Compliance Specialist

Hood River Distillers Inc•Hood River, OR

50d•$68,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Hood River Distillers is seeking a detail-oriented Compliance Specialist to join our team. This role is primarily responsible for ensuring the company's compliance with federal and state alcohol beverage regulations, including licensing, bonding, and reporting. The ideal candidate will manage the full scope of regulatory filings and renewals, from maintaining licenses, permits, and bonds to preparing and submitting required federal and state tax and regulatory reports. This person will stay current on changes in alcohol beverage law and serve as a key resource for senior management, translating complex tax and regulatory processes into clear, actionable guidance. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential, as is the ability to manage multiple deadlines and maintain thorough records to support audits and regulatory inquiries.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Business Administration or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
3+ years of experience in regulatory compliance, preferably within the distilled spirits, beer, or wine industry
Working knowledge of TTB regulations (27 CFR Parts 1, 5, 7, 19, and 26) and federal excise tax requirements
Proficiency with inventory management or ERP systems and Microsoft Excel
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for agency correspondence and internal reporting
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra.
Proficient technical capacity.
Strong typing skills are required.
Microsoft Excel, Windows and Office experience necessary.
Ability to predict and manage common delays to the license, registration and bond process.
Ability to reconcile lengthy detailed reports.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to multitask and prioritize.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the alcohol industry is preferred.
Experience working directly with TTB and/or state alcohol control agencies
Familiarity with COLA Online, TTB portal, and Pay.gov
Knowledge of brandy or whiskey maturation and barrel inventory management
CPA, paralegal certification, or completed coursework in beverage alcohol compliance

Responsibilities

Manage federal and state regulatory compliance including shipment reporting, license renewals, brand registrations, and Federal Label approvals with the TTB.
Oversee out-of-state tax reporting, in-bond shipping coordination, and manufacturer payment processing.
Maintain compliance records and provides guidance on regulatory interpretation to minimize organizational risk.
Track bulk liquid from receipt through finished good shipment in accordance with TTB.
Research inventory discrepancies as needed.
Prepare and submit all required TTB reports, including the Brewer's, Winemaker's, and Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) operational reports (TTB Form 5110.40) on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Maintain the distillery's DSP permit and manage all permit amendments, renewals, and correspondence with the TTB.
Ensure compliance with the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act, including formula approvals, label applications (COLA), and advertising regulations.
Manage state licensing and permit renewals across all markets where the company holds distribution rights.
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes at the federal and state levels and communicate impacts to leadership.
Coordinate with the TTB and state agencies during audits and inspections; prepare documentation and serve as the on-site compliance contact.
Maintain records in accordance with TTB record-keeping requirements (27 CFR Parts 19 and 26), ensuring all documents are retained for the required statutory period.
Oversee and maintain the distillery's Gauge Book and production records, tracking all spirits from raw material receipt through fermentation, distillation, maturation, bottling, and shipment.
Conduct and document required physical gauges of spirits in tanks, barrels, and bottling lines; reconcile physical counts against system records.
Administer the Inventory Management System (IMS) or ERP platform for spirits tracking; identify and resolve variances between physical and book inventory.
Manage the bond and in-transit records for tax-determined and tax-deferred spirits, ensuring accurate tax liability calculations.
Coordinate with the warehouse and production teams to ensure proper documentation of all transfers between bonded premises, including DSP-to-DSP transfers.
Oversee destruction, dumping, and loss records in compliance with TTB requirements, including filing of claims for spirits lost to casualty or processing loss.
Prepare and submit the monthly Tax Return for Distilled Spirits (TTB Form 5000.24), ensuring accurate excise tax reporting and timely payment.
Partner with the production team to ensure all batch records, distillation logs, and blending records are complete and compliant.
Work with the finance team on excise tax accruals, bond liability reporting, and audit support.
Train production and warehouse staff on compliance-related procedures, recordkeeping requirements, and regulatory updates.
Support the sales and marketing teams with COLA submissions, formula approvals, and state product registration filings.