How To Become A Controller/Finance Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a controller/finance manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Heather Antanavica

A controller/finance manager is intricately involved in the company's accounting process. As this is a hybrid position, you will be fulfilling two roles. On one side, you will be tasked with managing the company's finances, and on the other, ensuring that recorded data is accurate, on time, and within the rules set by the company. Some of the duties and responsibilities that you will be performing in this capacity include managing all accounting operations, coordinating and directing the preparation of the budget and financial forecasts, preparing and publishing timely monthly financial statements, research technical accounting issues for compliance, ensuring quality control over financial transactions and reporting, developing and documenting business processes and accounting policies, among others.

Essential skills required for this role include analytical, mathematical, communication, organizational, and attention to detail. To qualify for this role, you will need an advanced degree in accounting or a relevant discipline, along with being CPA or CMA certified. Proven work experience in this role of five or more years is also required. The long study duration is worth the effort, as the average hourly pay for this role is $53.68, which amounts to $111,645 annually. The career is projected to grow substantially and create new opportunities all over the United States.

What general advice would you give to a controller/finance manager?

Heather Antanavica

Adjunct Instructor, Bay Path University

The best advice I can give any graduate beginning their career with a degree in psychology, is to do as much job shadowing as possible. There are so many career paths one can take with a degree in general psychology, and many positions tend to look a lot different "on paper" than they do in person. Know that there are career paths out there that are not in the mental health field, if you decide that is not your passion. Organizational psychology, human resources, forensics, and other social services jobs can be excellent options for graduates of a psychology program. Most importantly, get out there, network with some folks in areas that pique your interest, and ask them if you could shadow them for a workday. Bonus points if you can score an informational interview!

ScoreController/Finance ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.1

Avg. Salary $119,732

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.5

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 10.10%

Black or African American 7.53%

Hispanic or Latino 14.40%

Unknown 4.10%

White 63.53%

Gender

female 33.06%

male 66.94%

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

9.5

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a controller/finance manager

Explore controller/finance manager education requirements

Most common controller/finance manager degrees

Bachelor's

75.3 %

Master's

18.6 %

Associate

4.4 %

Start to develop specific controller/finance manager skills

Skills	Percentages
CPA	8.77%
Internal Controls	7.27%
External Auditors	6.61%
SOX	6.48%
Internal Audit	4.87%

Complete relevant controller/finance manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New controller/finance managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a controller/finance manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real controller/finance manager resumes.

Research controller/finance manager duties and responsibilities

Manage the preparation of monthly reporting packs and board presentations with robust variance analysis, commentaries and forward looking KPIs.
Review balance sheet reconciliations and assist with variance analysis.
Authore internal control guidelines and provide training to employees & suppliers to promote compliance with SOX and corporate policies.
Engage process and control owners to assess impact of business changes and associate risk to ensure changes comply with SOX requirements.

Prepare your controller/finance manager resume

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