What does a controller/business manager do?
A controller/business manager is responsible for evaluating the overall business and financial transactions in an organization. Controller/business managers conduct data and statistical analysis on market performance and identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the business. They also strategize efficient techniques and processes to maximize the staff's productivity and performance in delivering high-quality outputs for customer satisfaction. A controller/business manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in the smart allocation of budget and resources for project management procedures.
Controller/business manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real controller/business manager resumes:
- Manage all financial aspects of the company to include; A/P, A/R, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting.
- Manage month-end closing activities including account analysis, business unit accruals, reconciliations of prepay expenses and inter-company accounts.
- Lead team through documentation and implementation of key controls in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulation and provide guidance to strengthen control environment.
- Serve as price strategist, cost estimator, and oversight for large, complex, strategically important solicitations.
- Correspond with all outside consultants, such as CPA firms, banks, attorneys, and insurance companies.
- Work in conjunction with outside CPA firm for producing the certified financial statements and assist with tax return.
- Develop financial reporting package in Hyperion.
- Review daily treasury reports for maximization of cash utilization.
- Review monthly revenue recognition, expense analysis and marketing project reconciliations.
- Supervise quarterly testing and documentation of business controls and compliance with SOX requirements.
- Provide financial support to payroll and engineering ensuring adherence to generally accept accounting principles.
- Implement automated financial reporting and payroll software that significantly reduce turnaround time while enhancing accuracy.
- Provide quarterly financial reviews and monthly financial reviews to upper management in accordance with SOX and internal requirements.
- Manage month-end closing activities including account analysis, business unit accruals, reconciliations of prepay expenses and inter-company accounts.
- Audit and clean financial information using QuickBooks.
Controller/business manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Controller/Business Managers are proficient in Oversight, Project Management, and Internal Controls. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Controller/Business Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Oversight, 14%
Provide business management oversight for two separate corporations, furnishing budgeting and strategic management.
- Project Management, 9%
Focused on analysis of financial performance and project management of initiatives to improve bottom line results.
- Internal Controls, 6%
Analyzed internal controls prior to execution, promoting operational excellence within all Lines of Business and enterprise control functions.
- Business Controller, 6%
Drafted and composed written correspondence; Developed and enhanced job manual for Business Controller position.
- Internal Audit, 4%
Coordinated with internal auditors and PwC to enhance reporting effectiveness and controls.
- CPA, 4%
Prepare all Sales Tax and Amusement Tax filings and work with CPA for Income Taxes completion and estimated payments.
"oversight," "project management," and "internal controls" are among the most common skills that controller/business managers use at work. You can find even more controller/business manager responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a controller/business manager 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 controller/business manager resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "collect data from departments and prepare reports, financial statements and other due diligence work for potential buyers of both companies. "
Communication skills. Many controller/business manager duties rely on communication skills. "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions.," so a controller/business manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways controller/business manager responsibilities rely on communication skills: "supervised the following departments: accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, personnel/hr, communications/ it. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for controller/business managers to perform their duties. For an example of how controller/business manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "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." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a controller/business manager: "produced detailed requirements for it / accounting departments to automate monthly program review financial data used for financial analysis. ".
Math skills. controller/business manager responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." This resume example shows what controller/business managers do with math skills on a typical day: "presented monthly financial data, statistics and variances to the board of directors. "
Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in controller/business manager job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what controller/business managers do. Controller/business manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." You can also see how controller/business manager duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "developed organizational and financial procedures for transaction accuracy and gaap compliance. "
The three companies that hire the most controller/business managers are:
- Bank of America89 controller/business managers jobs
- Deloitte48 controller/business managers jobs
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.18 controller/business managers jobs
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Compare different controller/business managers
Controller/business manager vs. Accounting manager/controller
An accounting manager/controller is responsible for spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a company's accounting department. They monitor the company's budgets, including its costs and expenditures, and produce financial reports. It is also their duty to establish objectives and guidelines, manage accounting staff, monitor financial activities, review and assess financial statements, approve expenditures, and resolve issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as an accounting manager/controller, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between controller/business managers and accounting manager/controller. For instance, controller/business manager responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "business controller," "internal audit," and "enterprise risk management." Whereas a accounting manager/controller is skilled in "cash management," "general ledger accounts," "account reconciliations," and "close process." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Accounting managers/controller really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $89,839. Comparatively, controller/business managers tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $107,101.On average, accounting managers/controller reach similar levels of education than controller/business managers. Accounting managers/controller are 1.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Controller/business manager vs. Corporate controller
A corporate controller is an individual who is responsible for supervising the overall daily accounting operations of an organization. Integral to the financial health of the organization, corporate controllers are required to help the organization with strategic financial decisions through forecasting reports and financial statements. They oversee maintaining accounting records by keeping and storing them in an operable system. Corporate controllers are also required to manage the accounting operations of the organization's subsidiaries.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that controller/business manager responsibilities requires skills like "project management," "business controller," "enterprise risk management," and "business management." But a corporate controller might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "payroll," "cash management," "close process," and "tax compliance."
On average, corporate controllers earn a higher salary than controller/business managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, corporate controllers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $141,530. Whereas controller/business managers have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $107,101.In general, corporate controllers achieve similar levels of education than controller/business managers. They're 2.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Controller/business manager vs. Assistant controller
An assistant controller is an individual who supports and reports to the corporate controller about all the organization's accounting-related activities such as managerial accounting and financial activities. Assistant controllers are instrumental in maintaining the accountability of the organization's financial resources and protecting the assets of its investors. They delegate data entry tasks with junior accounting staff and coordinate financial audits with the vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). The minimum educational attainment of an assistant controller is to obtain a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting related field.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, controller/business managers are more likely to have skills like "oversight," "project management," "business controller," and "enterprise risk management." But a assistant controller is more likely to have skills like "payroll processing," "general ledger accounts," "account reconciliations," and "close process."
Assistant controllers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $99,888. On the other hand, controller/business managers are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $107,101.assistant controllers typically earn similar educational levels compared to controller/business managers. Specifically, they're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Controller/business manager vs. Division controller
A division controller is typically in charge of overseeing a company division's financial activities and human resources operations. Their role is to set objectives and guidelines, perform audits and assessments, evaluate the workforce performance, handle budgets and timelines, and develop strategies to optimize processes. They must monitor the progress of activities and projects, producing regular reports and presentations to keep the executives informed. Furthermore, as a division controller, it is essential to lead staff and implement the company's policies and regulations.
Types of controller/business manager
Updated January 8, 2025
