How to hire a division controller

How to hire a division controller, step by step

Here's a step-by-step division controller hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a division controller job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new division controller
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a division controller do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a division controller, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A division controller's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, division controllers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of division controllers.

   Type of Division Controller	Description	Hourly rate
   Division Controller	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$36-75
   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... Show more	$36-71
   Manager/Finance Accounting	A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations... Show more	$31-61

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GAAP
   • Internal Controls
   • CPA
   • Payroll
   • Financial Analysis
   • Oversight
   • Reconciliations
   • External Auditors
   • Sarbanes-Oxley
   • General Ledger
   • Financial Reports
   • SOX
   • Variance Analysis
   • Financial Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop long-term financial/ operational strategy for high-tech company as well as managed accounting, finance, and treasury operations.
   • Provide and interpret monthly portfolio financial results ensuring proper GAAP treatment of accounting transactions.
   • Review monthly balance sheet reconciliations to general ledger, sub-ledgers and independent supporting documentation.
   • Identify over $400K in book gain previously unrecognize by outside CPA firm during annual audit.
   • Plan and develop proper procedures to have an accurate and smooth physical count acceptable to hire CPA firm.
   • Implement new ERP accounting systems, providing ability to fully job-cost by job/location/salesperson.

   More division controller duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your division controller job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A division controller can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, division controllers' average salary in florida is 42% less than in illinois.
   • Seniority. Entry-level division controllers 52% less than senior-level division controllers.
   • Certifications. A division controller with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a division controller's salary.

   Average division controller salary

   $110,117yearly

   $52.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level division controller salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average division controller salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$138,890	$67
   2	Massachusetts	$126,704	$61
   3	New York	$122,852	$59
   4	Virginia	$119,142	$57
   5	Ohio	$114,670	$55
   6	Wisconsin	$108,576	$52
   7	Michigan	$107,691	$52
   8	North Carolina	$107,615	$52
   9	Minnesota	$106,324	$51
   10	Indiana	$105,406	$51
   11	Pennsylvania	$102,855	$49
   12	Tennessee	$102,374	$49
   13	Washington	$101,874	$49
   14	South Carolina	$100,715	$48
   15	Texas	$97,538	$47
   16	Colorado	$95,005	$46
   17	Iowa	$92,294	$44
   18	Alabama	$91,234	$44
   19	Georgia	$84,078	$40
   20	Florida	$72,516	$35

   Average division controller salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	KLA	$120,359	$57.86	1
   2	Comtech Telecommunications	$115,341	$55.45
   3	Matthews International	$112,618	$54.14
   4	Republic Services	$111,160	$53.44	12
   5	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$111,076	$53.40	23
   6	Heat Transfer Products Group	$109,469	$52.63
   7	ITW	$106,835	$51.36	5
   8	BOK Financial	$106,042	$50.98	10
   9	D.R. Horton	$105,543	$50.74	11
   10	Skagit County	$104,119	$50.06
   11	Richmond American Homes	$104,054	$50.03
   12	Phillips & Temro Industries	$102,074	$49.07	1
   13	Metal Exchange	$99,914	$48.04
   14	Brava	$99,460	$47.82
   15	Vortex Companies	$98,365	$47.29
   16	SkyWater Search	$98,324	$47.27
   17	Barnes Group	$97,916	$47.08	13
   18	Noble Supply & Logistics	$97,887	$47.06
   19	Noble Corporation	$97,458	$46.85	1
   20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$97,336	$46.80	16

4. Writing a division controller job description

   A division controller job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a division controller job description:

   Division controller job description example

   Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!
   Summary: Primary function is to supervise accounting needs and provide support for domestic Food Safety operations through direct efforts and management of team.
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   Oversees month end closing process of financials and preparation of variance to budget explanations.Works closely with Sales leadership to calculate commissions; ensure territories are aligned in all reporting software; assist with price increases, bids and proforma calculations and other analysis.Work with Operations and Corporate Cost Accounting Manager to ensure standard costs are correct; oversee cost variance analysis compared against budget; assist Ops leadership team with cost reduction and other related projects.Oversee balance sheet account reconciliations quarterly and at year-end.Lead the budgeting process (sales and expense) for domestic Food Safety operations.Provide analysis and support to Sales, R&D, Project Management and Product Management teams, including project accounting and ROI calculations.Provide reports and analysis to assist with SEC reporting.
   Ensure appropriate internal controls are identified and properly documented; provide necessary support to internal and external auditors regarding internal controls.Provide external auditors with requested information during the year-end financial audit and interim reviews.Work with others in domestic Food Safety operations and also throughout the company, as needed, for problem resolution.Provide analysis and other information as requested to Corporate Accounting and Neogen leadership team.Manage accounting staff assigned to the domestic Food Safety operation.Other duties and projects, as assigned.
   
   Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field and at least 5 years of relevant work experience. MBA and/or CPA preferred.
   
   Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and prior ERP experience.
   
   WHO IS NEOGEN:
   
   From farm to fork, we offer solutions to enhance the quality, quantity and safety of the global food supply. Our food safety diagnostics are used within farming operations to the production facilities of most of the world's best-known food companies. Neogen's solutions are critical to the health and well-being of our customers' operations - and in turn their consumers. What we do matters!
   
   Neogen's culture combines stability with a deep believe in providing professional and personal growth. Our Pillars of Trust - the principles which guide our everyday decision-making, include Openness, Honesty, Credibility, Respect, and Service. It's the belief in these characteristics that provide a consistent, happy and healthy work environment for our employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right division controller for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your division controller job on Zippia to find and recruit division controller candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit division controllers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new division controller

   Once you've found the division controller candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new division controller first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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