in the Napa Valley.

About the Company:  Our client is a well-respected and long-established winery in the Napa Valley.  The company has several brands with widespread distribution and a strong direct-to-consumer business.  

About the Position:  The IT Manager will provide ongoing technical support to staff for all computer problems and manage company’s outsourced IT vendor. Along with the outsourced vendor, the IT Manager will manage company-wide hardware and application infrastructure.  This role will provide support for the implementation of new digital platforms, including vendor selection and project management.

Responsibilities:

• Primary point-of-contact to third-party IT support company.

• Day-to-day oversight of systems and troubleshooting of issues.  On the ground hardware and software support for all company computer users. 

• Installs and maintains servers, desktop computers, notebook computers, smart phones, peripherals, printers, etc. Keeps current inventory of all devices and maintains current licenses.

• Maintains working knowledge of cybersecurity threats, and ensures company has appropriate protections in place.

• Works with third-party vendor to select, configure and install all software, including upgrades to existing software.

• Standardization of business software across the organization.

• Creates and maintains batch files, drive mappings, login scripts, and menus in order to provide appropriate secure user access to applications and data. 

• Oversight of the entire network infrastructure, with responsibilities that include server upkeep, security upgrades, planning all infrastructure upgrades or changes, managing contracts with vendors, and managing the IT department's budget.

• Managing the development, maintenance and technical support of the network, servers, telecom and operating systems including external application contractors.

• Ensures connectivity of monitoring and alarm lines.  

• Manages and maintains all communications systems used throughout organization.

• Collaboration with all departments to determine technology needs, to ensure problems are resolved swiftly and completely, and to understand the business IT needs of each department.

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline.  Work experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.

• 4+ years of IT support work experience in a similar sized company (50 +/- users)

• Experience with NAV highly desirable.  

• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work across an organization with many different types of departments.  

• Service-oriented, collaborative approach to IT support.

• Experience managing new hardware and software implementation projects with attention to budget and timeline.

• Innovative team member in a newly created position with a flexible, can-do attitude to ensure current IT needs of company and departments are met and future needs are anticipated and planned for.

Compensation and Benefits:

• This is a full-time, salaried position

• Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off and 401(k).

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

Please email resume and all inquiries to amy@winetalent.net  

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job

WineTalent Classifieds: Cost Accountant in the Napa Valley

WineTalent is working with our confidential client on a Cost Accountant role within the Napa Valley.

About the Company:  Our client is a well-respected and long-established winery in the Napa Valley.  The company has several brands with widespread distribution and a strong direct-to-consumer business.  

About the Position:  The Cost Accountant will apply the principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports by compiling information, preparing account reconciliations, and utilizing appropriate accounting control procedures.  The Cost Accountant provides accounting support in inventory, COGS reporting and analysis, account reconciliations, monthly close activities and end of year accounting resolution. 

Responsibilities:  

• Assists in month-end accounting close by performing accurate and timely completion of assigned financial close activities. 
• Performs complex analysis functions, reviews sub-ledger transactions and posts entries to general ledger accounts. 
• Responsible for the preparation of more complex account reconciliation and analysis.
• Perform analysis and forecasts on project and operational production costs.  
• Recommends and supports improvement opportunities and/or risks based on review and analysis of variances. 
• Develop and report key metrics to senior management. 
• Applies cost principles to analyze project costs and reconcile variances.
• Supports audit and regulatory requests, generates ad hoc analyses reports ensuring needed financial information is presented clearly, consistently, and on time.  

• Assists with specialized and complex assignments.

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or closely related discipline.  Experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.

• Can-do attitude, with at least 5 years of closely related work experience.

• Knowledge of finance, accounting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with NAV, Adaptive Planning and Vintrace strongly desirable. 

• Experience in manufacturing (including but not limited to wine industry) accounting highly desirable.

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.

• Proven effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing, working with various levels throughout an organization.

Compensation and Benefits:

• This is a full-time, salaried position

• Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off and 401(k).

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job

Apply today: Email resume to amy@winetalent.net

WineTalent Classifieds: Viticulturist in the Salinas Valley

WineTalent is working with our client, Scheid Family Wines, to find a Viticulturist to manage the company’s vineyard farming and viticulture practices. 

About the Company:  Scheid Family Wines is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery with 11 estate vineyards on over 4,000 acres in the Salinas Valley.  Scheid Family Wines is committed to farming the highest quality grapes.  All of the vineyards are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

About the Position:  The Viticulturist manages the Scheid Family Wines vineyard farming and viticulture practices. The Viticulturist collaborates and works closely with vineyard management and the viticulture team. This individual will utilize their technical viticulture expertise and solid agricultural techniques to promote vine health and sustainability, crop yield and the quality of the fruit that is produced. The Viticulturist maintains and continues to develop Scheid Family Wines’ commitment to sustainable farming practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the Scheid Family Wines (SFW) vineyard farming and viticulture practices including the following:
• Establish and manage mechanical based precision viticulture programs and farming
• Collaborate on the planning and budgeting, implement the plan and manage the costs
• Oversee pruning, tying, shoot thinning, shoot positioning, trellis and canopy manipulation, suckering, weed control, cultivation, crop estimation, crop thinning, irrigation scheduling, nutrition, pest and fungicide management and harvest coordination
• Coordinate and implement training and education for ranch managers and vineyard labor force regarding education of basic viticulture, mechanical farming, and precision agriculture techniques
• Active member of the viticulture team providing input from core competencies such as vine nutrition, pest management and other inputs that strengthen the team’s approach to farming decisions.
• Develop and implement nutrition programs and validate results through petiole analysis and other diagnostic processes
• Collaborate with viticulture and technology teams to establish data flows in a Precision Agriculture management setting, turning data into action
• Support key seasonal data collection efforts, including crop estimations
• Continued development of the viticulture program documents
• Develop and implement pest prevention programs including soil borne pests, mealy bugs, mites, leaf hopper, fungicides, Botrytis, Eutypa and other related diseases
• Manage trial blocks and experimental varieties and techniques
• Trial blocks for quality enhancements
• Nutrition trials and all trials that are advancing wine quality
• Work directly with the winemaking team in establishment of specific wine quality needs relative to mechanical viticulture and precision agriculture.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• BS or MA Degree in viticulture, plant science, horticulture, agronomy or related discipline
• 3 to 5 years viticulture experience or combination with directly related vineyard experience
• Experience with vineyard operations, farming, or related agricultural experience a plus

REQUIRED SKILLS

• PCA license or ability to gain a PCA license within the first 12 months preferred
• Demonstrated solid knowledge of viticulture practices
• Strong partnering skills and ability to work with a team
• Computer skills including MS Office, and practical competence with agriculture-oriented computer applications
• Rudimentary understanding of winemaking to assist with understanding winegrowing goals and fruit/wine quality grading
• Ability to work overtime (extended hours and weekends) as required
• Ability to understand any and all safety requirements
• Clean DMV record

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• This is a full-time, salaried position.
• Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical, dental and 401K

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

Please email resume and all inquiries to amy@winetalent.net  

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job

WineTalent Classifieds: Winery Office Manager in Napa Valley

WineTalent is working with our Napa Valley client to find a Winery Office Manager.

About the company:  WineTalent’s client is a luxury estate winery producing highly sought-after wines from organically grown grapes.  The winery has a rich history in the Napa Valley.  Join the team in an important role that is integral to the success of the winery. 

About the opportunity:  WineTalent is seeking an Office Manager to manage the administrative aspects of the winery.  This role will work directly with ownership and the General Manager in all aspects of business operations and administration to meet the demands of the company.  The Office Manager manages the company’s accounting, human resources, compliance, inventory management and service agreements.  This role will act as the primary point of contact for all service providers related to essential functions of the business. 

Responsibilities:

·     Establish SOP’s for purchase order and invoice receipt management.

·     Assist third-party accounting group with AR management, including deposits.

·     Direct and manage expense reporting, including SOP’s, systems, policy updates and company card management.

·     Liaise with and manage third party IT consultants to ensure IT service agreement and scope of accountability is effectively executed.

·     Manage all aspects of payroll, staying current on related state and federal labor laws. 

·     Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge about the company’s ERP system and its operating protocols. Default resource for ERP updates, troubleshooting and training.

·     Direct inventory management SOP’s and manage inventory movements, employee withdrawals and monthly reconciliation.

·     Manage relationships with, and troubleshooting of, the company’s utilities.

·    Collaborate with third party HR group and benefits brokers to assist in HR administration including: 

·      annual updates to the Company’s employee handbook

·      employee file management

·      employee on-boardings and separations

·      census reporting

·       benefits meeting coordination and benefits enrollment

·     Liaise with third-party compliance group to ensure state and federal permits and licenses are renewed on a timely basis. Set-up and manage COLA submissions in house through the TTB on-line web portal.

·     Manage office maintenance and janitorial services, office supplies and service contracts for copiers, scanners, printers and other communal administrative hardware.

·     Responsible for timely and accurate processing of wholesale orders with an emphasis on customer service

·     Provides support to the sales team.

·     Manages general administrative needs of entire company, including office, and internal and external communications in support position of the General Manager.

·     Administrative tasks as required.

What the Job Requires:

·       BA or BS or equivalent combination of education and experience

·       5 plus years of experience in similar position

·       Demonstrated business acumen and an innate understanding of wine production, hospitality, and customer service excellence

·       Ability to participate as a team leader to deliver financial and strategic results and exceptional customer service standards

·       Medium to advanced accounting skills

·       High level of proficiency with MS Office, specially Excel, and QuickBooks, as well as POS and database applications

·       Ability to establish priorities, work independently and proceed with objectives without supervision

·       Interpersonal awareness, relationship management and influencing skills

·       Must be proactive and have strong organizational skills including exceptional attention to detail and follow-through

·       High degree of integrity and strong work ethic

·       A valid CA driver’s license is required

About WineTalent: WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment.

WineTalent: The Right People for the Job

If you are interested in applying, email your resume to amy@winetalent.net

All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential

WineTalent Classifieds: Lab Manager - Enologist in the Napa Valley

WineTalent is working with our winery client to find a Lab Manager – Enologist to join the company. 

 

About the Company:  Our client is a well-respected, luxury wine producer in the heart of the Napa Valley.  The wines are produced from all estate grown fruit.  The winery has a proven commitment to producing wines of the highest quality. 

 

About the Position:  The Lab Manager will be responsible for Quality Assurance throughout the entire winemaking process, from grape sampling to bottling. The Lab Manager will carry out routine laboratory analysis on juice and wine samples and maintain accurate records of results.  This position will have frequent interaction with the Winemaker and cellar staff, be aware of all winery activities and monitor the evolution of the wine.  The Lab Manager will also be responsible for maintaining all inventories of lab chemicals and supplies, wine and dry goods, tracking cellar work orders and activities as they affect inventories and maintain all production records.  The Lab Manager will oversee the acquisition of dry goods and logistics during packaging, bottling and warehousing of wine.  This role supervises harvest interns and has daily interaction with the production team.  As needed, the Lab Manager will write and maintain SOPs for the laboratory and the cellar.   

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Laboratory

•      Update standardization protocols and analytical procedures.

•      Maintain and update testing procedures

•      Maintain accurate record of test results

•      Maintain, calibrate and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and offer solutions as necessary

•      Ensure accurate analysis, compare results against previous data and re-run if results are not within specifications

•      Check lab analysis against external lab analysis to verify accuracy

•      Perform monthly volatile acidity and free SO2 analyses on all aging wine lots

•      Perform full analytical panel on all lots at racking (every three months)

•      Perform analysis panels as per Analysis Request Calendar (harvest and malolactic)

•      Sample tanks and barrels as necessary, and request samples from cellar team

•      Record results in vintage log

•      Conduct sensorial testing for wine defects

•      Maintain current inventory of lab chemicals and supplies and order as necessary

•      Alert Winemaker to potential issues with analysis or other observations

•      Investigate new lab protocols and methods

•      Ensure proper safety procedures are followed in the lab

 

Laboratory Analyses

•      Autotitrator

o   Total Acidity

o   Free SO2

•      Auto-analyzer (SMARTCHEM) or Spectrophotometer (enzymatic)

o   Volatile Acidity

o   Malic Acid

o   Residual Sugar

o   Nitrogen/Ammonia

•      Carbodoser

o   CO2

•      Alcolyzer

o   Alcohol

•      pH meter

o   pH

•      NTU meter

o   NTU

•      Spectrophotometer

o   Tannins – A280

o   Anthocyanins

•      Invisible Sentinel – PCR

o   Brettanomyces

•      Microscope

o   Microbiological observations of yeast and bacteria

•      Refractometer

o   Brix

•      Glories Method

o   Phenolic sampling during harvest

 

Winemaking Related Responsibilities

•      Participate in daily cellar crew meeting and interaction with cellar crew

•      Calculate and confirm wine additions

•      Write and maintain SOP’s for laboratory and cellar

•      Prepare egg-white fining and filtration trials and other benchtop trials as needed

•      Prepare trial blends and determine AVA and varietal breakdown

•      Understand winemaking and aging process to plan and organize analyses annually

•      Perform sensorial analysis and alert supervisor to any potential quality issues

•      Calculate and confirm additions

•      Proactively check analyses on lots according to stage or intervention

•      Prepare bulk wine samples

 

Inventories and Traceability

•      Enter work orders into cellar record keeping document

•      Maintain intermediate inventory

•      Prepare end of month bulk inventory

•      Participate in annual physical inventory

•      Ensure that traceability is completed (in coordination with cellar master)

 

Bottling

•      Realize pre-bottling analyses

•      Prepare bottling work order

•      Assist in pre-bottling organization (warehouse map, logistics, storage placement of bottles)

•      Ensure quality control during bottling

•      Realize inventory count

•      Enter bottling work order and create bottling summary

•      Supply cage labels

•      Realize end of bottling dry goods inventory

 

Packaging

•      Order dry goods (labels, foils, cases) and coordinate delivery and storage

•      Prepare warehouse maps and packaging logs

•      Realize pre-packaging analyses

•      Assist in pre-packaging meeting

•      Perform quality control checks on all dry goods (labels, filters, cases)

•      Ensure quality control during packaging

•      Realize end of day inventory count

•      Enter packaging work order and create packaging summary

•      Realize end of bottling dry goods inventory

 

Managing of Intern

•      Prepare intern introduction and training plan

•      Train and manage lab intern sampling methods, sample rows, grape analysis and data entry

•      Organize and evaluate intern’s work schedule

•      Coordinate sampling and grape ripening analysis

•      Layout and monitor activities during the workday (with Winemaker)

 

Cork Selection

•      Sample, prepare and perform cork quality control, including sensory analysis, for lot selection

•      Create cork sensory report summary

•      Maintain relationship with cork suppliers

•      Prepare cork purchase orders

•      Track “corked” bottles from tasting room

 

Sustainability

•      Update sustainability documents

•      Investigate potential areas of improvement

•      Organize audits

 

Qualifications:

•      BS in Fermentation Science or related science field

•      Experience with lab equipment and research methodology

•      At least 3 years of wine industry experience, including hands-on laboratory experience

•      Good Excel skills

•      Accuracy and attention to detail

•      Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects

•      Ability to function independently

 

Compensation and Benefits:  This is a full-time, hourly position.  During harvest and other times of peak activity there will be overtime hours.  Benefits include healthcare, dental, life insurance, 401K plan with company match and possible subsidized company housing.

 

About WineTalent:  WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

 

Please email resume and all inquiries to amy@winetalent.net