Senior accountant vs controller

The differences between senior accountants and controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior accountant, becoming a controller takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a controller has an average salary of $101,204, which is higher than the $71,967 average annual salary of a senior accountant.

The top three skills for a senior accountant include reconciliations, CPA and GAAP. The most important skills for a controller are CPA, payroll processing, and reconciliations.

Senior accountant vs controller overview

	Senior Accountant	Controller
Yearly salary	$71,967	$101,204
Hourly rate	$34.60	$48.66
Growth rate	6%	17%
Number of jobs	76,816	75,440
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age	44	46
Years of experience	4	8

What does a senior accountant do?

A senior accountant is responsible for organizing financial reports, analyzing cost estimates, reviewing budget goals regularly, and making adjustments with the company's account statements as necessary. Senior accountants' duties also include managing account reconciliations, preparing tax documents, maintaining audit records and balance sheets, generating invoices, and providing recommendations to minimize possible financial loss. A senior accountant must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of accounting and financial principles.

What does a controller do?

Controllers are employees in the accounting department who manage the finances of the organization. They are involved in the budget setting activity at the start of the company's fiscal year. Controllers are responsible for ensuring that all departments work within their respective budgets. They have the power to recommend budget cuts due to any unforeseen circumstances that may happen. They also have the ability to veto or forego budget items. Controllers should have accounting skills and auditing skills. They must also be trustworthy and should work with integrity.

Senior accountant vs controller salary

Senior accountants and controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Accountant	Controller
Average salary	$71,967	$101,204
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $92,000	Between $70,000 And $144,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	New York	New York
Best paying company	Google	Perkins Coie
Best paying industry	Finance	Technology

Differences between senior accountant and controller education

There are a few differences between a senior accountant and a controller in terms of educational background:

	Senior Accountant	Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Senior accountant vs controller demographics

Here are the differences between senior accountants' and controllers' demographics:

	Senior Accountant	Controller
Average age	44	46
Gender ratio	Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%	Male, 58.9% Female, 41.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.5% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	11%

Differences between senior accountant and controller duties and responsibilities

Senior accountant example responsibilities.

Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
Manage the review, enhancement, and creation of department policy and procedure documentation require for Sarbanes-Oxley auditing and compliance.
Compile and analyze financial information to prepare monthly accruals, payroll journal, general journal and bank reconciliations.
Research and develop policies around Medicaid and Medicare billings and prepare Medicaid cost reports.
Coordinate submissions of financial data from regional divisions and prepare the consolidated company financial statement using Hyperion program.

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Controller example responsibilities.

Manage NAV production, calculation of performance fees, IFRS accounts and subscription/redemption analysis.
Lead transition of company from sole proprietor to NYSE list company subsidiary, including implementing new financial reporting system.
Manage a team of junior staff accountants and maintaining quality control throughout the entire monthly billing, A/P & A/R processes.
Manage treasury, open several new accounts, establish new procedures and controls, monitor daily activity.
Produce monthly account reconciliations, post monthly journal entries and review, analyze, correct and issue monthly comparative financial statements.
Perform accounting research and special projects as required including cash flow analysis, cost projections, reconciliations and other financial analysis.

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Senior accountant vs controller skills

Common senior accountant skills

Reconciliations, 13%
CPA, 8%
GAAP, 7%
External Auditors, 4%
Internal Controls, 4%
Payroll, 4%

Common controller skills

CPA, 8%
Payroll Processing, 7%
Reconciliations, 6%
Cash Management, 5%
Internal Controls, 5%
GAAP, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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