How To Become A Comptroller: What It Is and Career Path

What is a comptroller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Janet Tarase

The average comptroller salary is $81,446. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an accounting major. It usually takes 6-8 years of experience to become a comptroller. Comptrollers with a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 17% and produce 123,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a comptroller?

Janet Tarase

Lead Accounting Faculty / Accounting Department Chair, Red Rocks Community College

Create a vision board to set your yearly objectives and a long-term strategic plan that includes your professional and personal goal aspirations; be prepared to modify both of these guides as things change in your life. Join LinkedIn, if you haven't already, update it and make sure it is current. Make connections with a local professionals' group and create a network of like-minded, goal-oriented individuals. Also find a mentor or ask senior employees for their advice and counseling. Clean up your social media accounts or at the very least mark your questionable content as private so you are not sharing it publicly; become the professional you want to be. Continue your professional development, either through your employer, free online programs, or by furthering your education. Keep track of your accomplishments and continue to update your biography and resume. Finally, be appreciative and modest - thank those that help you and make sure to acknowledge those who participated in your successes.

ScoreComptrollerUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $81,446

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 8.34%

Black or African American 7.70%

Hispanic or Latino 14.81%

Unknown 4.11%

White 64.70%

Gender

female 51.75%

male 48.25%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a comptroller

Explore comptroller education requirements

Most common comptroller degrees

Bachelor's

66.8 %

Master's

13.6 %

Associate

13.5 %

Start to develop specific comptroller skills

Skills	Percentages
Payroll Taxes	11.03%
External Auditors	6.85%
General Ledger Accounts	6.50%
Reconciliations	6.49%
CPA	3.77%

Research comptroller duties and responsibilities

Work with the users for the UAT test phase and lead the UAT test sessions.
Complete responsibility for high-volume billing functions and managing client trust accounts, including bank reconciliations.
Manage payroll and all taxation matters, coordinate independent audit; communicate with outside organizations and agencies.
Coordinate CPA preparation of year-end financial statement compilation and tax returns.

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