Dairy Financial Controller Job Description

This Dairy Financial Controller job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Finance Controller, Group Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Manager. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.

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Job title	Dairy Financial Controller
Also known as	Finance Controller, Group Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Finance Manager
Department	Finance, legal and corporate
Reports to	Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer
Direct reports	Financial accountants, and the payables, receivables, payroll and milk payments teams

What does a Dairy Financial Controller do?

Runs financial accounting, reporting and controls for a dairy processor, co-operative or farming group. Delivers accurate month-end results and statutory accounts, gets milk cost and commodity stock valuation right, and keeps a strong control environment that protects the business and its owners.

Dairy Financial Controller duties and responsibilities

Month-end and reporting

Run the month-end close to a set timetable and deliver accurate results on time
Review balance sheet reconciliations, journals and accruals before sign-off
Prepare monthly financial statements and commentary for the leadership team and Board
Consolidate results across sites, subsidiaries and currencies
Improve the speed and quality of the close through better processes and systems

Milk cost and payments

Accrue milk cost each month using collected volumes, milk constituents and the expected milk price
Reconcile milk payments to collection records, quality results and agreed pricing terms
Account for retrospective price adjustments, bonuses, deductions and seasonal payments
Work with milk supply to make sure pricing changes are set up correctly in the payment system
Account for member share capital, retentions and distributions where the business is a co-operative

Stock valuation

Value butter, powders, cheese and other commodity stocks at the lower of cost and net realisable value
Review net realisable value against market prices and forward sales contracts
Account correctly for maturing cheese, including holding costs and ageing
Oversee stock counts and investigate differences between book and physical stock
Report stock levels, ageing and provisions to senior management

Statutory accounts, audit and tax

Prepare statutory accounts for all group entities under the relevant accounting standards
Lead the external audit and resolve audit findings promptly
Manage tax compliance with internal staff and external advisers
Maintain accounting policies and update them when standards change
Prepare papers for the audit committee on key accounting judgements and estimates

Financial controls

Maintain the financial control framework, including delegated authorities and segregation of duties
Control cash, banking and payment approvals to prevent fraud and error
Account correctly for foreign exchange and commodity hedging positions
Test key controls regularly and close internal audit actions on time
Keep financial systems secure and financial data reliable

Team leadership

Recruit, develop and appraise the financial accounting team
Set clear deadlines, standards and responsibilities for each team member
Coach staff through professional study and plan succession for key roles
Promote close working between finance, operations, milk supply and sales

Dairy Financial Controller qualifications and experience

Essential

Recognised professional accountancy qualification
Substantial post-qualification experience in financial accounting and reporting
Experience of preparing statutory and consolidated accounts and leading external audits
Strong knowledge of international or local accounting standards
Experience of inventory valuation in manufacturing, food or commodity businesses
Experience of designing and running financial controls
Experience managing a finance team

Desirable

Experience in dairy processing, a dairy co-operative or agribusiness
Knowledge of milk payment systems and milk pricing models
Experience of hedge accounting for currency or commodity contracts
Experience of implementing or upgrading an ERP system

Skills and attributes

Accuracy and attention to detail
Sound technical accounting judgement
Planning and deadline management
Clear written and verbal reporting
Team leadership and coaching
Process improvement
Strong systems and spreadsheet skills

How success is measured

Month-end close completed within the agreed timetable
Statutory accounts filed on time with a clean audit opinion
Accuracy of milk cost accruals against final payments
Stock valuation issues and write-downs identified early
Internal and external audit actions closed on time
Balance sheet accounts reconciled and reviewed every month

Working conditions and safety

Office-based, with peak workload at month-end and year-end. Some travel to sites and occasional attendance at audit committee or Board meetings.

Lead by example on health, safety, food safety and animal welfare
Uphold the code of conduct and all legal and compliance requirements
Raise concerns and report incidents promptly

Dairy Financial Controller interview questions

Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Financial Controller role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.

How do you accrue milk cost at month-end when the final milk price is not yet set?
What a good answer shows: Uses volumes, constituents and a best price estimate, documents assumptions, and checks accuracy against final payments each month.
How do you test the net realisable value of butter, powder and cheese stocks?
What a good answer shows: Compares cost with market prices, forward contracts and ageing, and makes provisions promptly where value has fallen.
How would you shorten a slow month-end close without losing accuracy?
What a good answer shows: Maps the timetable, removes bottlenecks, moves work before month-end, automates reconciliations and sets clear owners.
What makes a strong set of balance sheet reconciliations?
What a good answer shows: Complete, timely and independently reviewed, with reconciling items explained, aged and cleared, and clear evidence for auditors.
Stock counts show cheese stock well below the book figure. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Checks counts, yields, movements and cut-off, finds the cause, adjusts the accounts and fixes the controls.
The auditors challenge your stock provision a week before sign-off. How do you respond?
What a good answer shows: Sets out evidence and judgement calmly, considers their view fairly, and agrees a supportable position on time.
How do you design controls over milk payments to farmers?
What a good answer shows: Segregates duties, controls changes to prices and bank details, reconciles to collections, and reviews exceptions before payment.
A senior manager asks you to delay booking a cost to hit a target. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Refuses, explains the accounting rules, records the correct figure and escalates if pressure continues.
How do you keep a finance team accurate and motivated through tight deadlines?
What a good answer shows: Plans workloads, shares the timetable, recognises effort, supports professional study and fixes recurring problems at source.
How do you build working relationships with operations and milk supply teams?
What a good answer shows: Spends time on site, explains numbers simply, shares useful data and treats colleagues as partners.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Dairy Financial Controller do?

What qualifications does a Dairy Financial Controller need?

Employers usually look for: recognised professional accountancy qualification; substantial post-qualification experience in financial accounting and reporting; experience of preparing statutory and consolidated accounts and leading external audits.

Who does a Dairy Financial Controller report to?

A Dairy Financial Controller usually reports to the Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer. Direct reports typically include financial accountants, and the payables, receivables, payroll and milk payments teams.

Can I use this Dairy Financial Controller job description for my own vacancy?

Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.