duties and responsibilities

A controller's daily tasks include: accounting and cashflow maintenance: your job starts with daily accounting tasks like managing accounts payable and receivable and processing payroll. You also oversee daily cash flow tasks for small businesses and minimise inefficiencies. implementing bookkeeping policies: as a controller, you assist small businesses with developing bookkeeping policies and accounting procedures. If the company has existing bookkeeping policies, you help align them with its expansion and growth strategies. That means you update the policies and ensure the company stays on top of its accounting procedures. financial management reporting: you help the business owner assess the business's current health by generating key financial reports. When you close the accounting period, you generate financial statements to assist with analysing the company's financial position. You also provide monthly reports to help decision-makers strategise how to improve cash flow. completing internal audits: you advise on the best time for a business to perform internal audits, from departmental audits to audits of the whole company. Sometimes, you must conduct audits, supervise the auditing team, or prepare the company's accounts for an external audit. business budgeting and forecasting: controllers assist financial managers with forecasts based on historical financial data and market trends. They also complete financial planning by creating budgets for the entire organisation and allocating funds to each department. conduct risk evaluation and due diligence in mergers: you identify and analyse potentially negative impacts on the company's financial health. You also review and investigate investment opportunities or merger deals for the business.

A controller's typical work environment is primarily indoors in an office. You often work in government buildings or in urban settings for private companies. Controllers attend meetings and discuss financial policies with other executives. Therefore, occasional travel for company conferences and training sessions may be necessary. A controller can also work remotely from home and perform all duties except when attending mandatory office meetings.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include accountants , finance managers, financial planners , and finance analysts . You might also be working close to management accountants and inventory specialists, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, payroll specialists, business analysts and finance directors.

Most controllers work more than 40 hours weekly without additional pay because the workload is factored into their salary. Your typical workweek has an average of 43 hours. However, some controllers work over 10 hours daily, six days a week, with occasional weekends to attend professional meetings and seminars. Most organisations allow controllers to operate flexible schedules. Therefore, you can work full-time or part-time, depending on the demands of your role.

As a controller, you supervise all accounting staff, including payroll, financial and tax managers. Due to the supervisory nature of your role, you can easily transition to senior-level management positions. Others specialise in specific industries or business functions like credit control or financial control.

advantages of finding a controller job through randstad

Finding your 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 controller is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

what skills do controllers require?

Controllers rely on various technical and transferable skills to excel in the role. For instance, you require organisation skills to arrange financial information and ensure its accuracy. You also rely on your management skills to delegate tasks and supervise other professionals in the field. Leadership skills are essential for strategic planning and keeping the accounting team motivated.

what does a controller do?

As a controller, you monitor a company's financial health. You also prepare budgets at the beginning of the year and analyse the company's performance against forecasts. You work with other finance professionals to deal with various financial issues, from tax compliance to budgeting and credit control.

is controller a difficult job?

Working as a controller is exciting, but it can be stressful. You spend hours analysing financial reports and statements, which involves tedious and repetitive tasks. Tight deadlines, compliance demands and a high volume of work contribute to a financial controller's demanding job.

is a controller an accountant?

Yes, but their responsibilities expand beyond those of an accountant. A controller manages other accountants and oversees a company's accounting operations. A controller also earns a higher remuneration package than an accountant.

what is another title for a controller?

A controller is also referred to as a comptroller. The frequency of use of the titles depends on the type of business. 'Comptroller' is the usual title in non-profit and governmental organisations, whereas 'controller' is most often used in private companies.

how do I apply for a controller vacancy?

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

Working as a controller

what is a controller?

Controllers, also known as comptrollers, are senior-level executives who work as the accounting heads. As a controller, you oversee the preparation of financial reports, including income statements and balance sheets. You're also responsible for ensuring the accuracy of ledgers for money coming into the company and eliminating any mistakes. Banks, government agencies and large corporations employ controllers. Other industries like manufacturing, mining and construction firms also rely on controllers to monitor their costs.

Financial controllers work closely with an organisation's accounting, audit, and other budget-related departments. You are responsible for producing reports that determine the company's economic outlook over time. You ensure the accurate and timely completion of monthly financial statements. Controllers are also in charge of submitting paperwork to statutory regulatory authorities. This record-keeping promotes honesty, efficiency and accuracy within the company. Companies expect controllers to improve processes within each team to meet reporting deadlines efficiently.

As a controller, you may also be responsible for staff management. However, you could be the only accountant in a small company. When identifying trends for budgeting and forecasting purposes, controllers aim to express ideas in terms that everyone can understand. You report directly to the president or board of directors to offer insight and provide recommendations for managing budgets.

As a controller, your ability to thrive in a challenging role can be reflected by how you respond to unexpected changes and expectations within the company. Successful controllers are often self-motivated and flexible in their learning approach. People with analytical mindsets are most likely to succeed in this role.

controller jobs

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average salary of a controller

The remuneration package of a controller depends on their area of specialisation. For instance, a finance controller earns a median remuneration package of $145,000 annually. The lowest-paid finance controller takes home $135,000, while experienced professionals take home over $155,000 annually.

Cost controllers receive an average salary of $110,000 annually. Entry-level cost controllers take home $105,000 annually, while experienced workers earn over $125,000 annually. A credit controller is the lowest paid controller, with an average salary of $70,000 per year and a remuneration package ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 annually.

how to increase a controller's salary

Focusing on finance helps to improve your remuneration. Your qualifications and work experience also increase your salary expectations. When you are an entry-level worker with minimal experience, your earnings are lower but increase as you gain experience. Sometimes, your location also influences your role as a controller. For instance, working in metro areas is likely to pay more than in smaller cities.

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

controller salary

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types of controllers

Some types of controllers include:

finance controllers: as a finance controller, you lead a team of accountants overseeing day-to-day financial operations. Your job is to run the accounting functions, and you are in charge of the company's records and books. Apart from analysing accounting records, you provide accurate analysis that supports strategic business decisions.
cost controllers: as a cost controller, you help organisations manage their spending on various projects. You analyse budgets and ensure project costs are adhered to during implementation.
credit controllers: as a credit controller, you analyse the company's available credit and assess the business's debts. You supervise credit assessments, develop payment plans and keep accurate financial records and repayment terms for each creditor. You also ensure the company receives money from its creditors on time.

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