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Plant controller vs senior finance manager

The differences between plant controllers and senior finance managers 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 senior finance manager. Additionally, a senior finance manager has an average salary of $133,358, 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 senior finance manager are hyperion, financial performance, and financial analysis.

Plant controller vs senior finance manager overview

Plant ControllerSenior Finance Manager
Yearly salary$99,550$133,358
Hourly rate$47.86$64.11
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs47,555139,639
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

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 senior finance manager do?

A senior finance manager is an individual who supervises financial department staff members as well as monitors the daily financial operations within a company. Senior finance managers must keep track of the financial status and performance of the company so that they can identify areas for potential improvement. They review financial data and prepare reports to be presented to the management to help them in their business decision making. Senior finance managers must also maintain policies within the company and should have a deep understanding of financial regulations and legislations.

Plant controller vs senior finance manager salary

Plant controllers and senior finance managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Plant ControllerSenior Finance Manager
Average salary$99,550$133,358
Salary rangeBetween $72,000 And $136,000Between $95,000 And $185,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyArkemaRoku
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between plant controller and senior finance manager education

There are a few differences between a plant controller and a senior finance manager in terms of educational background:

Plant ControllerSenior Finance Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Plant controller vs senior finance manager demographics

Here are the differences between plant controllers' and senior finance managers' demographics:

Plant ControllerSenior Finance Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 75.9% Female, 24.1%Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between plant controller and senior finance manager 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.
  • Show more

Senior finance manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage regional treasury functions including coordination with international HQ for daily cash balance requirements.
  • Manage staff of financial analysts who perform divisional and branch portfolio and profit/loss analysis.
  • Manage Oracle/Hyperion application upgrade used to support the close, consolidate and report process within Oracle/PeopleSoft ERP environment.
  • Manage financial reporting in support of CEO/CFO/President with oversight for data integrity and consistency of reporting across enterprise.
  • Manage eight team members' activities including daily transaction processing, monthly reconciliations and analysis, and financial statement preparation
  • Manage senior financial analysts responsible for evaluating the financial risks of a portfolio of large property and casualty insurance programs.
  • Show more

Plant controller vs senior finance manager skills

Common plant controller skills
  • Internal Controls, 6%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • Plant Management, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 5%
  • Reconciliations, 4%
  • Financial Analysis, 4%
Common senior finance manager skills
  • Hyperion, 7%
  • Financial Performance, 5%
  • Financial Analysis, 5%
  • Business Development, 4%
  • SR, 4%
  • Financial Models, 4%

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