An accounting manager may work in a certified public accountant (CPA) firm, financial institution, or other company. Accounting managers supervise accounting departments, handle their daily operations, prepare reports for company leads, and develop standards and processes for proper financial management. Their work is essential for maintaining the financial wellness and integrity of an organization.

According to Indeed Salaries, an accounting manager earns an average base salary of $79,936 per year. Typically, the position is held for a tenure of two to four years.

A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field is a minimum requirement. For more advanced positions, they may require a master's degree or higher and at least two to five years of work experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity. Employers may also want the accounting manager to have a valid CPA license, depending on the business's needs.

What Does an Accounting Manager/Controller Do

There are certain skills that many accounting managers/controller have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and detail oriented.

Learn more about what an Accounting Manager/Controller does

How To Become an Accounting Manager/Controller

If you're interested in becoming an accounting manager/controller, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 72.9% of accounting managers/controller have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 13.7% of accounting managers/controller have master's degrees. Even though most accounting managers/controller have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become an Accounting Manager/Controller
Top Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs Near You

Accounting Manager/Controller Career Paths

Average Salary for an Accounting Manager/Controller

Accounting Managers/Controller in America make an average salary of $93,973 per year or $45 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $133,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $66,000 per year.
Average Accounting Manager/Controller Salary
$93,973 Yearly
$45.18 hourly

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Roles and Types of Accounting Manager/Controller

The role of an accounting manager/controller includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry.Here are some general accounting manager/controller responsibilities:

  • Responsible for all accounting and financial activity within the district including financial statements prepared in an accurate, complete
  • Responsible for delivery of consolidation and cash flow solutions as an individual contributor within the controlling & reporting accounting organization, typically addressing complex, unique
  • Supervise and provide training to accounting staff. Oversee all phases of revenue, expenditures, cash flow management, fixed asset management, balance sheets

There are several types of accounting manager/controller, including:

Accounting Manager

Role:

Accounting managers supervise the work of bookkeepers at accounting departments, making sure that every financial statement and report is delivered on time. They are responsible for personally managing distinguished clients' accounts, and maintaining a good relationship with the company's key customers is their business as well.

Accounting managers have the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to seeking out new business opportunities, and they are always up to date on the latest strategic financial speculations.

Never underestimate the power of accountants. Ask Al Capone. He/She would have never been caught if he/she had paid his/her taxes on time.
  • Average Salary: $84,451
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Finance Manager

Role:

Finance managers take care of the finances of an organization. You have to produce reports, carry out research, and come up with beneficial financial strategies. Your responsibility also involves tracking the financial performance of your company to note areas for improvement. Also, you will assist top executives in making good business decisions with the present state of the organization's finances.

As a finance manager, you are to monitor the daily financial operations of your company. You will also oversee the other staff members in the financial department. Finance managers continuously look for ways to reduce the company's financial risks. More importantly, you make the company comply with the financial legislation.

A degree in accounting, finance, economics, or business is a major requirement. Some organizations prefer candidates with prior work experience in a related field. You should have exceptional mathematical, leadership, and communication skills. In-depth knowledge of business principles is also necessary. Finance managers make an average of $93,198 yearly.
  • Average Salary: $101,374
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Accounting Supervisor

Role:

An accounting supervisor oversees and coordinates the daily running of the accounts department. Your responsibilities include ensuring all accounting operations run smoothly, recruiting and training accounting staff, reviewing the work of junior staff, reconciling general ledger accounts, and assisting in preparing payroll accounts.

You will also be required to analyze financial statements ensuring accuracy and quality. Some of your other responsibilities include ensuring all operations of the organization remain within the stipulated budgets and preparing taxes, and coordinating the payment of taxes promptly. You will also be required to prepare regular updates of the company's finances to the management.

You must have a sound knowledge of accounting principles and practices. Other important skills are proficiency in Microsoft Excel and accounting software, leadership and management skills, and attention to detail. You will need a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration. Accounting supervisors commonly earn $68,032 annually, which is approximately $32.71 per hour.
  • Average Salary: $68,923
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

States With The Most Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs

Mouse over a state to see the number of active accounting manager/controller jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where accounting managers/controller earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary: Job Openings:

Number Of Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California3,577$107,860
2Texas1,769$106,192
3Illinois1,528$88,573
4Florida1,447$91,065
5New York1,352$120,439
6Pennsylvania993$89,308
7Massachusetts985$108,864
8Virginia902$100,271
9Ohio877$87,905
10Georgia788$90,957
11Colorado778$79,515
12Minnesota756$80,254
13Washington728$95,127
14Maryland718$92,553
15North Carolina683$87,055
16New Jersey671$115,681
17Michigan653$85,072
18Arizona511$86,719
19Tennessee479$74,309
20Wisconsin476$83,429
21Indiana466$76,012
22Missouri451$73,322
23Oregon449$87,167
24Connecticut363$99,165
25Iowa319$73,284
26South Carolina299$84,337
27Utah287$75,167
28Alabama251$81,496
29Kentucky247$79,882
30Nevada226$88,508
31Kansas212$66,461
32Nebraska180$67,208
33New Hampshire177$88,433
34Oklahoma177$82,373
35Louisiana158$77,356
36Arkansas157$74,438
37Delaware154$96,918
38Montana136$62,628
39New Mexico126$85,787
40Idaho111$82,605
41Rhode Island108$99,719
42Maine105$85,727
43Mississippi102$68,268
44Hawaii87$59,314
45West Virginia62$80,644
46North Dakota62$63,650
47Alaska61$75,153
48South Dakota54$65,772
49Vermont53$90,375
50Wyoming41$65,777

Accounting Manager/Controller Education

Accounting Manager/Controller Majors

25.5 %
6.3 %

Accounting Manager/Controller Degrees

Bachelors

72.9 %

Masters

13.7 %

Associate

11.0 %

Top Colleges for Accounting Manager/Controllers

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Economics
Political Science
Computer Science

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business/Commerce
Business
Economics
Liberal Arts
Psychology

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
General Education, Specific Areas
Accounting
Economics

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Accounting
Psychology
Computer Science
Business

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Human Resources Management
Accounting
Economics

6. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Computer Science
Economics

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Finance
Business
Business Economics
Mathematics

8. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Mathematics
Economics

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Economics
Computer Science
General Education, Specific Areas

10. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mathematics
Psychology
Education
Economics

Top Skills For an Accounting Manager/Controller

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.5% of accounting managers/controller listed reconciliations on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Accounting Manager/Controller Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Accounting Manager/Controller templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Accounting Manager/Controller resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

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Accounting Manager/Controller Resume

Accounting Manager/Controller Demographics

Accounting Manager/Controller Gender Distribution

Female
Female
52%
Male
Male
48%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among accounting managers/controller, 51.6% of them are women, while 48.4% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among accounting managers/controller is White, which makes up 63.6% of all accounting managers/controller.

  • The most common foreign language among accounting managers/controller is Spanish at 35.6%.

Online Courses For Accounting Manager/Controller That You May Like

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1. Bank Reconciliations & Cash Internal Controls

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3. Financial Accounting Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals

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Subsidiary ledgers for accounts receivable & accounts payable. Special Journals - Sales journal, purchases journal...

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Best States For an Accounting Manager/Controller

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as an accounting manager/controller. The best states for people in this position are New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California. Accounting managers/controller make the most in New York with an average salary of $120,439. Whereas in New Jersey and Massachusetts, they would average $115,681 and $108,864, respectively. While accounting managers/controller would only make an average of $107,860 in California, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

1. New York

Total Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs: 1,352
Highest 10% Earn:
$177,000
Location Quotient:
1.13

2. District of Columbia

Total Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs: 271
Highest 10% Earn:
$166,000
Location Quotient:
1.73

3. Massachusetts

Total Accounting Manager/Controller Jobs: 985
Highest 10% Earn:
$160,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Full List Of Best States For Accounting Managers/Controller

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Top Accounting Manager/Controller Employers

Most Common Employers For Accounting Manager/Controller

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1JCPenney$119,631$57.512
2BNY Mellon$114,417$55.013
3Cisco$114,357$54.983
4Cargill$108,019$51.935
5Xerox$98,864$47.533
6Brookfield Properties$97,957$47.093
7Hurst Home Insurance$91,472$43.983
8CourtTrax$88,521$42.562
9Gsi Engineering Llc$87,838$42.233
10Mt Hood Realty$87,179$41.912

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