Job Description

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – National Nursery Wholesaler: On-site position, Dayton, OR

Acumen Executive Search is delighted to partner with Monrovia Nursery to find their next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Monrovia exists to “grow beautifully”. They are dedicated to creating a more beautiful world by selecting and growing plants of superior quality. They know that creating a beautiful garden or landscape is about connecting to the beauty of nature. Monrovia uses their hearts, minds, and hands to nurture plants for all types of landscapes. Their passion for plants, use of natural processes, and years of experience (100 years) result in plants that enable consumers to achieve a landscape of exceptional beauty and share in the joy that comes from creating healthy living spaces. 

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the strategic Finance/Accounting business partner to the leadership team and reports directly to the President/CEO. The company has three nurseries in the United States with 1300 FTE employees and approximately an additional 300 seasonal workers.  The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for supporting business objectives, strategic goals, and the financial well-being of the organization. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a trusted advisor to the leadership team and business leaders regarding finance, accounting, banking, risk management, and analysis to optimize staff engagement, align with organizational goals, and support of Monrovia’s healthy culture (long tenured Craftsman). The position has a special focus on providing and developing best-in-class finance/accounting leadership, processes, and strategic initiatives that drive long-term business results.

• Serve as a strategic business and thought partner to the CEO and Leadership Team across the US and for all business units.
• Are able to present to Board of Directors and “tell the story” of the numbers.
• Understand the complexity of working within the Agricultural industry
• Offer guidance, consulting, and coaching on various people initiatives, including conflict resolution, performance management, and Craftsman/employee engagement.
• Bring corporate experience to oversee Horticulture/Agricultural policies and processes, including those at the different operations sites.
• Manage the departmental budgets and a large team with remote dotted-line management over each nursery.
• Are able to work in the office (Dayton, Oregon) with some flexibility for remote.
• Are able to travel to other locations, approximately 20% of the time.

Then, this may be the next leadership opportunity for you.

Position Overview

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the strategic financial and accounting business partner to the CEO and Leadership Team. The CFO ensures organizational financial health, supports long-term strategic goals, and provides leadership across multi-site nursery operations.

This role blends hands-on financial management with high-level strategy, offering leadership in corporate finance, risk management, financial systems, banking, and data-driven business analysis. The CFO plays a central role in strengthening Monrovia’s craftsman-centered culture while modernizing processes, systems, and strategic decision-making frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and executive leadership across HR, Operations, R&D, Marketing, Sales, and Nursery General Managers.
• Apply financial expertise to the unique challenges of the agricultural and horticulture industry.
• Provide guidance on people-related decisions, including rolling up sleeves to “own” the numbers, while managing a strong, long-tenured team.
• Lead financial planning and goal‑setting for a distributed, multi-site operation with dotted‑line financial leadership at each nursery.
• Maintain on-site presence in Dayton, Oregon, with flexibility for some remote work; travel approximately 20%.
• Provide strategic recommendations to the CEO and executive team regarding policy, planning, and long-term financial direction.
• Assess financial risks/opportunities and support high-level business strategy.

Financial Strategy, Planning & Analysis

• Direct long-term financial forecasting, scenario modeling, and strategic planning.
• Utilize forward-looking financial models and analytics to inform budgeting and operational decisions.
• Manage the company’s capital structure, banking relationships, investment strategies, and cash‑flow planning.
• Evaluate financial performance relative to budgets, forecasts, and company goals.
• Ensure transparent, timely preparation of all financial reports for senior leadership and the Board.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve productivity, and reduce operational costs.
• Provide financial insights regarding system upgrades, business growth, and operational effectiveness.

Financial Operations & Compliance

• Oversee all accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and month-end close processes.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal/state regulations, fiscal requirements, and audit standards.
• Manage internal and external audit activities.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, payroll, and treasury functions.
• Approve large payables and authorize major wire and ACH transactions, and review/approve all contracts.
• Monitor legal and regulatory filings to ensure full compliance.
• Identify and manage business risks, insurance requirements, and enterprise-wide risk mitigation.
• Provide financial leadership in the sale or acquisition of company assets or subsidiaries.

Technology, Systems & Process Optimization

• Collaborate closely with the Leadership Team on technology decisions impacting finance and operations – currently running on Oracle.
• Oversee financial system implementations, ERP upgrades, and integrations—including Oracle Cloud, Bectran (credit management), and Vena (budgeting & planning).
• Lead the development and use of best‑practice tools, policies, and continuous improvement methodologies (including MNQ/Lean Six Sigma).
• Ensure effective accounting, reporting, quality, inventory, and purchasing processes supported by strong ERP structure.

Leadership & Culture

• Manage and develop finance staff, including Controller, Director of Financial Services, Manager of FP&A, Senior Data Analyst, and additional accounting/finance professionals.
• Build succession plans and maintain continuity for critical roles.
• Champion Monrovia’s values of fairness, respect, opportunity, and pride in craftsmanship.
• Foster a culture of integrity, ethical behavior, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with nursery coaches, departmental coaches, and cross-functional teams.
• Recognize and celebrate team achievements.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.
• MBA or CPA strongly preferred.
• 8–10+ years of progressive financial leadership, ideally in multi-site, agricultural, production, or manufacturing environments.
• Experience securing financing, managing banking relationships, and supporting business growth.
• Experience with company sales, mergers, or subsidiary divestiture processes preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate business objectives into financial outcomes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, financial applications, and data analytics.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity, ambiguity, and organizational change.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver with precision.

Why This Role at Monrovia

You may be an excellent fit if you:

• Enjoy being a strategic partner across multiple business units.
• Understand the agricultural industry’s regulatory, financial, and operational nuances.
• Thrive when modernizing financial systems and infrastructure.
• Value a purpose-driven, craftsmanship-focused culture.
• Appreciate a balance of hands-on leadership and strategic influence.

Procedure for Applying: To apply or see our other positions available, please go to Acumen Executive Search to submit a resume indicating your interest in the opportunity. If our current open positions are not the right fit for you and you would like us to share relevant opportunities, please send your resume and a brief cover to info@AcumenESearch.com.

About Acumen: Established in 2007, Acumen is recognized as the leading certified woman-owned Executive Search Partner in the Pacific Northwest with a global clientele.  We deliver high-impact results and higher than national average retention rates while nurturing genuine long-term relationships.  Acumen works shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients to deliver customized, meaningful, and proven leadership solutions that empower organizational success.

Keywords: Chief Financial Officer, CFO, VP Finance, Vice President Finance, Head of Finance, Finance Executive, Senior Financial Leader, Agricultural finance, Horticulture industry, Nursery operations, Multi‑site production, Production finance, Agribusiness CFO, Financial strategy, FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), Budgeting & forecasting, GAAP compliance, Financial reporting, Internal controls, Risk management, Capital structure, Cash‑flow management, Banking relationships, ERP systems (Oracle, Oracle Cloud), Audit management, Financial modeling, Cost optimization, Continuous improvement / Lean / Six Sigma