What does a comptroller do?
Comptroller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real comptroller resumes:
- 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.
- Design and implement appropriate reports and procedures to monitor and control execution of monthly journal entries and account reconciliations.
- Assist the users with the UAT test plan.
- Assist outside CPA firm in year-end tax preparations by maintaining expense analyses, fix asset records and spreadsheets for LIFO calculations.
- Prepare financial statements and ensure conformity to GAAP.
- Prepare and present consolidated GAAP financial statements monthly for executive management.
- Initiate, research and implement conversion from manual accounting system to computerize system using QuickBooks.
- Create new internal reporting system using Hyperion enterprise, which include regional and corporate reports request by upper level management.
- Implement ROI analysis for marketing activities by assessing its profitability results and support management decision making.
Comptroller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Comptrollers are proficient in Payroll Taxes, External Auditors, and General Ledger Accounts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Comptrollers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Payroll Taxes, 11%
Process payroll, payroll taxes, disburse commissions to agents, insurance and 401K, bank reconciliation, accounts payable.
- External Auditors, 7%
Directed the preparation of audit schedules and monitor federal and operational audits with external auditors.
- General Ledger Accounts, 6%
Performed monthly reconciliations of all general ledger accounts and daily reconciliation of the sub-ledgers.
- Reconciliations, 6%
Designed and implemented appropriate reports and procedures to monitor and control execution of monthly journal entries and account reconciliations.
- CPA, 4%
Created a highly respected and effective organization, recruited from national and regional CPA firms - and engineering and IT areas.
- Journal Entries, 4%
Performed monthly and yearly consolidated journal entries and prepared financial statement reporting for the parent company and subsidiaries.
Most comptrollers use their skills in "payroll taxes," "external auditors," and "general ledger accounts" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential comptroller responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a comptroller to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "to assist executives in making decisions, financial managers need to evaluate data and information that affects their organization." Additionally, a comptroller resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "prepared and analyzed corporate financial reports and budgets at subsidiary and corporate levels. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform comptroller duties is communication skills. Comptrollers responsibilities require that "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." Comptrollers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared and delivered detailed daily financial reports to park managers to ensure all in the communication chain were well informed. "
Detail oriented. comptrollers are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to comptroller responsibilities, because "in preparing and analyzing reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, financial managers must be precise and attentive to their work in order to avoid errors." A comptroller resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "presented financial reports using professional structure and detail within executive board meetings and budget meetings. "
Math skills. A big part of what comptrollers do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to comptroller responsibilities because "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical comptroller tasks: "oversee cash management and banking activity conduct quantitative analysis of financial data to forecast revenue, and assess risk. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for comptroller responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of comptrollers all the time, as "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." An excerpt from a real comptroller resume shows how this skill is central to what a comptroller does: "provided direction and advisory assistance to the various organizational components in the center, with respect to their financial management responsibilities. "
The three companies that hire the most comptrollers are:
- Axiologic Solutions3 comptrollers jobs
- The Reserves Network2 comptrollers jobs
- Friendship Public Charter School2 comptrollers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable comptroller resume templates
Build a professional comptroller resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your comptroller resume.
Compare different comptrollers
Comptroller vs. Manager/finance accounting
A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations. A manager of finance accounting must also maintain accurate financial records, identify any errors or inconsistencies, and perform support tasks for staff when necessary. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a comptroller are more likely to require skills like "payroll taxes," "journal entries," "human resources," and "balance sheet." On the other hand, a job as a manager/finance accounting requires skills like "customer service," "due diligence," "hr," and "shared services." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Managers/finance accounting really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $92,198. Comparatively, comptrollers tend to make the most money in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $81,576.The education levels that managers/finance accounting earn slightly differ from comptrollers. In particular, managers/finance accounting are 4.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a comptroller. Additionally, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Comptroller vs. Business manager
A business manager is responsible for directing the overall operations of the company, ensuring that all employees do their tasks efficiently and accurately. Business managers' duties include developing strategic solutions, evaluating employees' performance, identifying business opportunities to grow, monitoring the company's expenses to meet its budget goals, implementing techniques to boost the company's revenue and profitability, and adhering to the company's legal policies and procedures. A business manager must have excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to supervise daily operations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real comptroller resumes. While comptroller responsibilities can utilize skills like "external auditors," "general ledger accounts," "reconciliations," and "balance sheet," business managers use skills like "customer service," "powerpoint," "project management," and "business plan."
Business managers earn a higher average salary than comptrollers. But business managers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $98,577. Additionally, comptrollers earn the highest salaries in the hospitality with average pay of $81,576 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Business managers tend to reach similar levels of education than comptrollers. In fact, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Comptroller vs. Finance manager
A finance manager is responsible for monitoring the financial system of a company. Their tasks include handling their organization's financial status, generating cost estimates and budget goals, identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability, improving financial strategies, reducing costs, analyzing account statements, processing invoice as needed, analyzing market trends, searching potential partnerships, and presenting reports. A finance manager must have excellent analytical skills and knowledge of the accounting and financial industry. They are responsible for providing the best recommendations for the organization's growth.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, comptrollers are more likely to have skills like "payroll taxes," "general ledger accounts," "tax returns," and "sales tax." But a finance manager is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "hyperion," "financial models," and "strong analytical."
Finance managers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $118,926. On the other hand, comptrollers are paid the highest salary in the hospitality industry, with average annual pay of $81,576.When it comes to education, finance managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to comptrollers. In fact, they're 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Comptroller vs. Senior staff accountant
A senior staff accountant is responsible for managing the accounting operations of the company's accounting department, reconciling accounts, and finalizing financial reports to discuss with the management. Senior staff accountants resolve account discrepancies, analyze the company's financial status, and verify financial transactions. They must have excellent analytical skills and extensive knowledge of the accounting principles to perform accounting duties that would minimize the financial risk of the company. A senior staff accountant provides strategic recommendations to prevent overspending and increase efficiency across all departments to drive more revenues and profits.
Types of comptroller
Updated January 8, 2025
