RACHELE RAU
Cloverdale,CA
Summary
Talented financial leader well-versed in accounting principles and regulations with 24+ years in the wine industry. Motivated to keep company financial operations compliant, accurate, and cost-effective.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Inventory and Costing
The Duckhorn Portfolio
05.2024 - Current
- Continue to lead the transition of the newly acquired Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- Driving strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies
Controller – Winery Operations and Brand Analytics
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards/Brown Forman Corporation
01.2016 - 04.2024
- Manage bulk wine inventory costing, develop product cost standards
- Budget, report and analyze Vineyard, Production, Winery, and G&A expenses; present to Corporate Executives
- Forecast and present production variances
- Develop Capital expense budget and projections
- Long term Brand strategy planning
- Lead Sales and Operations alignment
- Leading a team of five - Responsible for Purchasing, Taxes, TTB Reporting, Banking, Financial Close, Budgets, Reporting, Fixed Assets, and Payroll Processing
Senior Manger, Business Analytics
Fetzer Vineyards/Concha y Toro
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Develop and analyze P&L by product, brand, division, state and customer to determine operational profit
- Working with Sales, Marketing and Production, review proposed new products based on wine cost, packaging, and overhead versus desired operational margins
- Manage global pricing strategies and related promotions
- Budget, report and analyze Vineyard, Production, Winery, Sales, Marketing and SG&A expense cost centers; present to Senior Management/Executive Committee
- Approve monthly journal entries, accruals, reconciliations and expense reports
- Track and analyze vineyard expenses by ranch, block, varietal
- Lead a team of eight
- Responsible for selection/hiring, objective setting, performance management, coaching/development and training.
Budget and Reporting Manager
Fetzer Vineyards
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Lead and manage a team of accounting professionals, including selection/hiring, objective setting, performance management, coaching/development and training
- Budget for, analyze and submit seasonalized annual and quarterly projections for all expenses, including labor and overhead
- Prepare monthly financial reports and statistical charts explaining trends and variances to budget
- Review annual internal and external auditing schedules and coordinate related audit activities
- Approve all journal entries and accruals prepared by Financial Analysts
- Maintain fixed assets data on a monthly basis and lead the annual fixed asset inventory
- Capital expense planning and detailed project reporting
Senior Accountant
Fetzer Vineyards
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Budget analyze, and report monthly spending in Winery, Production, and Capital Expenses
- Complete annual property tax returns and related budget preparations for 40 parcels in three Counties
- Review annual internal/external auditing schedules and coordinate related audit activities
- Plan and lead monthly expense review meetings with Site Leadership
- Maintain fixed assets data and lead annual fixed asset inventory
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
California State University San Bernardino
Bachelor of Science, Management -
Pacific Union College
Skills
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Strategic Management
- Process Improvement
- Team Building
- Communication/Presentation
- Advanced User of SAP
- Advanced User of Microsoft Office Applications
Timeline
Senior Director, Inventory and Costing
The Duckhorn Portfolio
05.2024 - Current
Controller – Winery Operations and Brand Analytics
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards/Brown Forman Corporation
01.2016 - 04.2024
Senior Manger, Business Analytics
Fetzer Vineyards/Concha y Toro
01.2011 - 01.2016
Budget and Reporting Manager
Fetzer Vineyards
01.2007 - 01.2011
Senior Accountant
Fetzer Vineyards
01.2004 - 01.2007
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
California State University San Bernardino
Bachelor of Science, Management -
Pacific Union College
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