Plant Controller - Value Added Operations
Oxnard, CA
Full Time
DFFF
Senior Manager/Supervisor
About us
Duda Farm Fresh Foods, a subsidiary of DUDA, has been delivering fresh, quality produce since 1926. As a full-service grower, packer, shipper, and marketer, we offer year-round fruits and vegetables under the trusted Dandy® brand. With operations across Florida, California, Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia, we support local family farms and ensure nationwide supply. Nearly one-third of all celery consumed in the U.S. comes from our growers.
We’re more than farmers—we’re growing a healthier future for families everywhere.
Job Title: Plant Controller – Value-Added Operations
Location: Oxnard, California (primary); oversight of Florida and Georgia Operations
Reports to: DFFF Controller
Position Summary
The Plant Controller – Value-Added Operations is a key financial leader responsible for managing the financial performance of Duda’s value-added celery processing facility in Oxnard, CA and smaller fresh-cut/value-added facilities in Florida and Georgia. This position ensures accurate financial reporting, provides operational insight, and partners with plant leadership to drive efficiency and profitability. The role also plays a lead role in preparing capital expenditure requests and supporting long-term automation and infrastructure planning.Key Responsibilities
- Lead the monthly close process for Oxnard, CA, and fresh-cut/value-added facilities in Florida and Georgia, ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial results.
- Develop and maintain standard cost systems; monitor cost variances and KPI, provide actionable insight to operations leaders.
- Analyze plant-level performance and identify cost improvement and margin enhancement opportunities.
- Serve as a financial business partner to Operations and Engineering, supporting daily decision-making and strategic initiatives.
- Prepare capital expenditure requests (CERs) and support business case development for major investments, including automation and equipment upgrades.
- Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies, internal controls, and audit requirements.
- Oversee inventory valuation, physical counts, and reconciliations across multiple locations.
- Manage fixed asset accounting in accordance with company policy.
- Drive budgeting and forecasting for VA operations, including volume, labor, overhead, and other cost.
- Supervise and mentor plant-based accounting staff; coordinate with the corporate finance team.
- Support financial modeling for new customer or product opportunities in value-added.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve financial systems and reporting tools.
- To ensure that all financial transactions are recorded accurately before month-end/year-end close and prepare monthly financial and analysis reports.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of progressive cost accounting or plant controller experience, preferably in food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods.
- Deep understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and operational finance.
- Proven ability to develop and present capital requests and financial justifications.
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) or other modern ERP systems.
- Advanced Excel proficiency and familiarity with Power BI or other analytics tools a plus.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across levels.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
Travel Requirement
Periodic travel to Florida and Georgia value-added processing locations is required.
Compensation
The base salary we reasonably expect to pay for this role is: $150,000 - $180,000
The actual salary for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s skills and experience.
Please note that base pay is one important aspect of a compelling Total Rewards package. The base pay range indicated here does not include any additional benefits or cash bonuses that you may be eligible for based on your role and/or employment type.
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