business controller job description

Business controllers usually spend their workdays doing the following tasks: financial reports: as a business controller, your responsibilities include overseeing financial reports and statements. You read them carefully, check for accuracy and use the information provided to make major decisions for the company. interpreting financial reports: your duties include interpreting financial reports and drawing inferences based on the information provided. You review the cash accounts, investments, and business costs and provide recommendations to optimise costs. asset control: as a business controller, you are responsible for securing and safeguarding corporate assets. Your duties include blocking unauthorised users and protecting assets from fraud with routine audits. financial oversight: your role as a business controller involves financial oversight. As a controller, you are the head accountant for your company, which means that you should be able to develop a budget and work with your team to ensure that the company follows the spending plan. using technology to prepare financial reports: business controllers are expected to know the company's software. In your role, you use financial software to ensure accuracy when developing and clarifying financial reports. You also use your data analysis skills to prepare reports and create business plans for potential investors. supervision: as a business controller, you oversee a team of accountants. Your task is to monitor daily company operations. You may be asked to enforce compliance standards and forecast future spending. risk management: in a large corporate setting, your duties may include risk management. This means that you identify, assess and minimise risks. You analyse the risks in the company and develop risk management strategies. participating in decision-making: as a business controller, you assist managers in making decisions. Based on your analysis, you can assist with budgeting and financial planning. You also measure the risks associated with a particular decision and advise the management team.

As a business controller, you spend most of your days working in an office or remotely. You may work in manufacturing, telecommunications or the mining industry or for a non-profit organisation. Expect to work with the latest financial software to ensure accuracy when reviewing financial data and analysing company operations. At times, you communicate with other team members about budgeting and spending. You meet with company managers and the finance department to discuss fiscal issues and make decisions based on the company's financial status.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include accountants , finance analysts and finance business partners . You might also be working in close proximity to financial risk compliance officers and financial planners , as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, controllers , operations managers and financial assistants .

As a company grows, so does the demand for better financial reporting and greater fiscal outcomes. This increases the pressure to develop solutions that take the company in the right direction. As a business controller, this means long work days. You may be asked to work remotely or in an office to collaborate with managers and the finance department. Most business controllers in full-time positions work a 9-5 work schedule during the working week. Some companies even provide part-time business controller roles.

Business controllers start their careers in accounting and finance departments, often working as accountants, finance assistants or financial planners. With your extensive experience in accounting and finance, you have multiple opportunities for career growth. For instance, you can become the CFO or the chief operations officer (COO).

advantages of finding a business controller job through randstad

Finding your business controller job through Randstad provides important advantages such as: a wide variety of training and development opportunities an experienced contact person to provide help if needed a range of opportunities in your area get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a business controller is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

how much do business controllers make in Australia?

As a business controller, your average salary is $150,000 per year. When you have minimal experience in the role, you take home an average salary of $127,500 annually. With experience and additional certifications, your remuneration package is $179,400 per year.

what are the duties of a business controller?

As a business controller, you analyse business processes or finances to find areas of improvement. You review the company's financial data and statements to ensure the organisation complies with financial reporting standards. You also assist management with decision-making by evaluating risks and investment opportunities.

is business controller a high-level job?

A controller manages the company's accounting and finance activities. You oversee the accounting department to ensure the financial reports are accurate. You also participate in the company's financial planning, risk evaluation and decision-making. This makes you a high-level financial manager.

what is the difference between a business controller and a business manager?

As a business controller, you are responsible for finance and accounting-related activities in a company. You also review operations to improve productivity. Business managers focus on managing the operations and ensuring business operations are running efficiently. They are not involved in the financial aspects of the business.

how can I be a good business controller?

To excel as a business controller, you need a strong background in accounting. Your knowledge of accounting helps you analyse financial data, while your analytical skills help you draw conclusions from the analysis. Your leadership skills help you lead and motivate finance and accounting teams.

how do I apply for a business controller vacancy?

Applying for a business controller job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here .

Working as a business controller

what is a business controller?

As a business controller, your goal is to improve the operations of the company you work for. You use financial data, as well as what you learn from the day-to-day operation of the business, to grow the company. Business controllers report to the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO). Knowledge of organisational goals helps you develop strategies to improve productivity and profits. You advise senior executives on financial and operational activities that impact business development. You also prepare business plans and guide managers in business planning to aid in the achievement of company goals.

Having communication skills and a goal-oriented mindset helps you grow the company. As a business controller, it's important to understand key financial indicators and know how to improve office performance and productivity. You also make important decisions about the company's budget and future.

A background in business, finance or economics increases your success since you gain accounting and financial analysis skills. Collaborating with the finance team and demonstrating your business savvy is part of your everyday routine.

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average business controller salary

As a business controller, you earn an average salary of $150,000 annually. The remuneration package fluctuates based on various factors, such as experience and the complexity of your duties. When you work in a junior-level position, you take home a salary of $127,500 per year. The most experienced business controllers in Australia earn over $179,400 per year.

what factors affect the salary of a business controller?

The main determinant of your remuneration is your expertise and educational qualifications. If you have only a bachelor's degree with entry-level qualifications, you will likely earn less than a business controller who has extra certifications to showcase their expertise. Having over five years of work experience also makes a difference in your earnings since employers are willing to pay more for your skills.

Working in a large organisation improves your remuneration prospects significantly. Large companies have vast resources and can afford to pay higher salaries. Besides, you have more complex roles due to the significant business activities. Small companies have limited resources and may not have the budget to pay high salaries.

Want to know what you will earn as a business controller? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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types of business controllers

Employers require different types of business controllers. The bigger the company, the greater the choices or opportunities offered. Business controllers fall into various categories, including financial, marketing and human resources controllers. As a financial controller, you are responsible for a company's management and financial planning. You work with auditors, managers and CFOs to ensure tax code compliance and to oversee spending and revenue.

As a marketing controller, your duties include analysing and evaluating a company's spending on marketing and advertising. You need a strong background in marketing and finance. As a human resources (HR) controller, you make top decisions about personnel, including maximising training and optimising employee programmes or benefits. You also help obtain and keep good personnel.

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working as a business controller

What does a business controller do? What would your daily work life be like? Here is what you can expect when working in this field.

business controller job description
Business controllers usually spend their workdays doing the following tasks:
- financial reports: as a business controller, your responsibilities include overseeing financial reports and statements. You read them carefully, check for accuracy and use the information provided to make major decisions for the company.
- interpreting financial reports: your duties include interpreting financial reports and drawing inferences based on the information provided. You review the cash accounts, investments, and business costs and provide recommendations to optimise costs.
- asset control: as a business controller, you are responsible for securing and safeguarding corporate assets. Your duties include blocking unauthorised users and protecting assets from fraud with routine audits.
- financial oversight: your role as a business controller involves financial oversight. As a controller, you are the head accountant for your company, which means that you should be able to develop a budget and work with your team to ensure that the company follows the spending plan.
- using technology to prepare financial reports: business controllers are expected to know the company's software. In your role, you use financial software to ensure accuracy when developing and clarifying financial reports. You also use your data analysis skills to prepare reports and create business plans for potential investors.
- supervision: as a business controller, you oversee a team of accountants. Your task is to monitor daily company operations. You may be asked to enforce compliance standards and forecast future spending.
- risk management: in a large corporate setting, your duties may include risk management. This means that you identify, assess and minimise risks. You analyse the risks in the company and develop risk management strategies.
- participating in decision-making: as a business controller, you assist managers in making decisions. Based on your analysis, you can assist with budgeting and financial planning. You also measure the risks associated with a particular decision and advise the management team.
work environment

As a business controller, you spend most of your days working in an office or remotely. You may work in manufacturing, telecommunications or the mining industry or for a non-profit organisation. Expect to work with the latest financial software to ensure accuracy when reviewing financial data and analysing company operations. At times, you communicate with other team members about budgeting and spending. You meet with company managers and the finance department to discuss fiscal issues and make decisions based on the company's financial status.
who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include accountants, finance analysts and finance business partners. You might also be working in close proximity to financial risk compliance officers and financial planners, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, controllers, operations managers and financial assistants.
work schedule

As a company grows, so does the demand for better financial reporting and greater fiscal outcomes. This increases the pressure to develop solutions that take the company in the right direction. As a business controller, this means long work days. You may be asked to work remotely or in an office to collaborate with managers and the finance department. Most business controllers in full-time positions work a 9-5 work schedule during the working week. Some companies even provide part-time business controller roles.
job outlook

Business controllers start their careers in accounting and finance departments, often working as accountants, finance assistants or financial planners. With your extensive experience in accounting and finance, you have multiple opportunities for career growth. For instance, you can become the CFO or the chief operations officer (COO).
advantages of finding a business controller job through randstad
Finding your business controller job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a business controller is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

4

education and skills

If you want to become a business controller in Australia, pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration or finance. The full-time university degree takes four years, and you can join an internship to gain on-the-job experience. As a business controller, you hold a senior position and make important business decisions. You should pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) to improve your leadership skills and expertise.

Aside from practical training and internships, you need experience working in finance and accounting departments to understand how companies work. Employers prefer candidates with a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. You can also consider getting accounting certifications, such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Internal Auditor.

business controller skills and competencies

Some of the skills and competencies of a business controller include:

analytical skills: as a business controller, you review financial and operational data. You rely on your analytical skills to review financial reports and check for compliance. Your analytical ability also helps you improve the company's financial strategy and manage risk.
attention to detail: as a business controller, you should pay attention to mistakes made in preparing financial statements. Your attentiveness to detail helps you keep an eye out for discrepancies and inaccuracies.
communication skills: as a business controller, you run a team of accounting and finance staff. Your communication skills are crucial in giving instructions and assisting accountants in their duties. You also explain complex financial information in simple terms that senior officials can understand.
organisation skills: as a business controller, you oversee operations and financial activities. Your organisational skills help you keep track of vital data and duties to ensure the department runs smoothly.
technical skills: as a business controller, you use financial software to review financial data and analyse company operations. Having computer skills and technical knowledge in using financial software is important.

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FAQs about working as a business controller

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a business controller.

how much do business controllers make in Australia?

As a business controller, your average salary is $150,000 per year. When you have minimal experience in the role, you take home an average salary of $127,500 annually. With experience and additional certifications, your remuneration package is $179,400 per year.
what are the duties of a business controller?

As a business controller, you analyse business processes or finances to find areas of improvement. You review the company's financial data and statements to ensure the organisation complies with financial reporting standards. You also assist management with decision-making by evaluating risks and investment opportunities.
is business controller a high-level job?

A controller manages the company's accounting and finance activities. You oversee the accounting department to ensure the financial reports are accurate. You also participate in the company's financial planning, risk evaluation and decision-making. This makes you a high-level financial manager.
what is the difference between a business controller and a business manager?

As a business controller, you are responsible for finance and accounting-related activities in a company. You also review operations to improve productivity. Business managers focus on managing the operations and ensuring business operations are running efficiently. They are not involved in the financial aspects of the business.
how can I be a good business controller?

To excel as a business controller, you need a strong background in accounting. Your knowledge of accounting helps you analyse financial data, while your analytical skills help you draw conclusions from the analysis. Your leadership skills help you lead and motivate finance and accounting teams.
how do I apply for a business controller vacancy?

Applying for a business controller job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.

business controller.