How To Become An Assistant To The Controller: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant to the controller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.,

Jodi Olson

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an assistant to the controller. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.47 an hour? That's $38,409 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 81,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an assistant to the controller?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis

It was a great time to be entering the accounting industry, before the pandemic. Our students were serving in internships in huge numbers and our graduates were enjoying 100% placement, usually with multiple offers. The entry-level professionals were entering a profession marked by emerging and evolving technologies that made even the entry-level duties especially interesting. Further, our tech-comfortable young professionals were experiencing quick advancement because of their ability to employ the new technologies.

Most of the above remains true so the only open question is job availability. It would be unrealistic to say things are great. However, it seems that job prospects for accounting majors will be better than for those of virtually every other entry-level profession during difficult times. I have been speaking with firm leaders across the spectrum of firms and most do intend to be on campus in the fall recruiting season. Of course, they have a lot of time to learn more about the economy over the next few months, but we are cautiously optimistic. Again, I am confident that whatever the state of job availability for young CPAs-to-be, prospects will be better for accounting graduates than virtually any other profession.

They will be entering the profession at a fascinating moment in time. Of course, the technological advances assure this regardless of economic conditions. However, there are business disruption-related issues that will provide rich opportunities for making a difference. For example, audit staff will be working with clients to see them through these troubling times. Lamentably, I fear that these young professionals will learn more about the going concern determination than they desire to know. Tax staff will help clients to optimally use the tax loss carrybacks and carryforwards that are arising by the day. Entry level professionals in corporate accounting will get a day-to-day front row seat in business management through crisis. While lamentable times, these are times when young professionals can make a difference that saves jobs.

ScoreAssistant To The ControllerUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,409

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 12.12%

Black or African American 8.80%

Hispanic or Latino 11.15%

Unknown 3.97%

White 63.50%

Gender

female 64.88%

male 35.12%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant to the controller

Explore assistant to the controller education requirements

Most common assistant to the controller degrees

Bachelor's

57.7 %

Associate

21.7 %

High School Diploma

8.4 %

Start to develop specific assistant to the controller skills

Skills	Percentages
General Ledger Accounts	7.93%
Account Reconciliations	6.78%
Purchase Orders	6.28%
Windows	5.82%
External Auditors	4.73%

Complete relevant assistant to the controller training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistants to the controller learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant to the controller based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant to the controller resumes.

Research assistant to the controller duties and responsibilities

Manage financial reporting, monthly close, GAAP accruals and supervision of the accounting department.
Manage general ledger and coordinate annual internal audit, interacting with CPA firm and auditing staff.
Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Reconcile accounts receivable between A2000 systems and QuickBooks for monthly reporting and closing.

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