HARVEST PRIME FOODS
Controller (Senior)
Syracuse, NY | Full-Time | Hybrid
Location
Syracuse, NY (Hybrid)
Employment
Full-Time
Experience
8+ Years (Controller or Senior Finance Leader)
ABOUT HARVEST PRIME FOODS
Harvest Prime Foods is a PE-backed food distribution holding company built on the belief that good food, delivered with integrity, can strengthen communities and support the people who grow it. Backed by Talus Group Holdings, Harvest Prime brings together a portfolio of purpose-driven food distribution companies serving the Northeast, including Antonucci Foods, Hudson Harvest, and Syracuse Banana. The platform connects farms, producers, and suppliers to retail, restaurant, and institutional customers, operating with the rigor of a professionally managed portfolio company and the values of a family-built business.
Syracuse Banana, one of the platform's core brands, is a family-founded produce distributor serving Central and Upstate New York since 1966. From its 28,000-square-foot refrigerated, HACCP-compliant facility in Syracuse, the company serves 500+ customers with a full line of fresh and value-added produce, in-house ripening capabilities, and a dedicated fleet.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Harvest Prime is seeking an experienced Controller to own the full accounting and finance function at the operating company level, with primary focus on Syracuse Banana. This is a senior hire designed to establish permanent, professional finance leadership at a company that has operated with a family-office accounting structure through its acquisition and early integration period. The Controller will report directly to the Harvest Prime platform leadership, partner closely with the Syracuse Banana management team, and serve as the primary accounting owner as the platform continues to grow through additional acquisitions.
The ideal candidate brings deep Controller-level experience in food distribution or a comparable operationally intensive industry, a strong command of GAAP financial reporting, and the credibility to lead organizational change in a family-founded environment. This is not an entry point into the Controller function, it is the permanent, senior-most accounting leader for a growing PE-backed food platform, and the right candidate will have the track record and professional presence to match that responsibility.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Close & Reporting
- Own the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, producing timely and accurate GAAP financial statements
- Maintain a controlled, audit-ready accounting environment at all times
- Prepare and review account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules
- Coordinate with external auditors and tax preparers, managing the annual audit and tax compliance process
- Develop and maintain a consistent close calendar with clearly defined milestones and deliverables
- Produce management reporting packages that give platform leadership and operators clear visibility into financial performance
Acquisition Accounting & Post-Close Integration
- Lead the accounting integration of acquired businesses, including Day 1 opening balance sheet setup under ASC 805
- Reconcile and validate opening balance sheets against purchase agreement representations, identifying discrepancies requiring adjustment
- Manage the working capital determination process, including the construction of the formal determination workbook, variance analysis, and documentation of adjustments
- Interface with sellers and their representatives in post-closing settlement discussions, providing clear, well-supported positions backed by the accounting records
- Assess accounting implications of purchase agreement mechanics, including NWC targets, earn-out provisions, indemnification escrows, and seller note structures
- Coordinate with legal counsel and the Talus deal team on formal delivery of post-close determinations and dispute resolution procedures
Internal Controls & Compliance
- Design, document, and enforce a robust internal controls framework appropriate for a multi-entity food distribution operating company
- Establish and maintain accounting policies and procedures, ensuring consistent application across acquired entities during integration
- Oversee revenue recognition, AR/AP management, payroll accounting, and cash management practices
- Manage compliance with food industry regulatory requirements as they intersect with financial operations, including HACCP documentation, supplier payment terms, and perishable goods accounting
- Manage sales tax compliance and any applicable business licensing obligations across operating geographies
Systems & Technology
- Serve as the primary owner of the company's accounting and ERP systems, ensuring proper configuration, data integrity, and chart of accounts alignment
- Evaluate and lead the implementation of system upgrades or new platforms as the business scales, with a focus on automating manual processes and improving close efficiency
- Support integration of acquired companies' accounting systems and data migration into the platform standard
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Build, mentor, and develop an accounting team capable of sustaining the platform's financial infrastructure as it scales
- Serve as a trusted partner to the Syracuse Banana General Manager and operations leadership, translating financial performance into actionable insight
- Partner with the Harvest Prime platform leadership and the Talus finance team on budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting
- Represent the finance function with credibility and judgment in interactions with lenders, auditors, insurers, and other external stakeholders
- Provide ad hoc financial analysis and decision support to leadership as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA strongly preferred
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a Controller or equivalent senior accounting leadership role
- Demonstrated history of owning the full accounting function independently, not in a supporting or deputy capacity
- Experience in food distribution, wholesale produce, food manufacturing, or a comparably complex, operationally intensive industry
- Hands-on experience with acquisition accounting under ASC 805, including opening balance sheet preparation and reconciliation
- Demonstrated experience with post-closing purchase price adjustment or working capital determination processes, including seller-facing settlement communications
- Deep familiarity with GAAP financial reporting for privately held operating companies
- Strong command of accounting for common M&A deal structures, including asset purchases, stock purchases, and earn-out arrangements
- Experience managing or coordinating an annual financial statement audit
- High proficiency in Excel, including financial modeling, reconciliation workbooks, and data analysis across large transaction populations
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical accounting positions clearly to non-accountants and to counterparties in a negotiation context
- Executive presence and professional credibility to lead organizational change in a family-founded business environment
Preferred
- CPA license (active or inactive)
- Experience in fresh produce distribution, perishable goods, or food logistics
- Familiarity with food industry ERP or distribution management platforms (e.g., QuickBooks, Produce Pro, or comparable systems)
- Prior experience in a PE-backed or multi-entity platform company environment
- Public accounting background (Big 4 or regional firm), particularly with private company audit clients
- Demonstrated track record of replacing or succeeding a founder-era accounting function with institutional-grade controls and reporting
COMPENSATION
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $155,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated track record. This range reflects a good-faith estimate at the time of posting in accordance with New York State Labor Law Section 194-B. Final compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate's background and the role's needs.
Harvest Prime Foods is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $155,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
