Controller

If you’re a Controller who is successful today and know you’re capable of more influence, visibility, and impact, this is the kind of role that accelerates your trajectory.

Our client is a privately held, family-owned ag and commodities organization in central Illinois that is well established, financially stable, and entering a phase where stronger financial structure, clearer reporting, and enhanced forecasting are critical to continued success, creating a high-visibility opportunity to work closely with ownership, shape financial processes, and influence how decisions are made, not just report the results.

The organization operates across grain and value-added agricultural products and offers a collaborative, open, and transparent culture. The location provides a significantly lower cost of living than major metros while remaining accessible to larger regional markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build, strengthen, and maintain financial controls, compliance structure, and accounting processes
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close with strong ownership of balance sheet accuracy
• Translate financial results into clear, actionable insights that help leadership reduce noise in reporting and better understand performance drivers
• Develop and advance FP&A capabilities including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling
• Partner closely with operations and commercial teams to align financial results with business activity
• Support external audits and maintain relationships with outside accounting firms and advisors
• Identify and implement process improvements while constructively challenging the status quo
• Lead and mentor a small accounting team while remaining a hands-on contributor

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related fieldCPA preferred but not required
• Controller or senior accounting leadership experience in an operating company or closely held business
• Grain accounting experience is strongly perferred
• AGRIS system experience is a significant and highly valued bonus
• Experience with commodities and derivatives accounting
• Strong balance sheet knowledge and technical accounting fundamentals
• Exposure to external audit or public accounting audit
• Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables and financial analysis
• Experience leading or mentoring a small team
• Collaborative, detail-oriented, and comfortable working directly with ownership

Why This Role:

• High-impact role with meaningful influence over financial direction
• Privately held, family-owned organization with practical decision-making and minimal bureaucracy
• Opportunity to build, improve, and modernize processes rather than just maintain them
• Competitive compensation and possible relocation assistance

Confidentiality Notice:

The company name and specific location will be disclosed later in the interview process. All inquiries and applications will be handled in strict confidence.

• Location: Central Illinois region• Compensation: $130,000 to $150,000 base salary, commensurate with experience• Relocation Assistance: May be available for the right candidate• Employment Type: Full-time, exempt