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The differences between division controllers and finance leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a division controller and a finance leader. Additionally, a finance leader has an average salary of $117,284, which is higher than the $110,117 average annual salary of a division controller.
The top three skills for a division controller include GAAP, internal controls and CPA. The most important skills for a finance leader are financial analysis, financial management, and business development.
| Division Controller | Finance Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $110,117 | $117,284 |
| Hourly rate | $52.94 | $56.39 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 41,679 | 93,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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.
The duties of a finance leader depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the sales and financial operations in a company, preparing financial reports and statements, finding new sales opportunities, identifying the market and client needs, and maintaining records of all financial transactions. There are also instances where a finance leader may set and allocate budgets, perform audits in costs and expenditures, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Division controllers and finance leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Division Controller | Finance Leader | |
| Average salary | $110,117 | $117,284 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $158,000 | Between $78,000 And $174,000 |
| Highest paying City | Concord, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Oregon |
| Best paying company | KLA | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a division controller and a finance leader in terms of educational background:
| Division Controller | Finance Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between division controllers' and finance leaders' demographics:
| Division Controller | Finance Leader | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 8.5% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |