Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between chief finance officers and finance controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a chief finance officer, becoming a finance controller takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a chief finance officer has an average salary of $143,947, which is higher than the $105,869 average annual salary of a finance controller.
The top three skills for a chief finance officer include payroll, CPA and oversight. The most important skills for a finance controller are CPA, payroll, and financial controller.
| Chief Finance Officer | Finance Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $143,947 | $105,869 |
| Hourly rate | $69.21 | $50.90 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 145,184 | 97,342 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 52 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
A chief financial officer is responsible for managing and reviewing the financial status of a company. Chief financial officers' duties include ensuring the accuracy of financial reports, monitoring the company's expenses and budget goals, providing recommendations to prevent financial loss and increase revenues, processing the company's tax obligations, and resolving financial disputes. A chief financial officer must have an impeccable knowledge of the financial industry, updated with the current market trend, and strong leadership and decision-making skills to support the organization's financial department.
A financial controller is primarily in charge of the daily finance activities and accounting functions of a company. Their responsibilities typically revolve around preparing and organizing financial reports, analyzing data and looking out for any discrepancies or inconsistencies, and overseeing the company's overall revenues and expenditures. A financial controller must also maintain documentation, participate in risk assessment and budgeting activities, and develop strategies for profit growth. Furthermore, one must coordinate with other department staff to ensure accuracy, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Chief finance officers and finance controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Finance Officer | Finance Controller | |
| Average salary | $143,947 | $105,869 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $257,000 | Between $71,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Yonkers, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Baker McKenzie | Sage Memorial Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a chief finance officer and a finance controller in terms of educational background:
| Chief Finance Officer | Finance Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chief finance officers' and finance controllers' demographics:
| Chief Finance Officer | Finance Controller | |
| Average age | 52 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% | Male, 61.5% Female, 38.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |