ACCOUNTANT (Wine Jobs: Management & Administration)

  H&A Financing and Services

  Saint Helena, California

The company 

H&A Financing & Services is a pioneer in Barrel Management, providing beneficial services to wineries in Barrel cost and operations. The company was founded in Bordeaux in 2004 by Richard Hardillier and Florent Arrouy and its conception was based upon the essence of providing relevant and applicable leasing products and services to wineries from Barrel purchase to resale. Backed by solid experience and an array of complementary skills, the two founders built a successful company that is now positioned as the leader in its market. Offering three main solutions: Barrel Financing, Barrel Management and Barrel Resale, they offer flexibility and enhance the course for wineries to proceed with ease in winemaking and production.

Since its inception H&A has grown its turnover to $150 million, managing Barrel Operations for Wineries in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United States. The group currently consists of a team of almost sixty employees worldwide.

 H&A Financing was established in San Francisco in 2010. With a team of 8, the company just moved to its new office in Saint Helena in January 2015.

Position Summary

Your main responsibility is to provide financial information to management by researching and analysing accounting data and preparing reports.  You will manage accounting, covering the day-to-day tasks up to the company's fiscal year-end closing.  You will work in close coordination with the corporate Accounting team in France. Your capacity to be up to date and your experience and expertise with QuickBooks will ensure results in line with the requirements and expectations of our partners.

This position requires excellent organizational skills, thorough knowledge of the accounting system and our main software. You will need to be able to confidently keep track and record all accounting documents and become fluent in our services and how they apply with the production side of the business. The ideal candidate must be extremely well organized and motivated to work in a team environment.

This position reports to the VP – Secretary in the US and to the CFO and Chief Accountant at the Head Office in Bordeaux.

 This is a full-time position, based in our office in Saint Helena, CA.

Major Responsibilities

•       Manage day-to-day accounting operations.

•       Manage general ledger accounting including A/P, A/R, Inventory and banking.

•       Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, as well as dedicated internal documentation and present appropriate analysis and advice on the results and their impact on the operations.

•       Generate reports using QuickBooks and Excel.

•       Create and prepare management reports including financial outlook and forecasts.

•       Maintain inventory and cost accounting records.

•       Ensure all internal accounting processes are completed timely and accurately.

•       Assist with budgeting process.

•       Approve and coordinate changes and improvements in automated financial and management information systems.

•       Conduct periodic reviews of financial procedures and make progressive recommendations for changes and/or improvements.

•       Support tax-return preparation. Federal and state tax reports and payments and other tax returns, including annual 1099 forms.

•       Work in close coordination with our French office and advise/alert on any additional documentation needed in order to perform tasks.

•       Prepare schedules and provide records to auditing firms. Post adjusting entries and close the books at year-end.

•       Maintain required records, reports and file in an organized manner.

•       Assist with other special projects as assigned (i.e. ERP link to QB)

•       Develop and maintain Employee Handbook to include policies, procedures, internal controls and regulations for all employees in the state of California.     

Professional Requirements

•       Minimum 3 years experience as an Accountant at a similar environment and industry.

•       Strong computer skills and expert knowledge of the Accounting system and rules.

•       Efficient in Excel and QuickBooks.

•       Knowledge of the Wine industry; Experience from Tax environment a plus.

•       Be able to understand and work with proprietary database, ERP.

•       Detail-oriented and highly-organized.

•       Resourceful, dynamic and highly motivated.

•       Knows how to prioritize: ability to juggle multiple tasks while maintaining professionalism.

•       Ability to organize and meet deadlines for a wide variety of job assignments; balancing multiple demands, prioritizing tasks while retaining clear focus.

•       Pro-active and able to anticipate office and clients’ needs.

•       Team player: able to work in collaboration with colleagues in administration and sales.

•       Strong desire to set standards and improve upon and support best practices in all facets of the business.

•       A professional and capable Accountant with a positive attitude and excellent judgment.

•       Good problem solving skills to align systems and processes with positive outcomes.

•       A strong desire to achieve results.

•       Experience reporting to Executives and/or Owners.

•       French a plus but not required.

•       Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.

Please submit your resume with salary requirements.

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