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The differences between finance controllers and plant controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a finance controller and a plant controller. Additionally, a finance controller has an average salary of $105,869, which is higher than the $99,550 average annual salary of a plant controller.
The top three skills for a finance controller include CPA, payroll and financial controller. The most important skills for a plant controller are internal controls, GAAP, and plant management.
| Finance Controller | Plant Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $105,869 | $99,550 |
| Hourly rate | $50.90 | $47.86 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 97,342 | 47,555 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A financial controller is primarily in charge of the daily finance activities and accounting functions of a company. Their responsibilities typically revolve around preparing and organizing financial reports, analyzing data and looking out for any discrepancies or inconsistencies, and overseeing the company's overall revenues and expenditures. A financial controller must also maintain documentation, participate in risk assessment and budgeting activities, and develop strategies for profit growth. Furthermore, one must coordinate with other department staff to ensure accuracy, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A plant controller works at factories where they are primarily in charge of administrative duties and ensuring that operations adhere to budgets, schedules, and standards. As a plant controller, they are also responsible for gathering and analyzing financial data, analyzing cost reports, preparing financial statements, maintaining databases, performing audits and risk assessments, and overseeing the accounting team procedures. Additionally, they also supervise staff operations and address issues and concerns while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Finance controllers and plant controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finance Controller | Plant Controller | |
| Average salary | $105,869 | $99,550 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $156,000 | Between $72,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Yonkers, NY | Reno, NV |
| Highest paying state | New York | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Sage Memorial Hospital | Arkema |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a finance controller and a plant controller in terms of educational background:
| Finance Controller | Plant Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between finance controllers' and plant controllers' demographics:
| Finance Controller | Plant Controller | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.5% Female, 38.5% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 7.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |