What does a corporate controller do?
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.
Corporate controller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real corporate controller resumes:
- Manage general accounting staff (A/P, A/R, & G/L), financial planning, reporting and analysis functions.
- Direct and manage all aspects of the external audit, including implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
- Lead implementation of SyteLine ERP solution to replace outdate manufacturing software and streamline manufacturing and transaction processes.
- Develop long-term financial/ operational strategy for high-tech company as well as managed accounting, finance, and treasury operations.
- Facilitate maintenance of treasury and risk management activity serving as primary point of contact for all financially relate matters.
- Implement procedures for standard journal entries, monthly reconciliations, account analysis and documentation to support the monthly reporting requirements.
- Coordinate with outside CPA firm to provide appropriate annual tax reports according to various local, state and federal legal requirements.
- Assist outside CPA firm on a regular basis throughout the year in preparation for year-end tax reporting for each reporting entity.
- Prepare monthly consolidations using Hyperion Essbase.
- Prepare organizational and accounting procedures for implementation to be SOX compliant.
- Develop and document internal control policies and processes consistent with SOX requirements.
- Collaborate on setup and calculation of foreign currency entities within the consolidation package.
- Evaluate and implement ERP system to improve labor tracking, contract profitability, and inventory management.
- Orchestrate all accounting operations including internal and external reporting, technical pronouncements, valuations, and taxation.
- Improve reconciliation process by automating it, eliminating need to re-key data and reducing time to prepare reconciliations.
Corporate controller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Corporate Controllers are proficient in Payroll, CPA, and GAAP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Corporate Controllers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Payroll, 7%
Worked closely with Human Resources on sourcing additional insurance benefits for the Company including processing payroll.
- CPA, 6%
Assisted outside CPA firm on a regular basis throughout the year in preparation for year-end tax reporting for each reporting entity.
- GAAP, 6%
Formulated and implemented accounting policies and procedures to comply with the requirements of existing and new GAAP standards and regulatory pronouncements.
- Internal Controls, 6%
Redesigned financial statement reconciliation/analysis process and improved internal controls.
- External Auditors, 5%
Established and maintained the relationship with the company s external auditors, and coordinated proactive communication with appropriate senior management personnel.
- General Ledger, 3%
Redeveloped general ledger account coding structure within JD Edwards accounting system resulting in lower consulting costs and more accurate financial reporting.
"payroll," "cpa," and "gaap" are among the most common skills that corporate controllers use at work. You can find even more corporate controller responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a corporate controller 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 corporate controller resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "spearheaded the new erp implementation to enhance operational efficiency and data integrity. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform corporate controller duties is communication skills. Corporate controllers responsibilities require that "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." Corporate controllers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "developed new suite of financial reports resulting in more efficient communication of information to management. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for corporate controllers to perform their duties. For an example of how corporate controller 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 corporate controller: "implemented a successful first year (financial reports tagging) and second year (detailed tagging) xbrl preparation/conversion. ".
Math skills. A big part of what corporate controllers do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to corporate controller 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 corporate controller tasks: "produced month-end financial reports and operational statistics for senior management. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for corporate controller responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of corporate controllers 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 corporate controller resume shows how this skill is central to what a corporate controller does: "instituted organizational changes to minimize risk of loss and enhance oversight. "
The three companies that hire the most corporate controllers are:
- ZOOM+Care44 corporate controllers jobs
- Robert Half19 corporate controllers jobs
- Cordia8 corporate controllers jobs
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Compare different corporate controllers
Corporate controller vs. Accounting director
An Accounting Director supervises the general accounting and financial reporting functions, as well as financial services within a company or organization. They also ensure that all transactions and financial policies for their organization meet federal regulations and standards.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between corporate controllers and accounting director. For instance, corporate controller responsibilities require skills such as "general ledger," "tax compliance," "risk management," and "journal entries." Whereas a accounting director is skilled in "customer service," "strong analytical," "general ledger accounts," and "shared services." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Accounting directors earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $128,951. On the other hand, corporate controllers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $141,530.The education levels that accounting directors earn slightly differ from corporate controllers. In particular, accounting directors are 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a corporate controller. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate controller vs. Finance director
A finance director's role is to oversee all financial activities and aspects of a company or organization. One of their duties is to gather necessary financial data and cultivate reports on essential matters such as revenue and budget, provide risk assessments and estimates, implement vital policies, and allocate funds within the company. Furthermore, a finance director must also devise strategies and recommend innovative methods for financial gains, while in adherence to the organization's policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, corporate controller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "close process," "tax compliance," "balance sheet accounts," and "account reconciliations." Meanwhile, a finance director has duties that require skills in areas such as "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "hyperion," and "customer service." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Finance directors may earn a lower salary than corporate controllers, but finance directors earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $128,738. On the other hand, corporate controllers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $141,530.In general, finance directors achieve similar levels of education than corporate controllers. They're 2.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate controller vs. Manager finance planning and analysis
A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly. They also perform research and assessments, gather and analyze financial data from different departments, coordinate staff, and solve issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, as a manager, they must lead and empower staff to reach goals while implementing company policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from corporate controller resumes include skills like "cpa," "cash management," "oversight," and "tax compliance," whereas a manager finance planning and analysis is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "financial models," "hyperion," and "visualization. "
Managers finance planning and analysis earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $109,735. Corporate controllers earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $141,530.Most managers finance planning and analysis achieve a higher degree level compared to corporate controllers. For example, they're 5.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate controller vs. Finance vice president
The vice president of finance is one of the highest-ranking executives in a company. He/She or she works under the chief financial officer, and both have similar duties that are often interchangeable. This executive's primary function is to oversee the company's financial records and project future financial plans and investments. The finance vice president ensures that the company's finances are managed suitably and effectively. This role's responsibilities include leading the team towards achieving the company's financial mission, monitoring the financial performance, preparing and presenting financial reports, and conducting audits on financial expenditures, assets, and liabilities.
Types of corporate controller
Updated January 8, 2025
