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Job outlook for finance controllers in the United States
Finance controller job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected finance controller job growth rate is 17% from 2018-2028.
About 123,100 new jobs for finance controllers are projected over the next decade.
Finance controller salaries have increased 10% for finance controllers in the last 5 years.
There are over 211,329 finance controllers currently employed in the United States.
There are 97,342 active finance controller job openings in the US.
The average finance controller salary is $105,869.
Are finance controller jobs in demand?
Finance controller job and salary trends over time
Finance controller jobs over time
Finance controller job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 211,329 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 202,644 | 0.06% |
| 2019 | 203,174 | 0.06% |
| 2018 | 188,693 | 0.06% |
| 2017 | 176,672 | 0.05% |
Average finance controller salary over time
Finance controller salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $105,869 | $50.90 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $102,484 | $49.27 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $100,985 | $48.55 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $98,689 | $47.45 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $96,061 | $46.18 | +3.2% |
Finance controller jobs by state
Most common states for finance controllers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 356 | 51% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,526 | 22% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 204 | 21% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,117 | 20% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 984 | 18% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 573 | 18% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 138 | 18% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,226 | 17% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 600 | 17% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 98 | 17% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,056 | 16% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,386 | 16% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 984 | 16% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 856 | 15% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 207 | 15% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 144 | 14% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 100 | 14% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 85 | 14% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,177 | 13% |
| 20 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,336 | 13% |
Most common cities for finance controllers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | 3 | 9% | $94,110 |
| 2 | Elk Grove Village | 1 | 3% | $92,967 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $83,963 |
| 4 | Boca Raton | 1 | 1% | $75,179 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $84,594 |
| 6 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $88,304 |
| 7 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $89,690 |
| 8 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $74,572 |
| 9 | New York | 2 | 0% | $117,620 |
| 10 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $94,557 |
| 11 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $98,590 |
| 12 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $109,422 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $93,141 |
| 14 | Chula Vista | 1 | 0% | $101,727 |
| 15 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $100,041 |
Finance Controller job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of finance controller experts
Manhattan College
Fairfield University
University of Oregon
Stonehill College
King's College
American University
Albion College
Cedar Falls
Southwestern College
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Lawrence Technological University
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of Arkansas
Keith Kerr Prof.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Keith Kerr Prof.: Grant writing is perhaps the most important skill for sociology majors to acquire. Not all sociology programs offer such skills (luckily my department at Quinnipiac does), but all sociology programs offer courses in research methodology. These skills are all skills that are needed to successfully write grants.
More so, with the research skills and practice in grant writing, one is in a position to approach potential employers as a hire that will more than pay for itself in the grant money that the potential employee can bring into the organization.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: First, learn everything about the company you just started working for - its historical path, management, the way it's dealt with crises, etc. Second, learn everything about the specific industry the company belongs to and see how the company has developed relative to the development of the industry domestically and internationally. Third, always be extremely alert to notice new opportunities and be prepared to take calculated risks. That is, actively look for opportunities to complete as many and diverse tasks as possible, and volunteer to complete any type of work regardless of whether it seems relevant to your assigned job or not. Opportunities to learn, grow, and improve and thus to maximize your income, will only come up if you are exposed to diverse situations.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Skills in research, programming, and modeling. Research skills are difficult to develop and many students don't have the patience or even the desire to acquire them. But they are critical for careers in finance and remain a top set of skills for employers. Programming and modeling helps with decision making by reducing (potentially) the degree of economic and market uncertainties as well as with forecasts. So definitely invest time in learning and continuously developing research and programming skills in the career niche you are pursuing.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
John McDermott Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, keep learning, investing in your human capital, and expanding your capabilities. Learn as much as you can about your new position and industry, work with a variety of people at your firm, and seek opportunities outside your comfort zone. Your salary potential will increase as you are recognized as a capable and hard working colleague.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
John McDermott Ph.D.: I believe communication, technical, and interpersonal skills will always be important to young graduates in finance. Over the next few years, being able to harness the power of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Large-Language Models will become increasingly important.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: As a beginner in any field, it pays to listen more than to talk. Be humble, pay attention, be nice to folks and probably most helpful is having a mentor who can guide you along and show you some best practices for navigating your career. You should take advantage of your education, not just to show a piece of paper that says you graduated but think of every single project, essay or paper that you write as part of a portfolio that demonstrates your skill sets. Especially in finance where we can sometimes be enamored with the beauty of a mathematical model, think about how any model should be applied in the real world. In some cases that might mean that you have to “get your hands on the wheel and learn how to drive.” I am not suggesting that you should put all your savings at risk and buy the next iteration of the latest cryptocurrency, but If you’re interested in a career in investing, put a small amount of money at risk and trade a stock, or if you must trade a few dollars’ worth of Bitcoin or Ether – as much as you would risk for a movie ticket seems reasonable. There are lots of virtual trading apps where you can trade with paper money, but there’s nothing like understanding risk when your own dollars are at stake, even if it’s just a few dollars. You should also absorb all the workshops, seminars and resources available out there. Follow Prof. Aswath Damodaran who has a YouTube Channel and hundreds of spreadsheets with financial models, all for free! Also follow some good content providers on various channels to get additional insights – in the field of finance, you need to be up-to-date on all events because those influence markets and the economy. Be ready to continue learning and update your skills and understanding while you’re working. Education doesn’t end after you finish your degree. All successful people are life-long learners.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Understanding finance and how it impacts the operations of where you work, can help you have great insight into new opportunities or see the writing on the wall in tough times. -Don't be afraid to learn new technologies, especially ones that collect data. Enhance your tech-based skills as that will increase your value to the organization where you work and the business community at large. -Learn Spanish. While globalization may have you think about learning an Asian language, the Spanish speaking market is the faster growing in the US and has been since 2010.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Z. Jay Wang: As you onboard into your first roles in finance, a great work ethic and strong technical skills are obviously important for your long-term success. Moreover, your human skills will be as important as your technical skill. Ensure you practice and develop your communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and project management skills. In terms of technical skills attention to detail, use of data analytics tools, and visualization will be very valuable. Another often overlooked skill is written communication. Many students fail to realize the importance of effective communications.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Z. Jay Wang: Students who have a history of doing work in the field outside the classroom either through internships, industry projects, or school-sponsored clubs managing financial decisions are better poised to maximize starting salary potential. Starting early to secure internships with top companies will also position students well for higher earning potential. Most top banks and firms will post internships from April/May to August, and close by the end of September for the following summer. They are also rolling, so may fill the roles by as early as June of the sophomore year for the following summer after junior year. Finally, networking with industry and alumni professionals in the companies, firms, banks prior to applying for an internship or full-time position will have an impact. The candidate will learn more about the opportunity and company culture for their resume and potential interview, and most top companies in finance will have a referral program. If the candidate impresses the internal connection with excellent questions and strategic answers, they may get a referral that moves them up in the stacks of applicants.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Z. Jay Wang: Big data analytical and quantitative skills have become increasingly important in the past decade. Moreover, AI will be a part of how you work. Understand and practice how this tool can help you solve simple tasks, and do research and assessment of data efficiently and strategically.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Wayne Durr: In the next 3-5 years, I anticipate the continuous evolvement of Finance and soft skills.
Financial technology is rapidly changing, and current CEOs, CFOs, and other leadership levels
assume that new college graduates are all tech-savvy. This doesn't mean a minor in computer
science, this means the current leadership isn't going back to school to learn new technological
advances in the world of Finance, and, frankly, may still be afraid of new technology. New
graduates have spent the majority of their lives embracing new technology and are more
advanced than they realize. Continue to explore the new technologies being created in the
world of Finance, even if your current role doesn't use it. One day, there may be a meeting
where leadership asks, "Has anyone ever heard of this technology?" Be that person that can
say "yes." It doesn't mean you're an expert, but being familiar with that technology will go a long
way.
Soft skills, like time management, working independently, and problem-solving, will become
even more important. We have a job market that has been doing well but can change quickly.
Employers will be looking to do more with less. Those employees who can work independently
on multiple tasks without constant oversight will be more valuable in the future. The ability to
problem-solve without the need for guidance will also be valuable and secure your future in that
organization. The industry loves maximizing the work they can get from salaried employees, so
time management is very important to the business world and to ensure the worklife balance.
Peter Ibbott
Associate Professor of EconomicsKing's College
Economics
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Peter Ibbott: Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and CV are the most basic steps to increase salary potential at the start of your career. For students who do not have the grades to pursue graduate or professional studies, there is another path for post-graduate acquisition of valuable career focussed skills. Most universities offer post-graduate diploma programs through their schools of continuing studies. Community colleges also offer similar post-graduate diploma programs aimed at providing industry certification and essential career oriented skill development. These programs can open doors to more specialized and lucrative careers in business and finance.
Octavian Ionici PhD
Sr. Lecturer in FinanceAmerican University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Octavian Ionici PhD: The finance profession is lucrative, rewarding and very competitive. Graduates should do their research about the organization they are interviewing with and be able to discuss how their skills can contribute to the business. They should also know if they would rather interact with people and clients or if they are drawn to intellectual pursuits such as analysis. Do they value power, prestige status, risk, or something else? Ultimately our core values, personal goals, interests, aptitudes, and personality will shape our career paths.
Being able to articulate what sparked their interest in the financial field and why they are interested in a chosen role will be an advantage during the hiring process. While still in college, students should join a professional association like the Financial Management Association to give them more access to that broad network, as well as access to career development resources that can set them apart from the crowd.
It's also critical to get an internship (paid or unpaid) in order to show some real-life experience. They can do this while they are still in college, during the summers, or even afterwards, to get a foot in the door.
Reading the WSJ and FT daily, and listening to Bloomberg, or other financial programs as a regular practice will help them to have fluency in the language of our profession. Because the finance sector is heavily regulated and changes occur due to changing economic and political conditions, they will need to stay updated with those changes. Financial media sources will help bring them that context to stay up to date on all of these moving parts.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Noah Alatza: As you begin your career, there are two areas that are critical to your success. First, it is essential that you commit to continuous learning. Strive to become knowledgeable on a wide variety of issues and developments in the financial sector, and set yourself apart by becoming an expert in a few key areas of interest. Secondly, actively build your professional network. Always take the opportunity to make new connections, and commit dedicated time each week to building and maintaining those relationships.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Noah Alatza: Prior to graduation, gain as much relevant experience as possible through internships. Having multiple internships where you've proven yourself to be successful and hardworking is essential to getting the best offers for full-time roles. In the early years of your career, take note of the qualifications of your next promotion and proactively take steps to ensure that you achieve those qualifications. Finally, make sure to do your research on salary levels for similar positions and don't be afraid to ask for an increase when your work performance and data support that request.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Finance majors will also be valued for their analytical skills, but more and more soft skills will be valued into the future. Communicating your analysis in a manner consistent with your audience will make you a valued person in the field. Students who were forced to navigate learning along through COVID will need to be able to re-engage in person-to-person professional relationships, even when those meetings are remote. Clear writing is essential today and may not have been stressed in your curriculum. There are many opportunities to continuously upskill, take advantage of those courses.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Maximize your salary potential by asking questions and learning as quickly as possible. Be a good communicator with those above and below you as well as your peers. Be dependable. Persons who show up early and work hard will be valued and rewarded.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Maximize your salary potential by asking questions and learning as quickly as possible. Be a good communicator with those above and below you as well as your peers. Be dependable. Persons who show up early and work hard will be valued and rewarded.
Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®
Professor of Economics and ManagementAlbion College
Economics
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®: Do not underestimate the importance of your GPA. Work hard in every class to get a 4.0. An increasing number of employers are requesting students with at least a 3.7 or 3.8 GPA. Also, set yourself apart. Add some skill that distinguishes you from the huge number of other finance graduates.
Brett Olsen
Department Head and Professor of FinanceCedar Falls
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Brett Olsen: This question is not as simple as it appears. Companies across different industries have job titles labeled "Finance Analyst," yet the job duties can differ. In other words, this is a very company-specific position. If we take a step back and examine this position from a broader perspective, we could describe the Finance Analyst as one who identifies a problem related to financial cash flows, obtains the data and information to assess the problem, performs quantitative and qualitative analysis, develops a proposed solution to the problem, and communicates the proposed solution to the concerned party. "Financial Cash Flows" could describe internal funds for projects, compensation packages, customer investment funds, taxpayer dollars, etc., that may be historical, current, or future (potential) in nature.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brett Olsen: Every business, every institution, every family, and every fund deals with cash flows. Being able to evaluate, understand, quantify, analyze, compute, and communicate the flows of cash is necessary and cannot be avoided. This is a good profession at any point in time. The use of cash is ubiquitous.
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Brett Olsen: To succeed as a Finance Analyst, one needs to be interested in math, willing to solve problems, and driven by both. Those who dislike math or problem-solving may find the career challenging.
Kevin Alston MBA
Doctoral Candidate DBASouthwestern College
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Finance Controllers increase their earning potential?
Kevin Alston MBA: Acquire any many Industry Certifications as possible. Attend seminars and workshops to stay current within our industry.
Dr. Adam Stivers
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Finance at the University of Wisconsin – La CrosseUniversity of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Adam Stivers: Try different things to figure out what fits you best. It doesn't have to be moving between different firms, but trying different things and learning how things work in different departments within a firm is a valuable experience. Joining a firm that has a rotational program would be highly beneficial. Also, learn how to use R or another similar software. Become familiar with how to best use AI tools.
Matthew Cole Ph.D.
Interim Dean, College of Business and Information TechnologyLawrence Technological University
Architecture And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Matthew Cole Ph.D.: Important Skills for the Next 3-5 Years: Digital fluency in accounting software and data analytics, strategic financial planning capabilities, in-depth knowledge of regulatory and compliance issues, and expertise in sustainability accounting will become increasingly important.
Fang Lin
Assistant Professor of FinancePacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Controller?
Fang Lin: Proficiency in coding and statistical modeling is essential. At a minimum, individuals should be able to understand basic financial models. Ideally, they should be able to code or at least interpret code in languages such as Python and R. Additionally, soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking will continue to be invaluable.
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fang Lin: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
Dhruba Banjade
Assistant Professor in Finance & Department Chair of Business AnalysisWhat Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dhruba Banjade: Everyone's career journey is unique and different. As a finance professor, I suggest a few things to graduates beginning their careers.
i. Learning is a continuous process and essential. Even after graduation, learn and enhance new skills. The person must be familiar with the latest industry trends.
ii. Building a good network helps with career development. I suggest attending industry events and connecting with many friends and colleagues on social networks such as LinkedIn.
iii. I further suggest to improve verbal and written communication. It helps in career development.
iv. Understanding basic financial principles is essential. For example, the person must be familiar with economic and income statement analyses, budgeting, profit/loss, and savings.
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP
Chair, Dept. of FinanceUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Geological And Earth Sciences/Geosciences
What Finance Controller skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP: GPA is not everything. Gaining real-life experience in industry through internships or undergraduate research projects is just as valuable. Taking on research or internships gives you a much greater understanding of a field than taking classes alone.
Kris Allee Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Doyle Z. Williams Chair in Professional AccountingUniversity of Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Finance Controller resumes?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Generally, prior experience working with US GAAP for financial reporting purposes, knowledge of regulatory standards, and the ability to reconcile accounts are necessary. Most successful candidates would likely be CPAs and have several years of work experience, sufficient general business knowledge, and have some degree of software proficiency. Abilities such as data analysis and critical thinking would be key as well. Some employers prefer accounting manager candidates who hold a master's degree to signify the level of skills and knowledge they have acquired.
What soft skills should all Finance Controllers possess?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Given an accounting manager assumes a leadership position at the firm, the ability to lead effectively, communicate well, and organize and manage projects would be the most important soft skills necessary.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Finance Controllers?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Knowledge of US GAAP and applicable regulatory standards. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications as well as specialized accounting software as needed.
What skills will help Finance Controllers earn the most?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Certainly, passing the CPA exam is a must, as it is considered a necessary condition for advancement. Passing the exam also helps certify the minimum level of skills the person may possess. Financial analysis skills are also highly valued and hard to find in the average staff accountant. These skills traditionally would include computing, quantitative analysis, and understanding forecasting techniques and limitations. Finally, communication skills and the ability to effectively manage expectations and projects are what make an accountant indispensable and valuable to a firm.