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Controller/finance manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Jarrad Harford Ph.D.,

Cristina DeDiana

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical controller/finance manager skills. We ranked the top skills for controller/finance managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.8% of controller/finance manager resumes contained cpa as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a controller/finance manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 controller/finance manager skills for your resume and career

1. CPA

Here's how controller/finance managers use cpa:

Worked closely with CPA firm to insure compliance with SEC requirements.
Coordinate with external CPA firm to ensure accurate and timely filing of tax returns and audited financials.

2. Internal Controls

Here's how controller/finance managers use internal controls:

Documented the internal controls over financial reporting, consolidations and income tax reporting and return preparation using activity level flowcharts.
Design and maintain the implementation of internal controls to ensure financial transactions are properly classified, reconciled and reported.

3. External Auditors

Here's how controller/finance managers use external auditors:

Coordinated external auditors and site controllers for annual physical inventories for Logistics area.
Provide quarterly schedules and presentation to external auditors around quarterly CIO results.

4. SOX

Here's how controller/finance managers use sox:

Provided mentoring and support to staff whose jobs had to be transformed and re-aligned because of SOX Segregation of Duties requirements.
Implemented changes to SOX documentation: narratives, flowcharts, risk and control matrices, and other documentation for US market.

5. Internal Audit

Internal audit is an evaluation process that ensures that a company's risk management, governing body, and other internal processes are running effectively. People who perform internal audits must be highly qualified, have experience, and knowledge to work accordingly with the international standards and the code of ethics.

Here's how controller/finance managers use internal audit:

Execute internal audit to ensure regulatory compliance and operational efficiency and accuracy.
Conducted internal audits, and implemented comprehensive budget and expense controls.

6. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how controller/finance managers use oversight:

Advanced to increasingly responsible positions, culminating in management role with oversight for an Accounting department with seven associates.
Provided oversight of the international offices' accounting and performed consolidated reports for the shareholders.

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7. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how controller/finance managers use payroll:

Implemented automated financial reporting and payroll software that significantly reduced turnaround time while enhancing accuracy.
Provide financial support to payroll and engineering ensuring adherence to generally accepted accounting principles.

8. GAAP

Here's how controller/finance managers use gaap:

Monitor compliance with GAAP accounting and reporting for both ExxonMobil and Johnson Controls on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
Ensured compliance of financial reports to US GAAP (IFRS and Mexican GAAP) and company accounting policies and procedures.

9. Project Management

Here's how controller/finance managers use project management:

Completed extensive training in continuous improvement techniques, leadership education and project management.
Assist budgeting and forecasting processes with project management teams including developing financial targets.

10. Reconciliations

Here's how controller/finance managers use reconciliations:

Reviewed account reconciliations and ensure financial results and analysis are accurate and in compliance with Company Accounting Policy.
Prepared internal financial statements and general ledger account reconciliations.

11. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how controller/finance managers use risk management:

Developed a fraud risk management program framework.
Orchestrated program equity and debt funding, regional cash pooling, currency risk management and developed new banking relationships.

12. Sarbanes-Oxley

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (or SOX Act) is a U.S. government law that expects to secure financial backers by making corporate divulgences more solid and transparent. The Act was created as a result of bookkeeping errors.

Here's how controller/finance managers use sarbanes-oxley:

Reviewed accounting processes and introduced accounting practices consistent with Sarbanes-Oxley standards.
Developed the Division's Sarbanes-Oxley internal control compliance program.

13. Balance Sheet

Here's how controller/finance managers use balance sheet:

Developed and implemented a Balance Sheet Reconciliation and Assurance Program to strengthen internal control and enhance financial analysis and reporting.
Performed quality control compliance and monitoring on AIG Balance Sheet Reconciliation requirements for all global operations.

14. Financial Management

Here's how controller/finance managers use financial management:

Talented leader directing highly skilled financial management teams to support achievement of overall corporate goals and objectives
Planned and executed operational audits of all financial management areas using risk- based audit methodology.

15. Financial Controls

Here's how controller/finance managers use financial controls:

Manage accounting policies and procedures to provide effective financial controls.
Developed financial controls for a start-up organization.

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What skills help Controller/Finance Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What controller/finance manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jarrad Harford Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, University of Washington

They should try to enhance the practical skills to complement the foundational knowledge they learned in college. So, this could include spreadsheet modeling, programming in R, expertise with Bloomberg terminals, etc. There are plenty of online courses that can help with these types of practical skills.

What type of skills will young controller/finance managers need?

Cristina DeDiana

Assistant Professor of Accounting, University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown

As we have already seen, technology is taking over our lives. Graduates are already expected to know Excel and to use data analytics. In the future, it is likely they will need to be well-versed in using Artificial Intelligence to support business decisions. Above and beyond the technical skills, though, graduates should be able to communicate with their employers and clients. All that technical knowledge is useless unless it can be effectively communicated to decision makers. Writing and speaking skills are never going to disappear, and with remote working becoming more ubiquitous, the ability to communicate effectively becomes more imperative. Also, as we have seen during the pandemic, we also need to be flexible to adapt to ever-changing conditions. While (I hope) we won't have to deal with a global pandemic again, the world and life will continue to change, and we need to change with it, embracing the technology.

What technical skills for a controller/finance manager stand out to employers?

Dr. JP Krahel Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Accounting, Accounting Department Chair, Loyola University Maryland

First, Excel. It's the most basic, essential tool for the accounting professional. If you can come in on Day 1 knowing essential keyboard shortcuts, proper formula and reference use, and how to format a spreadsheet properly, you'll have an immediate advantage over your peers.

Second, believe it or not, is writing. People think that accounting is all about numbers, but really, it's less about the math (which Excel does for you) and more about being able to explain the deeper meaning behind the results. Can you explain complex depreciation methods to an audit client? Give bad news to a tax client in an understandable way? These are big deals.

Third is data analytics. Given the immense volume of data now available to firms, someone who can extract, clean, and present that data using modern software tools will have an edge. It's really another form of communication, and one that early-career accounting professionals would do well to familiarize themselves with before entering the workforce.

What soft skills should all controller/finance managers possess?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for controller/finance managers?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to extract information from unfamiliar data sets and then explain conclusions reached in a clear, persuasive manner.

Do you want to know more?

List of controller/finance manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a controller/finance manager resume and required skills for a controller/finance manager to have include:

CPA
Internal Controls
External Auditors
SOX
Internal Audit
Oversight
Payroll
GAAP
Project Management
Reconciliations
Risk Management
Sarbanes-Oxley
Balance Sheet
Financial Management
Financial Controls

Financial Analysis
Shared Services
Cash Management
General Ledger
Process Improvement
Cash Flow
Treasury
ERP
Journal Entries
R
Financial Results
Variance Analysis
Fixed Assets
Account Reconciliations
Financial Data

Direct Reports
Close Process
Human Resources
IFRS
Financial Performance
Executive Management
Due Diligence
ROI
Business Plan
Financial Systems
Revenue Recognition
Financial Operations
Strategic Plan
Cost Analysis

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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