Auditor vs controller

The differences between auditors and controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a controller has an average salary of $101,204, which is higher than the $54,853 average annual salary of an auditor.

The top three skills for an auditor include audit reports, customer service and financial statements. The most important skills for a controller are CPA, payroll processing, and reconciliations.

Auditor vs controller overview

	Auditor	Controller
Yearly salary	$54,853	$101,204
Hourly rate	$26.37	$48.66
Growth rate	6%	17%
Number of jobs	20,325	75,440
Job satisfaction	3	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age	44	46
Years of experience	-	8

What does an auditor do?

An auditor is responsible for reviewing financial statements and making sure that the reports align with the accounting principles and legislative standards. Some of the important duties of an auditor are verifying the company's account statements, ensuring that the business is free from fraud and other unusual activities, providing recommendations to boost operations' performance, and creating financial reports for the board. An auditor should have excellent analytical and decision-making skills to spot inaccuracies of financial statements and resolve financial issues immediately.

What does a controller do?

Controllers are employees in the accounting department who manage the finances of the organization. They are involved in the budget setting activity at the start of the company's fiscal year. Controllers are responsible for ensuring that all departments work within their respective budgets. They have the power to recommend budget cuts due to any unforeseen circumstances that may happen. They also have the ability to veto or forego budget items. Controllers should have accounting skills and auditing skills. They must also be trustworthy and should work with integrity.

Auditor vs controller salary

Auditors and controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Auditor	Controller
Average salary	$54,853	$101,204
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $84,000	Between $70,000 And $144,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New York
Best paying company	Microsoft	Perkins Coie
Best paying industry	Professional	Technology

Differences between auditor and controller education

There are a few differences between an auditor and a controller in terms of educational background:

	Auditor	Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Auditor vs controller demographics

Here are the differences between auditors' and controllers' demographics:

	Auditor	Controller
Average age	44	46
Gender ratio	Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1%	Male, 58.9% Female, 41.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	11%

Differences between auditor and controller duties and responsibilities

Auditor example responsibilities.

Lead FDA readiness audits and participate in regulatory inspections.
Manage the collection, analysis and verification of managerial payroll information to detect fraud and/or unethical practices.
Work with department analyst to create measurement tools and methods for communicating results and managing QA analysis in compiling/reporting results.
Perform semi-annual financial audits w/ externally contract CPA to validate accounts payable and receivables.
Develop and facilitate training for SOX process owners and other stakeholders using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Work efficiently and effectively with various process owners to develop SOX specific business processes and mating documentation controls.

Show more

Controller example responsibilities.

Manage NAV production, calculation of performance fees, IFRS accounts and subscription/redemption analysis.
Lead transition of company from sole proprietor to NYSE list company subsidiary, including implementing new financial reporting system.
Manage a team of junior staff accountants and maintaining quality control throughout the entire monthly billing, A/P & A/R processes.
Manage treasury, open several new accounts, establish new procedures and controls, monitor daily activity.
Produce monthly account reconciliations, post monthly journal entries and review, analyze, correct and issue monthly comparative financial statements.
Perform accounting research and special projects as required including cash flow analysis, cost projections, reconciliations and other financial analysis.

Show more

Auditor vs controller skills

Common auditor skills

Audit Reports, 18%
Customer Service, 8%
Financial Statements, 6%
Audit Findings, 5%
Audit Procedures, 5%
Payroll, 5%

Common controller skills

CPA, 8%
Payroll Processing, 7%
Reconciliations, 6%
Cash Management, 5%
Internal Controls, 5%
GAAP, 5%

Auditor vs. similar jobs

Auditor related careers

Auditor related jobs

Auditor jobs by location

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z