Plant controller vs division controller

The differences between plant controllers and division 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 plant controller and a division controller. Additionally, a division controller has an average salary of $110,117, which is higher than the $99,550 average annual salary of a plant controller.

The top three skills for a plant controller include internal controls, GAAP and plant management. The most important skills for a division controller are GAAP, internal controls, and CPA.

Plant controller vs division controller overview

	Plant Controller	Division Controller
Yearly salary	$99,550	$110,117
Hourly rate	$47.86	$52.94
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	47,555	41,679
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	8	8

What does a plant controller do?

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.

What does a division controller do?

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.

Plant controller vs division controller salary

Plant controllers and division controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Plant Controller	Division Controller
Average salary	$99,550	$110,117
Salary range	Between $72,000 And $136,000	Between $76,000 And $158,000
Highest paying City	Reno, NV	Concord, CA
Highest paying state	Nevada	Illinois
Best paying company	Arkema	KLA
Best paying industry	Finance	Construction

Differences between plant controller and division controller education

There are a few differences between a plant controller and a division controller in terms of educational background:

	Plant Controller	Division Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Plant controller vs division controller demographics

Here are the differences between plant controllers' and division controllers' demographics:

	Plant Controller	Division Controller
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1%	Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2%
Race ratio	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%	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%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between plant controller and division controller duties and responsibilities

Plant controller example responsibilities.

Manage and correct balance sheet issues including property taxes, miscellaneous accruals, inventories, and capital work- in-progress accounts.
Implement Sarbanes-Oxley internal control policy and procedures which lead to successful annual internal and external audits.
Manage general accounting functions, including monthly financial statements and audit reports, and monthly account reconciliations.
Manage monthly closing process including, account reconciliations, account analysis, preparation of monthly financial statements and other management reports.
Participate in the implementation of an ERP system that accomplish key strategic initiatives including job costing and a perpetual inventory system.
SAP (at the plant level) and Hyperion (at the corporate level) are used in financial reporting.

Division controller example 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.

Plant controller vs division controller skills

Common plant controller skills

Internal Controls, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Plant Management, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
Financial Analysis, 4%

Common division controller skills

GAAP, 6%
Internal Controls, 6%
CPA, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Financial Analysis, 4%
Oversight, 4%

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Plant Controller
Plant Controller vs Division Controller

Updated January 8, 2025

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